Police union is Two members of the state police union's Oahu executive board are supporting Chairman Alex Garcia, whose call for the resignation of Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue has drawn criticism from the union's state board as "unnecessary."
split over Oahu
chief’s comments
The state board says Alex Garcia's
call for HPD Chief Donohue
to resign was unneededBy B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.comIn announcing that the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers will not seek a vote of "no confidence" against Donohue, union President Dennis Kunitake said Garcia did not speak for the union when he made his comments last week.
Garcia said Donohue should step down as chief after two high-ranking officers were indicted last week for allegedly spending money budgeted for prisoner meals on food served to officers.
Saying Donohue should resign "and calling for union members to be polled for a vote of 'no confidence' was unnecessary," Kunitake said. "This was Garcia's own personal view, and not of SHOPO collectively nor its state board of directors."
Kunitake's statement yesterday came two days after the 10-member state board met behind closed doors to discuss Garcia's comments.
Garcia said yesterday he had seen Kunitake's statement, but declined specific comment. "We agreed to (the statement)," he said. "It was all done in executive session. We covered the issue, and the statement we released speaks for itself."
However, members of SHOPO's Oahu executive board voiced support for Garcia.
"Alex is our voice," said officer Alan Rivers, a board member who represents East Honolulu. "I believe Alex, because of a single personal statement, has been criticized severely by certain officers on the state board who I believe are trying to censure Alex to try to prevent him from continuing to be our voice."
Officer Rodrigo Dela Pina, who represents the Waianae-Kapolei district, said 12 of 15 Oahu board members polled by Kunitake all supported Garcia.
"This is an Oahu issue, not a state issue," Dela Pina said, adding that he also believes Donohue should step down.
"What they (the state board) were complaining about was that they were supposed to meet with him before he made a speech," he said. "That was his opinion, like what I say is my opinion. I know for a fact that my guys will support me and what Alex is doing and that there is somebody willing to tell the truth."
Kunitake was unavailable for more comment yesterday. Robert Thomas, SHOPO's business manager, said earlier yesterday the union would have no comment beyond Kunitake's statement. A message left after business hours yesterday was not returned.
Star-Bulletin reporter Rod Antone contributed to this report.