[ OUR OPINION ]
CLYDE Arakawa did not envision spending his retirement from the Honolulu police force behind bars. Those plans went awry on Oct. 7, 2000, when his seven-hour drinking binge ended in the traffic death of Dana Ambrose, a 17-year-old University of Hawaii student. The tragedy should sent a cautionary message to all drivers, including law-enforcement officials inclined to discard good judgment during off-duty hours. Tragic crash sends
cautionary message
THE ISSUE Former police officer Clyde Arakawa has been sentenced to a 20-year prison term for the traffic death of Dana Ambrose.
Arakawa, 50, who was convicted of manslaughter two months ago, told a KITV reporter last week that he did not think he received a fair trial because of the publicity. The attention would not have been so detrimental if other officers had not appeared to inject their fraternal alliance with Arakawa at the crime scene.
Public outrage at officers allowing Arakawa to roam the crash area and one officer caught on TV footage draping his arm around his colleague served to the disadvantage of the 25-year police veteran turned perpetrator. Police should make note of that result the next time one of their brethren becomes a suspect. Police officers may have thought they had an advantage in cases involving their own culpability, but the opposite may be true.
Arakawa told Circuit Judge Karen Ahn at his sentencing that the "sense of pride and accomplishment" he felt upon reaching retirement had turned to "shame and dishonor," as well it should have. A breath test taken belatedly seven hours after the crash indicated that his blood-alcohol content at the time of the collision had been more than twice the legal limit for driving.
The Ambrose family is angry that Arakawa has voiced no remorse about his actions. In carefully chosen words, Arakawa said at the sentencing that he was "very sorry for what has happened" and for his "involvement" in the death of Dana Ambrose. Any more of an admission would have endangered his appeal of the conviction, an appeal to which he is entitled.
The 20-year term to which Ahn sentenced Arakawa is pro forma. The judge had a choice of either ordering Arakawa to spend one year in jail and then be put on probation -- and creating further public outrage -- or giving him the 20-year maximum prison term prescribed by law. The Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine how long Arakawa will spend in prison; if past cases are any indication, he will be eligible for parole after 10 years or so.
BACK TO TOP
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, Assistant Editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4790; mpoole@starbulletin.com
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
John Flanagan, Contributing Editor 294-3533; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
