HPD panel will not pay
lawyer fees for ex-brass

Fajardo gets different treatment
from his police co-defendant

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

The Honolulu Police Commission voted not to pay for the defense of a retired assistant police chief facing trial on theft charges that he took funds for feeding jailed suspects to pay for extravagant meals for officers.

The commission decided that Assistant Police Chief Rafael Fajardo will have to pay his own attorney's fees, while it had voted after a June 26 hearing that public funds would be used to pay for co-defendant police Maj. Jeffrey Owens' defense.

Commission Chairman Leonard Leong, who was not present at yesterday's hearing due to illness, had said the vote to use public funds for Owens' legal expenses was because his actions were within the scope of his work.

Fajardo's attorney, Howard Luke, said about yesterday's decision, "I am very surprised."

Luke was unable to comment on the decision since he had not yet been notified by the Police Commission.

He said he would like to know the reason for the commissioners' decision.

"I'm certain, hopefully, this isn't the end of it," Luke said.

Fajardo and Owens are scheduled for trial Aug. 19 on charges they directed food preparation workers to order and prepare breakfasts and elaborate meals for themselves, higher-ups and officers in the Central Receiving Division. The meals included beef rib eye, top sirloin and rack of lamb.

Such food items were purchased by the Central Receiving desk between January 1995 and September 2000. Both men served as commanders of the Central Receiving Division during overlapping periods between 1995 and 2000.

Fajardo has said he paid for food served to officers at the receiving desk from his own money to allow the rank and file to meet with higher-ups.