Slain officer’s move
was for family’s benefit
Former Honolulu police officer Patrick Maher and his family left Hawaii seven months ago for a better life in Washington state, according to people who knew them.
Maher joined the police department in Federal Way, Wash., near Seattle.
With Maher's larger salary and a lower cost of living, his wife, Renee Van Keulen, a former Honolulu deputy prosecutor, had planned not to work, at least for a while, said Deputy Prosecutor Sheila Nitta, who worked with her.
"She was going to stay home and spend more time with her son," who was then 3, said Nitta.
Maher, 46, was killed Saturday by a single shot to the abdomen from his own gun. Maher had been struggling with a man he had chased after breaking up a fight.
The suspect, Jason Roberts, 28, appeared in court yesterday where bail was set at $5 million, though charges had not been filed.
When Maher left the Honolulu Police Department, where he worked for seven years, he made between $39,000 and $42,000 a year. His annual salary in Washington was at least $62,000, and the Federal Way Police Department paid his moving expenses.
"It wasn't a monetary thing as it was to better his career, better his family," said Kurt Schwan, Federal Way Police Department spokesman, who came to Hawaii to interview Maher.
He was the last in a batch of about eight Hawaii officers to join the Federal Way Police Department, said Lt. Robert Piel, who recruited other Hawaii officers. Piel said the officers from Hawaii are a tight-knit bunch.
"Most of the Hawaiian officers have taken time off, and they're taking this very hard," Piel said. "They're spending time with Patrick's family."
Many HPD officers are also mourning Maher's loss, and several will fly to Seattle to attend a memorial service Thursday, including Waikiki Police Station commander Maj. Thomas Nitta.
"A lot of people cared for him," Nitta said. Maher's fellow officers in the Waikiki district selected him as Officer of the Quarter.
"That shows how much the other officers respected him," he said.
Nitta said Maher left Honolulu for several personal reasons, but he enjoyed working in Honolulu and District 6 (Waikiki).
Sheila Nitta said Maher "was every prosecutor's dream witness because he didn't lose his cool. Very professional, honest, lots of integrity. He would go the extra mile in everything he did," she said.
There has been an outpouring of sympathy for Maher from the public in Washington, where, at the scene of the shooting a memorial of flowers continues to grow, Schwan said.
Maher is also survived by two adult children, Nathan and Amanda, Schwan said.
Send any correspondence, gifts and flowers to the Maher Family, c/o Federal Way Department of Public Safety, 34008 9th Ave. S., Federal Way, WA 98003.
