Say aloha to Dobelle and regents, too
Now that University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle -- first fired and now resigned -- has moved on, I think the members of the Board of Regents also need to move on, but only after they pay Dobelle's $1 million-plus settlement out of their own pockets. That is the purpose of carrying personal "errors and omissions" insurance.
Honolulu
Mark's life sentence comforts fellow officer
As a patrol sergeant for the Honolulu Police Department who is now serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, I discovered with great relief that Judge Ahn handed out a sentence of life without parole for Shane Mark in the death of officer Glen Gaspar.This will never bring back my brother officer, high school classmate and friend, but hopefully it will allow Glen to finally rest in peace. I pray that Glen's family, friends and loved ones also will find peace.
As for me, I will continue to miss Glen, but his strength, courage and heroism will forever be with me. Aloha my brother.
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Mark may seek appeal, but judge was on target
Your Aug. 4 editorial, "Flawed sentence shows need for law change," states that Shane Mark's sentencing "is not likely to withstand an appeal" as it "exceeds (Judge Ahn's) authority" and "flies in the face" of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The issue is not a "flawed" sentencing, but an editorial conclusion based upon a flawed premise.Mark's sentence was not based, as you state, upon the statute allowing enhanced sentences where the killing is "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel ... " Indeed, Hawaii's courts have long held that a jury must make such unanimous findings in order for the court to consider enhanced sentences. Hawaii case law predates, but is fully consistent with the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
An entirely different statute was applied in Mark's sentencing -- a statute that permits extended terms of imprisonment where the defendant meets specific criteria. (See HRS 706-662). Here, there were predicate findings that the defendant was a persistent and multiple offender whose criminal actions were so extensive that extended sentencing was necessary to protect the public. Extended terms based on prior convictions are specifically exempted from the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
Whether Judge Ahn's sentence comports with Hawaii law may, of course, be a subject of appeal, but your editorial presumed the sentence was based on a statute it was not.
Public Information Officer
Hawaii State Judiciary
Technology helps HPD provide quality service
The Honolulu Police Department would like to thank the Star-Bulletin for the July 24 article "New system speeds police work." The successful development of mobile computing technology would not have been accomplished without the participation of the city's Department of Information Technology.Our partnership with the DIT has enabled us to deploy state-of-the-art systems to provide the best quality of police services and protection for the community. The HPD acknowledges the DIT's vital role in this project.
Acting Chief of Police
Soldier deserves medal for exposing abuse
Does the Army have a medal for courage in the face of possible hostility from a soldier's superiors and fellow troops? Such a medal for telling the truth, however unpopular, should go to Spc. Joseph Darby, who first alerted authorities to what happened at Abu Ghraib.Darby did not go to West Point, but he seems to have learned the meaning of honor, integrity and responsibility. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should pin the medal on Darby himself, just before he resigns from his post.
Nuuanu
Case voted against marriage amendment
It seems ironic that the Star-Bulletin's poll shows 67 percent of Hawaii voters favor Ed Case for re-election to Congress (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 9). It is almost that same percentage that voted down same-sex marriage in 1998.I wonder how many Case supporters realize that he does not support the Federal Marriage Amendment, has failed to speak out against the push to legalize same-sex marriage and against the activist judges who are ignoring the will of the majority of Americans who support keeping marriage defined as between one man and one woman.
This is a black-and-white issue, either you are for same-sex marriage or against it.
Voters need to educate themselves about candidates and make informed choices.
Mililani
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