Police Accountability

HPD Officers Who Handcuffed 10-Year-Old Can Be Sued For Using Excessive Force, Judges Rule Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

HPD Officers Who Handcuffed 10-Year-Old Can Be Sued For Using Excessive Force, Judges Rule

Judges in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rule three Honolulu police officers who arrested an elementary school student in 2020 are not entitled to qualified immunity on an excessive force claim.

Fourth Deputy Sheriff Arrested On A Harassment Charge Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Fourth Deputy Sheriff Arrested On A Harassment Charge

All four have been suspended with pay after being accused of mistreating a sheriff’s deputy trainee.

Another Deputy Sheriff Is Arrested In Ongoing  Investigations Into Misconduct Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Another Deputy Sheriff Is Arrested In Ongoing Investigations Into Misconduct

Corrected: The latest case is reportedly linked to harassment of a trainee by a deputy based at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

8 Hawaii Sheriff’s Deputies Are Now On Leave As Harassment And Other Investigations Unfold David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

8 Hawaii Sheriff’s Deputies Are Now On Leave As Harassment And Other Investigations Unfold

UPDATED: One case involves alleged race-based harassment of a trainee by deputies based at the State Capitol. The Department of Law Enforcement won’t discuss the other cases yet.

Law Enforcement Standards Board Selects Its First  Administrator Screenshot

Law Enforcement Standards Board Selects Its First Administrator

The board has two years to implement a range of measures including standardizing training for all Hawaii law enforcement.

Honolulu Tentatively Agrees To $7 Million Settlement With Remaining Makaha Crash Victim (Courtesy Ualani Gouveia)

Honolulu Tentatively Agrees To $7 Million Settlement With Remaining Makaha Crash Victim

Dayten Gouveia, 17, is the last victim of the 2021 police pursuit and crash to settle with the city. His lawyer said he will continue to pursue claims against the driver of the Honda Civic that crashed.

Maui Police Chief Gets Glowing Job Review From Commission Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Maui Police Chief Gets Glowing Job Review From Commission

Chief John Pelletier is credited with implementing a five-year strategic plan, something the department lacked when he joined the force in 2021.

A ‘High-Ranking Prosecutor’ Helped Mike Miske Out Of A Traffic Citation, HPD Officer Testifies Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

A ‘High-Ranking Prosecutor’ Helped Mike Miske Out Of A Traffic Citation, HPD Officer Testifies

Without naming former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the feds try to show how Miske used powerful connections to avoid legal trouble for years while operating a criminal enterprise.

The Price Of Police Misconduct Claims In Honolulu Is Going Up Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

The Price Of Police Misconduct Claims In Honolulu Is Going Up

Experts say large payouts, like the $12.5 million settlement approved in March, do not usually lead to systemic change.

Former HPD Officer Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Charges

Former HPD Officer Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Charges

Prosecutors say Mason Jordan, while serving as a Honolulu police officer, impersonated young people on social media to lure children to work as prostitutes.