HONOLULU (KHON2) — The theft of a Honolulu police firearm from a subsidized vehicle has raised questions over best practices for Oahu’s law enforcement officers.
KHON2 learned that police are usually required to keep their weapon on them.
The theft occurred on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 23 in Hawaii Kai when a police-issued duty belt with a firearm, badge and radio were stolen from an HPD subsidized vehicle. Police said all of the stolen equipment was recovered on Friday, Jan. 24 but the House Public Safety Committee chair wonders why the belt was not locked up.
“I think we really need to look at their policies and best practices. Responsible gun owners have storage lockers that they can put in their cars,” Rep. Della Au Belatti said.
Defense attorneys said the officer could be on the hot seat if the weapon was improperly stored in the vehicle.
“The officer can face administrative penalties because it’s my understanding that the Honolulu Police Department has a policy that requires the officer to have on his or her possession at all times, the firearm,” attorney Megan Kau said. “If it’s in a locked safe, then they’re allowed to keep it in their car. That’s that’s one of the exceptions.”
Honolulu Police Department policy requires officers to, “exercise extreme care and caution in storing weapons and other equipment to ensure that none are lost, stolen, or misused.”
They add an internal administrative investigation was initiated but did not say where the badge, police radio and firearm were recovered.
“I think we really need to look at their policies and best practices,” Belatti said, “I would hope and I think that there would be policies about the proper storage and securing of weapons when it’s not on your person.”
Kau said it is unlikely that the officer — or HPD as a whole — would be held responsible if the weapon was used in a crime.
“It’s not likely that the department or the officer could be held liable,” Kau said. “It’s because HPD has been put on notice that the firearm is missing. And so anything that happens from here on out is not the responsibility of the officer or HPD.”