Latest news with #HonoluluPoliceDepartment
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Lawsuit: Honolulu cops are arresting people for impaired driving even when they are sober
Published May 30, 2025 • 3 minute read FILE - This photo shows the entrance of the Honolulu Police Department in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 16, 2016. Photo by Marina Riker / AP HONOLULU (AP) — The Honolulu Police Department said it will review all impaired driving arrests after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In recent years Honolulu officers have arrested 'scores' of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol, the lawsuit said. The department is driven by a 'singular focus' on getting arrests for driving under the influence, even if they don't result in convictions, the ACLU said. Supervisors give officers incentives, including telling night enforcement officers they can go home and still get paid for an entire shift if they make a DUI arrest, which results in officers taking investigative shortcuts or making arrests without probable cause, the ACLU said. Police are attempting to show that officers are protecting the public, using arrest numbers to secure federal funding and to meet quotas, the organization said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Each of our clients blew a 0.000. None of them were intoxicated. Yet they endured lasting damage to their records, their reputation, traumatic arrests, and unlawful detention,' said Jeremy O'Steen, an attorney with a firm that is working on the lawsuit with ACLU Hawaii. 'What we are demanding today is simple: Stop arresting innocent people. Stop manipulating the system.' In response, the department said in a statement that it 'takes these allegations very seriously,' and officials have 'initiated a comprehensive review of all impaired driving arrests dating back to 2021.' The ACLU said they became aware of the issue thanks to an investigation by Hawaii News Now reporter Lynn Kawano. The class-action lawsuit is on behalf of three plaintiffs who were arrested and represents hundreds of other drivers. The lawsuit is asking a judge to declare that the Honolulu Police Department's practices are unconstitutional and unlawful. It doesn't seek monetary damages. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In addition to the ongoing review, the cases of the three plaintiffs will be internally investigated, police said: 'We are dedicated to upholding public trust and will take appropriate action should any misconduct be found.' From 2022 through 2024, Honolulu police arrested 127 people who had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.000 after a breath or blood test for driving under the influence, according to the lawsuit. Only 15 people were given a traffic ticket, and only three people were charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the lawsuit said. Honolulu police's 'pattern' has been to stop drivers either without any problematic driving at a sobriety checkpoint or for minor traffic infractions, the lawsuit said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tanner Pangan was a high school senior when an officer pulled him over last year after his truck fishtailed on a rain-slicked road. 'When I got pulled over and accused of drinking and driving … I was kind of stunned because I don't drink, I don't do drugs, nothing,' he told reporters during a virtual news conference. It was his first time being arrested or pulled over. ACLU Hawaii is concerned there are quotas that officers are trying to meet. In looking at arrest statistics, the ACLU found a cluster of arrests at the end of the month. On Aug. 31, 2024, there were three arrests where a breath test showed 0.000 at the same location about 20 minutes of each other, the ACLU said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the time period for the police arrests was from 2022 through 2024, not 2002 through 2024. Toronto & GTA World World Columnists Crime
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
A lawsuit says Honolulu police are arresting people for impaired driving even when they are sober
HONOLULU — The Honolulu Police Department said it will review all impaired driving arrests after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Thursday, alleging officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. In recent years Honolulu officers have arrested 'scores' of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol, the lawsuit said. The department is driven by a 'singular focus' on getting arrests for driving under the influence, even if they don't result in convictions, the ACLU said. Supervisors give officers incentives, including telling night enforcement officers they can go home and still get paid for an entire shift if they make a DUI arrest, which results in officers taking investigative shortcuts or making arrests without probable cause, the ACLU said. Police are attempting to show that officers are protecting the public, using arrest numbers to secure federal funding and to meet quotas, the organization said. 'Each of our clients blew a 0.000. None of them were intoxicated. Yet they endured lasting damage to their records, their reputation, traumatic arrests, and unlawful detention,' said Jeremy O'Steen, an attorney with a firm that is working on the lawsuit with ACLU Hawaii. 'What we are demanding today is simple: Stop arresting innocent people. Stop manipulating the system.' In response, the department said in a statement that it 'takes these allegations very seriously,' and officials have 'initiated a comprehensive review of all impaired driving arrests dating back to 2021.' The ACLU said they became aware of the issue thanks to an investigation by Hawaii News Now reporter Lynn Kawano. The class-action lawsuit is on behalf of three plaintiffs who were arrested and represents hundreds of other drivers. The lawsuit is asking a judge to declare that the Honolulu Police Department's practices are unconstitutional and unlawful. It doesn't seek monetary damages. In addition to the ongoing review, the cases of the three plaintiffs will be internally investigated, police said: 'We are dedicated to upholding public trust and will take appropriate action should any misconduct be found.' From 2022 through 2024, Honolulu police arrested 127 people who had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.000 after a breath or blood test for driving under the influence, according to the lawsuit. Only 15 people were given a traffic ticket, and only three people were charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the lawsuit said. Honolulu police's 'pattern' has been to stop drivers either without any problematic driving at a sobriety checkpoint or for minor traffic infractions, the lawsuit said. Tanner Pangan was a high school senior when an officer pulled him over last year after his truck fishtailed on a rain-slicked road. 'When I got pulled over and accused of drinking and driving ... I was kind of stunned because I don't drink, I don't do drugs, nothing,' he told reporters during a virtual news conference. It was his first time being arrested or pulled over. ACLU Hawaii is concerned there are quotas that officers are trying to meet. In looking at arrest statistics, the ACLU found a cluster of arrests at the end of the month. On Aug. 31, 2024, there were three arrests where a breath test showed 0.000 at the same location about 20 minutes of each other, the ACLU said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missing hiker's body found on Maili Pillbox Trail
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu Police Department said no foul play is suspected after a missing hiker was found dead on the Maili Pillbox Trail. Firefighters locate missing hiker off Lulumahu Falls Trail The 911 call came in around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. More than 15 Honolulu Fire Department personnel were sent to the trail to begin their search, with the first company arriving seven minutes after the initial call. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'Command was established and HFD personnel made their way to search for the missing hiker on foot. A second unit secured a nearby landing zone to prepare for air operations,' said HFD in a news release. The hiker was later found unresponsive. HFD personnel 'packaged the victim' before taking him off the trail to be treated by Honolulu Emergency Medical Services at 1:30 a.m. Check out more news from around Hawaii Honolulu police said the death pronouncement was made and notified the Medical Examiner's Office to continue the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
3 days ago
A lawsuit says Honolulu police are arresting people for impaired driving even when they are sober
HONOLULU -- The Honolulu Police Department said it will review all impaired driving arrests after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. In recent years Honolulu officers have arrested 'scores' of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol, the lawsuit said. The department is driven by a 'singular focus' on getting arrests for driving under the influence, even if they don't result in convictions, the ACLU said. Supervisors give officers incentives, including telling night enforcement officers they can go home and still get paid for an entire shift if they make a DUI arrest, which results in officers taking investigative shortcuts or making arrests without probable cause, the ACLU said. Police are attempting to show that officers are protecting the public, using arrest numbers to secure federal funding and to meet quotas, the organization said. 'Each of our clients blew a 0.000. None of them were intoxicated. Yet they endured lasting damage to their records, their reputation, traumatic arrests, and unlawful detention,' said Jeremy O'Steen, an attorney with a firm that is working on the lawsuit with ACLU Hawaii. 'What we are demanding today is simple: Stop arresting innocent people. Stop manipulating the system.' In response, the department said in a statement that it 'takes these allegations very seriously,' and officials have 'initiated a comprehensive review of all impaired driving arrests dating back to 2021.' The ACLU said they became aware of the issue thanks to an investigation by Hawaii News Now reporter Lynn Kawano. The class-action lawsuit is on behalf of three plaintiffs who were arrested and represents hundreds of other drivers. The lawsuit is asking a judge to declare that the Honolulu Police Department's practices are unconstitutional and unlawful. It doesn't seek monetary damages. In addition to the ongoing review, the cases of the three plaintiffs will be internally investigated, police said: 'We are dedicated to upholding public trust and will take appropriate action should any misconduct be found.' From 2022 through 2024, Honolulu police arrested 127 people who had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.000 after a breath or blood test for driving under the influence, according to the lawsuit. Only 15 people were given a traffic ticket, and only three people were charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the lawsuit said. Honolulu police's 'pattern' has been to stop drivers either without any problematic driving at a sobriety checkpoint or for minor traffic infractions, the lawsuit said. Tanner Pangan was a high school senior when an officer pulled him over last year after his truck fishtailed on a rain-slicked road. 'When I got pulled over and accused of drinking and driving ... I was kind of stunned because I don't drink, I don't do drugs, nothing,' he told reporters during a virtual news conference. It was his first time being arrested or pulled over. ACLU Hawaii is concerned there are quotas that officers are trying to meet. In looking at arrest statistics, the ACLU found a cluster of arrests at the end of the month. On Aug. 31, 2024, there were three arrests where a breath test showed 0.000 at the same location about 20 minutes of each other, the ACLU said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lawsuit says Honolulu police arrest sober drivers in focus on arrests for impaired driving
HONOLULU (AP) — The Honolulu Police Department said it will review all impaired driving arrests after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. In recent years Honolulu officers have arrested 'scores' of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol, the lawsuit said. The department is driven by a 'singular focus' on getting arrests for driving under the influence, even if they don't result in convictions, in an attempt to show that officers are protecting the public, to use the arrest numbers to secure federal funding and to meet quotas, the ACLU said. In response, the department said in a statement that it 'takes these allegations very seriously,' and officials have 'initiated a comprehensive review of all impaired driving arrests dating back to 2021.' The ACLU said they became aware of the issue thanks to an investigation by Hawaii News Now reporter Lynn Kawano. Police are motivated with incentives such as supervisors telling night enforcement officers they can go home and still get paid for an entire shift if they make a DUI arrest, which results in officers taking investigative shortcuts or making arrests without probable cause, the ACLU said. The class-action lawsuit is on behalf of three plaintiffs who were arrested and represents hundreds of other drivers. The lawsuit is asking a judge to declare that the Honolulu police's practices are unconstitutional and unlawful. It doesn't seek monetary damages. In addition to the ongoing review, the cases of the three plaintiffs will be internally investigated, police said: 'We are dedicated to upholding public trust and will take appropriate action should any misconduct be found.' From 2002 through 2024, Honolulu police arrested 127 people who had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.000 after a breath or blood test for driving under the influence, according to the lawsuit. Only 15 people were given a traffic ticket, and only three people were charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the lawsuit said. Honolulu police's 'pattern' has been to stop drivers either without any problematic driving at a sobriety checkpoint or for minor traffic infractions, the lawsuit said. Tanner Pangan was a high school senior when an officer pulled him over last year after his truck swerved on a rain-slicked road. 'When I got pulled over and accused of drinking and driving ... I was kind of stunned because I don't drink, I don't do drugs, nothing,' he told reporters during a virtual news conference. It was his first time being arrested or pulled over. 'Each of our clients blew a 0.000. None of them were intoxicated. Yet they endured lasting damage to their records, their reputation, traumatic arrests, and unlawful detention," said Jeremy O'Steen, an attorney with a firm that is working on the lawsuit with ACLU Hawaii. 'What we are demanding today is simple: Stop arresting innocent people. Stop manipulating the system.' ACLU Hawaii is concerned there are quotas that officers are trying to meet. In looking at arrest statistics, the ACLU found a cluster of arrests at the end of the month. On Aug. 31, 2024, there were arrests where a breath test showed 0.000 in the same location about 20 minutes of each other, the ACLU said. Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, The Associated Press
