Police Commissioner Cites Another ‘Failed Investigation’ Of Possible Abuse
Loretta Sheehan says she’s worried that a former officer involved in another reported domestic dispute violence is going to get his job back.
Darren Cachola is once again at the center of controversy at the Honolulu Police Department.
Cachola was fired from HPD after grainy surveillance video was leaked to the press in 2014 showing him pummeling his then-girlfriend inside a Waipahu restaurant.
There were serious concerns about how HPD officers responded to the incident, particularly because Cachola was never arrested or charged.
His case resulted in widespread calls for police reform.
On Wednesday, Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan pressed acting HPD Police Chief Cary Okimoto for answers after a media report that聽Cachola had another 聽in an incident involving his wife. He was not arrested.
Sheehan, who is a former prosecutor, said the latest incident again raises concerns about how HPD responds to reports of domestic violence.
Although Okimoto refused to discuss the matter publicly during a Wednesday Police Commission meeting, Sheehan told Civil Beat on Thursday she is hopeful the public will get answers soon.
鈥淗ere we have more evidence of violence against women and yet another instance of tepid response from the Honolulu Police Department,鈥 Sheehan said. 鈥淎nd I want to know why that keeps happening. I want to know why.鈥
Department officials have refused to divulge much information about Cachola鈥檚 most recent encounter with HPD officers.
In a statement, the department acknowledged that it responded to a domestic argument in Ewa involving a former officer and that no arrests were made.
The department also refused to release any reports related to the incident, saying that the investigation was pending.
Hawaii News Now reported that it聽 of one officer鈥檚 police report that stated Cachola was told to leave his home for 48 hours. That officer鈥檚 report also noted that Cachola鈥檚 wife had 鈥渞edness around her neck.鈥
Sheehan said she鈥檚 particularly concerned about Cachola getting his job back.
Cachola has appealed his discharge to a third-party arbitrator, as provided for in the police union contract. That arbitrator鈥檚 decision will be binding.
鈥淭he chief of police found that he should be fired due to his previous actions,鈥 Sheehan said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see why an arbitrator would reverse that decision. I just don鈥檛 see it.鈥
Equally as concerning, she said, is the department鈥檚 own investigation of Cachola.
鈥淚f there was new evidence of potential wrongdoing I鈥檓 disturbed that the police department wouldn鈥檛 develop that evidence,鈥 Sheehan said. 鈥淭his is another example of a failed investigation.鈥
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About the Author
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Nick Grube is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at nick@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at . You can also reach him by phone at 808-377-0246.