Amid ongoing criminal probes into misconduct within the state Department of Law Enforcement, three deputy sheriffs have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, with the latest arrest happening early Wednesday morning. Deputy Sheriff William K. Keahi, a 40-year-old assigned to the Airport Division, was taken into custody at 8:30 a.m. for alleged reckless endangering and harassment, Civil Beat reports. Following the arrest, Jordan Lowe, the Department of Law Enforcement director, conveyed a tone of zero tolerance for such behavior, telling Hawaii News Now, "That type of behavior will not be tolerated."
This incident follows a string of harassment arrests, including that of Sgt. Erich Mitamura, also 40, and 47-year-old Alvin Turla, both charged earlier this month with misdemeanor harassment in a case involving racially-charged incidents against a Black deputy trainee, the allegations included derogatory comments about fried chicken, according to details Lowe shared with Hawaii News Now. A source familiar with the incidents indicated that Keahi had allegedly ordered the trainee to dangerously rush into airport traffic to stop a vehicle under conditions not adhering to proper safety protocols, a risk not demanded of other trainees, Civil Beat detailed.
Lowe also addressed concerns about the culture within the department as a result of these incidents, asserting to Hawaii News Now that while they have "good deputies out there doing their job, doing the best they can," in any organization, there will be "isolated incidents of misconduct." In an effort to uphold safety and well-being, the department ensured the targeted deputy was transferred to a different section, Lowe told Hawaii News Now.
In addition to the arrests, nine deputy sheriffs are currently on paid administrative leave as the probes continue; this includes a separate case involving five deputies subject to both criminal and administrative investigations, the specifics of which director Lowe did not disclose, Civil Beat reports, with all details of these anatomy of allegations yet to fully surface in the public eye.
