The Honolulu City Council has come to a unanimous decision to pay the family of Iremamber Sykap a $1 million settlement after the 16-year-old was fatally shot by police in April 2021. This settlement comes after the shooting, which occurred during an attempt by officers to apprehend Sykap while driving a stolen vehicle, has become a point of contention in the community. Despite the strong voices of opposition, the council determined the settlement to be the best course of action to safeguard the officers from future liability.
According to Civil Beat, more than 600 pieces of written testimony were submitted against the settlement, many by individuals worried about the precedent it could set for law enforcement liability, especially given that the officers involved were previously cleared. Council members expressed their concern, with some, such as Val Okimoto and Augie Tulba, voting with reservations. They emphasized their vote was not a condemnation of officers' actions but a move to shield them from future legal challenges.
Despite the settlement's approval, opposition within the community and amongst officials persisted. Eric Seitz, representing the Sykap family, explained his client's perspective to KHON2, stating, "This has been a very long odyssey for this family, and they really needed to get it done so they can go on with their lives." Meanwhile, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, a local neighborhood board member, stood against the settlement asserting that a justifiable fight in the courts should not be avoided.
The officers involved were initially charged by the city prosecutor but a judge later dismissed the case. The legal nuances surrounding an officer's potential self-incrimination in a civil trial weighed heavily in the decision-making process. "Any statements that they make in the civil proceeding could be used against them in a future prosecution for murder," Honolulu Corporation Counsel Dana Viola said, noting the absence of a statute of limitations for murder could jeopardize officers for life, as per a report by KHON2. The Hawaii police officers' union expressed their disappointment with the notion of a settlement but acknowledged a strategic angle in its favor.
Interim Honolulu Police Chief Rade Vanic also signaled his support for the settlement, as it would prevent the possibility of the officers being personally sued in the future. Nick Schlapak, president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO), provided a statement obtained by KHON2, "We believe it's a travesty for anyone to receive one million dollars in relation to a violent crime spree that made people fear for their lives. The thought of a verdict ordering even more millions is reprehensible."
