Honolulu police say the commission’s arrest of a 10-year-old girl is “reasonable” and “necessary”

Three officers who arrested a 10-year-old black girl at a Waipahu elementary school after a complaint from another parent acted “sensibly” and “necessary,” an HPD deputy chief told Honolulu Police Department on Wednesday.

Commissioners asked for more information about the January 2020 arrest at the Honowai Elementary after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii on October 18 called for a $ 500,000 claim letter in damages and new state guidelines in which explained how police and public school workers should deal with situations involving students.

Tamara Taylor, the 10-year-old’s mother, said her daughter, who lives with disabilities, was subjected to “excessive violence” by officers who handcuffed, interrogated and arrested her daughter. On January 10, 2020, another Honowai Elementary parent asked the school authorities to call the police after seeing a picture drawn by Taylor’s daughter and others depicting the child of the woman who allegedly harassed the 10-year-old.

Waipahu School had already seen the picture, said Mateo Caballero, Taylor’s attorney, but called HPD after parents insisted police intervention was required.

HPD deputy chief Ryan Nishibun told commissioners it was unfortunate that the “race” of minors and adults was raised in the case. HPD handled the incident impartially and followed all applicable policies and procedures, he said.

Officials will respond to all law enforcement requests from schools and parents regardless of race or professional class, he said.

“Given what has happened on the mainland and here in Hawaii, and based on the facts, HPD believes its officials have taken what they deemed appropriate and necessary in the face of the threat,” Nishibun told commissioners.

Caballero, the former Hawaii ACLU legal director, and the Hawaii ACLU did not respond to questions from the Honolulu Star Advertiser about HPD’s testimony or whether the 10-year-old’s picture suggested an imminent threat to police and school administrators.

The letter of formal notice was sent to the city, the state ministry of education, HPD and the public prosecutor’s office.

Officials allegedly interrogated the ten-year-old about the picture, handcuffed her with “excessive force”, arrested her for “no probable reason,” and took her to the police. The girl was not allowed to speak to Taylor despite the loud, repeated requests from the mother, which the letter said had been conveyed through tears. The police asked the 10-year-old if she had hit anyone and they said no.

School officials also asked Tamara Taylor to come to campus that morning. But when she arrived she was held in a separate room apart from her daughter.

School staff and police “refused” to let Taylor see her daughter or tell her what was going on. She asked the school staff to take HPD out of the matter, but one officer told her it was “the parents’ right if she would like us to call the police for her”.

When Taylor was finally allowed to leave the room, she found out that her daughter was in police custody and went to the police station.

Commissioner Doug Chin thanked Nishibun for speaking about the incident and demonstrating the values ​​and integrity that HPD brings to every service call. Chin noted that it was not easy to speak publicly about pending legal matters.

“I understand that your testimony may not be satisfactory to some people in public,” said Chin. “I encourage the department and leadership to continue to work with the people who are making this request to find a solution that will be helpful to the entire community.”

Commissioner Richard Parry asked if the HPD’s investigation into the incident had revealed no wrongdoing by the officers. Nishibun replied that he would look and contact the commission. Following the January 2020 incident, Taylor complained to HPD’s Professional Standards Office.

“We have been reviewing the case and are currently working with the Corporation Counsel on the matter,” said Nishibun.