Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm promised to reform the investigation process concerning police killings.
Alm, in a news conference, spoke out how significant an independent and transparent investigation is to the public, the prosecutor and the police. This decision came after two fatal officer-involved shootings have recently transpired.
“This is a new administration and we are looking at all of the practices and procedures, and we are going to do things differently,” Alm said, according to Hawaii News Now.
The reform includes assigning teams of veteran prosecutors and investigators to the cases of Lindani Myeni and Iremamber Sykap.
Critics say the police will not be able to impartially investigate their own colleagues, calling the system “tainted,” referencing the shooting of 29-year-old Myeni. Acting Deputy Chief Allan Nagata stated that he was proud of the officers’ actions and that they were in a “fight for their lives.” Deputy prosecutor Tom Brady also agrees that the existing process is “flawed,” the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
According to Civil Beat, prosecutors were also not allowed to question the officers involved and the findings were kept secret. The Hawaii Police Department’s process of an internal investigation is not unique, as there are other cities and states implementing such, Civil Beat reported. The difference is that police departments “are more open and transparent.”