I was told by an officer that it is illegal for shopping carts to be on "malls".
The officer was located at Fort Street Mall and said if I pushed it along the
mall he would cite me.
I inquired about signs and was told by the officer that it didn't matter if
there were signs or not. This surprised me because I had been there before to
purchase something and the security guard told me where to place it, but
nothing about them not being allowed.
It has also been my experience that signs are posted when there is a
particular ordinance or statute enforced. I also did a quick Google and
only came across parks, relating to shopping carts. Is this a vague reference
to "malls"? I also informed him that I did not take the cart from the store.
[§633-16] Unauthorized removal of shopping carts, etc.;notice;exceptions. (a) A person shall not remove, without proper authorization, a shopping cart, shopping basket, or similar device from the premises of any business establishment, including any parking area maintained for the customer of the business establishment, or any sidewalk or passageway adjacent to the business establishment, for any purpose whatsoever.
Aug. 18, 2008 - I go to the police station to get a copy of the report
made to Officer Porter. The statement is still not with the rest of the
paper work. My statement contained more detailed information about what
was inside, including my passport and birth certificate, and numerous
correspondences with government agencies.
Jul. 27, 2008 - I return to the police station to make another report
and statement, this time with Officer Porter.
Jul. 21, 2008 - I returned to the police station downtown to complete
the report with Ms. Aksionczyk, at 5:40 in the morning on Monday and was
told by the officer on duty at the receiving area that she would be in
at 6:00... I waited until 6:00 and inquired with a different officer,
and was told that she would not be at the receiving area until 10:30 -
2:30. I tried again during these hours, without success.
This has been 5 days now and no report has been generated and I cannot
get a number to reference concerning the case. I need to know how to get
the report filed and a number to reference with further correspondence.
Jul. 19, 2008 - I made a report to an officer by the name of Lisa
Aksionczyk, on Saturday of this month, about a stolen backpack I left on
the route E bus. Ms. Aksionczyk suggested at the time, that I inquire at
the lost and found department of The Bus. I thought this was a good
idea, so that a Good Samaritan would not have the unpleasant experience
of someone thinking they were a thief.
I went to the nearest stop I knew the bus would stop at on its return
trip. I saw the driver, recognized as the one I rode with and waited for
him to stop. I asked if it was turned in. I was told no by the driver. I
asked the driver's name. He told me Raymond.I asked where the bus
terminated and Raymond told me Waipahu. I subsequently found the bus
terminates in Ewa.
RAYMOND LIED.
The only time I could check with The Bus lost and found would be the
following Monday, it is not open on weekends. I did call The Bus, on
Saturday, with an emergency report because there was important ID in the
backpack.
I was told by the representative that no backpack was turned in. On
Monday I went to the transit center to inquire in person, and was
disappointed to be shown backpacks that were not mine.
Jul 14, 2010 ...Two Honolulu Police Sergeants in Charge of DUI stops fake reports. Eight officers stripped of their badges. Dozens of DUI cases thrown out ... www.reddit.com/.../two_honolulu_police_sergeants_in_charge_of_dui/ - 20 hours ago
Jun. 24 - Today, I go to the police station and inquire about these two reports (199784 152479). I find that there is no statement filed for either. One, is for the bag, which did not contain the two recorders and two tapes when I claimed it. I also find Off. Lee left off one recorder and the tapes from his report. Also, the report number now jibes with the number in evidence, as it did not when I claimed the bag.
Update: At records, I see that there are still two separate numbers for the bag. One is for my report, another is for the found report.
While there, I find I have made 33 reports since 2004. 9, have no statements, including 2 for theft.1, I am told I can't have because we can't verify it was made by me. The report says I refused to give my name address or social, according to the records clerk. This was before I became homeless. 1 out of 33.
When I initiate a complaint at HPD, one of the detectives gives me a letter dated Nov. 2008.
Says Ms Mizuo said I didn't pick it up. It came out of my lost bag. I had picked it up.
Now all we can do is wonder how Ms. Mizuo got it, if it's true.
P.S. See the differing font in the second email? My original doesn't have it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ho, Clyde
To: Vernon Balmer Jr. Sent: Mon, Jun 21, 2010 8:30 am
Subject: RE: Re: Complaint Procedures
I’m not sure of the details, but what appears to have happen is that your bag was turned-in without the items inside. If I had to speculate, your items were taken by someone before being turned in to the officer. The officers recovering your bag will normally take a separate number for Found Property which will be different from the theft number that you reported 45 minutes earlier. Because the information is obtained from two separate officers who work in two different divisions, the connection between the theft and found property will normally not be made. This is where the evidence room can try and link the circumstances and connect the reports, but this is difficult without clear identification marks, such as serial numbers. It is actually surprising that they were able to at least get your bag back, but it is probably because you were there to visually identify your property and they were able to narrow the cases down with the information you provided. Because the evidence room personnel received verification that the two reports are related, they have connected the two cases together and no further action is necessary on our part unless new circumstances develop. Essentially, the circumstances of the found property for your bag is now supplemental information for your theft case. Because the connection between the two cases could not be made without your assistance, having your e-mail at the time would have been moot.
As a side note, I did review your complaint that you submitted. We will be sending your complaint to the appropriate division to investigate further.
Thank you for your patience with our process, but more so for your assistance in connecting the two cases.
From:Vernon Balmer Jr. [mailto:Vernon Balmer Jr. Sent:Friday, June 18, 2010 To: Ho, Clyde Subject: RE: Re: Complaint Procedures
Thank you, Captain Ho. I retrieved the bag this morning. But, sorry to say, some consternation comes along with success. I discovered that items that were in the bag are not there.
I inquired at the evidence room and was responded to by the lady saying something about that not being her purview and to inform the officers upstairs. I did, and was told that the records room not being open, they couldn't supplement the report.
Later, I returned to submit the complaint that the IA officers said they would submit. They explained the procedure and were very thorough. I commend them. They let me know there is a review process and said during such, it would be determined if it is for IA to investigate.
At this time I spoke with the officer that did the initial report, who happened to be at the receiving station today, and he said he would not change the report and I found this confusing, being that that the situation has changed.
I found that the bag was supposedly found in an area that I was not at, and that, in actuality, according to the information I could peruse during the retrieval, it was turned in approx. 45 minutes after I made the report. I had inquired during the subsequent weeks and was told by different officers at the receiving station, it wasn't turned in. This may be due to there being two numbers - one for the report and one for the evidence documentation, which is all the more confusing to me because when I did inquire at the station, I gave the officers the report number, a description and the brand name on the bag.
If there were a shift change, it seems one officer would have briefed the other, or a log of reports would have been available for the oncoming one to use. Enough of my assumptions about procedure at the station. I would like to know why it might be I wasn't contacted and what could have caused the officers to tell me it wasn't there. I supplied my email address on the report.
Also, should something change as far as the designation, or the report itself? It seems the first offiver I spoke with, this morning, had the right idea.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ho, Clyde
To: Vernon Balmer Jr.
Sent: Thu, Jun 17, 2010 8:04 am
Subject: RE: Re: Complaint Procedures
Aloha Sir,
No appointment is necessary; however, our business hours are from to . When you arrive at the front security desk of the main station, inform the officer at the booth that you want to make a complaint with the Professional Standards Office. They will call us and we will send one of our detectives down to meet you. When the detective meets with you, you can explain the circumstances of your complaint. If your complaint involves on-duty misconduct by an officer that occurred in the past 60 days, you may be referred to the Honolulu Police Commission to take your complaint. If the circumstances of your complaint are solely for misconduct in the past 60 days by an on-duty officer, I would suggest that you go to the Honolulu Police Commission ( 1060 Richards Street, Suite 170) to initiate your complaint. Their phone number is 547-7580.
Regarding your question concerning lost property, we hold any property that is found and turned into us for a period of 45 days. At the completion of the 45 days, the finder of the property has the option of retaining ownership of the property if the owner is unable to be located or refuses to pickup the item. If the finder wishes not to retain ownership of the property, the property may be auctioned or destroyed. If you want to check if the property you reported as lost was recovered, you may call the evidence room at 529-3283. If it is determined that your property is in our evidence room, they will normally provide you with a notification letter that you can provide to the officer at the security desk. Prior to calling the evidence room, it is suggested that you have as much information as possible in order for the evidence custodians to match your property with the property in evidence (i.e.: report number, serial numbers, description, etc.).
I hope this information helps you. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to send me a reply.
Thank you.
From:Vernon Balmer Jr. [mailto:Vernon Balmer Jr. Sent:Wednesday, June 16, 2010 To: Ho, Clyde Subject: Re: Complaint Procedures
-----Original Message-----
From: Vernon Balmer Jr.
To: Ho, Clyde
Sent: Tue, Jun 15, 2010
Subject: Re: Complaint Procedures
Thank you, Officer Cho, for your attention to this matter.
I would like to set up an appointment to come to the station to follow-up on it.
I am homeless and use a shopping cart to transport my possesions. I was once threatened by an officer when I was there to report stolen property. He said he would seize it an put it into evidence, as litter. Mostly, I am told technically it is stolen property, even though I did not personally take it from a premisis. I would think this would be possesion of stolen property but I am the layman, so I defer to the officers and move it. I also think anyone, including police officers, see the many shopping carts sitting around town that don't need to be stolen, or transferred by someone that did remove them from property.
Nonetheless, I would feel better knowing that someone knows I am coming and can corroborate my being there for official purposes.
There is other information you can provide to me, if you would be so kind. I was there today to check on stolen property and was told by records personnel that I needed to go to the evidence room. When I inquired with the officer at the receiving station, I was told that I couldn't and would have to verify with them first that notification was submitted to the receiving station, of the item being logged in at the evidence room. I also don't have a telephone or physical address, but did supply my email address on the report. I use General Delivery to receive mail which involves going to the Aolele station to pick it up. Needless to say, I prefer having some notification that there is something to expect from a sender.
Can you please inform me of the correct and necessary procedures to check on lost property that has been turned into the station, also, how long it will be held there.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ho, Clyde
To: Vernon Balmer Jr.
Sent: Thu, May 20, 2010
Subject: Complaint Procedures
Good Afternoon,
I am Captain Clyde Ho, the Executive Officer of the Professional Standards Office, and I have received your complaint via the City Document and Record Tracking System. Based on the information contained within your e-mail, it appears that an allegation of misconduct and/or not following departmental procedures may have occurred concerning the officer who was assigned to your theft case. Unfortunately, the Honolulu Police Department requires a notarized complaint prior to commencing with a formal investigation. In addition, we would like to obtain more information from you concerning your complaint.
If you wish to proceed with filing a formal complaint against the officer, you may appear in person at the Alapai Station located at 801 South Beretania Street. A detective will be assigned to you and will assist you in filling out the proper forms and to notarize you statement.
As a convenience, the complaint forms are available online at honolulupd.org; however, the forms will need to be notarized before mailing them to our office or you may bring the forms to us for notarizing and submittal.
If you have any questions, you may call the Professional Standards Office at 529-3286.
Thank you for brining this matter to our attention.
When attempting to make a report an officer tells me he will put my
shopping car in evidence as "litter" if I don't move it. He goes as far
as to put on the blue gloves. He doesn't care that I am there to make
a report, as I tell him.
