Taxpayers to fund sued police chief’s outside attorneys

HONOLULU (AP) - Taxpayers will fund private representation for Honolulu’s police chief in four civil cases.

Hawaii News Now reports (https://bit.ly/2g5BsGq) Police Chief Louis Kealoha and Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha cited their lawsuits against the city in requesting outside defense attorneys.

One lawsuit against the chief says police used excessive force in an encounter with a man who later died.

The Kealohas sued the city’s Ethics Commission and two of its former employees over investigations they say were illegal and led to a federal corruption probe.

The couple has been accused of using police resources in a family dispute.

Councilmembers are expected to be briefed on hiring private attorneys next week.

Three firms would represent Kealoha in four cases.

Costs are unclear.

The chief has declined requests for comment.

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Information from: KGMB-TV, https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/