Big Island officer
charged in death
of fellow cop

A prosecutor from Kona
aims to show negligence in
a fatal 1997 crash

By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

HILO -- Big Island police officer Jeffrey Darrow has been charged with negligent homicide for the 1997 death of fellow officer Kenneth Keliipio in a car crash.

Darrow, 36, who was found to have alcohol in his blood at the time, was also charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

On the night of Mar. 27, 1997, Keliipio, 35, had picked up a motorist who had developed car problems on the Hilo-Keaau Highway.

In heavy rain, he crossed the four-lane highway, which is divided by a wide and heavily vegetated medial strip. He was struck by Darrow's car at 10:36 p.m. as he was pulling onto a Keaau-bound lane.

Keliipio, a 6-1/2-year veteran of the department, was pronounced dead at midnight.

Darrow, who had been with the department for 41/2 years at the time, was off-duty and driving home with his wife from a police recruit graduation party.

Police confirmed at the time that alcohol was served at the party.

Deputy Chief James Correa declined today to comment on whether any change in policy has been made about drinking at such parties, noting that a civil suit regarding the crash is pending against the department.

Deputy Prosecutor Carol Kitaoka from Kona has been assigned to the case.

First Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi in Hilo said her office assigned a Kona staffer to avoid possible complications of prosecutors and affected police officers encountering each other while the case is pending.

She said the charge of negligent homicide is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The charge requires the prosecutor to show only that Darrow acted with negligence.

A possible manslaughter charge was rejected because it would require showing Darrow acted with recklessness.

Driving under the influence is a misdemeanor.

Deputy Chief Correa said Darrow, who was injured in the two-car crash, was on sick leave for a while but eventually returned to full duties.

On filing of the criminal complaint against Darrow this week, he was granted a month of vacation and personal leave which he had accumulated, Correa said.

Because of the criminal charge, his badge and gun were removed from him.

At the end of the month, Darrow will be placed on leave without pay, a status that could continue for as long as a year.