Off-Duty HPD Officer Charged with Assault

Jami Harper. HPD photo.

An officer with the Hawai’i Police Department has been arrested.

Jami Harper, 39, was arrested in connection to a confrontation that occurred late Friday at an apartment complex in Kailua-Kona.

Police responded at 11:14 p.m. Friday, to a report of a disturbance at an apartment building on the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway.

An investigation revealed that Harper, who is a Kona Patrol officer and was off-duty at the time, had confronted a 72-year-old man who lived in the apartment above him.

Harper requested police assistance and medics following the confrontation.

Authorities say the 72-year-old man was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for facial injuries, and released on Saturday.

Harper was also taken to Kona Community Hospital for a medical condition. He was transferred to Hilo Medical Center, where he remained until Wednesday.

After being released from the hospital, Harper was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock as Area II Criminal Investigations Section detectives continued to investigate.

On Wednesday at 11:28 a.m., Harper was charged with second-degree assault. His bail was set at $2,000.

Harper remains at the cellblock. His initial court appearance is set for Thursday in Hilo District Court.

HPD’s Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal administrative investigation into the incident, in addition to the criminal investigation.

Harper has been placed on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of that investigation.