angry letter DRAFT

1847 Makuahine Place
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817
December 1, 2009
Honolulu Police Department801 South Beretania StreetHonolulu, HI 96813
Dear Head Chief Police of Hawaii,

The police of Hawaii has done a pretty great job in protecting the lives’ of people and our Hawaii. I have seen it when they direct traffic and on the news when they have helped turn in criminals and save people’s lives.
However I was very disappointed when a team of police came to Best buy, Kalihi on November 27, 2009 around 3:00 am.

This was my second time camping out at Best Buy Kalihi and I thought it was going to be a peaceful and good one just like last year. Just my luck; It was pouring rain, it was really cold and the line was really long. The usual long line was backed up all the way to the U-Haul company parking lot which is located on the far right of Best Buy. I remember a lady from the U-Haul company complained and yelled to us customers that we were trespassing. About 15 minutes later a cop came and yelled at us in the meanest way to get off U-Haul company property or he will fine us $100. I was alarmed by the cop’s attitude and the result he caused because of it. After the cop yelled at us the 200 people after us in the line ran through the front and cut in front of people like my family and I. People started yelling and fighting and the line wasn’t organized anymore. People were getting mad and it almost felt as if a riot were about to happen. More cops came and fed off the same attitude towards us. They all yelled and gave us attitude and told us to move. The line was getting worst and more people started to grumble.

I watched just like the others, a brave local/Japanese-Hawaiian looking man go up to the cops to talk to them. I was right in front of the conversation; This brave man asked these cops nicely to help them fix the lines and commotion that they started. I remember a tall, Caucasian police man yelling at the Best Buy customer in the rudest way “NO!, Were cops we only deal with criminal! Were not here to regulate and fix lines!!! That is not our job were criminal not lines!” I was alarmed by the way he spoke to a man that spoke to him nicely and calm. 10 minutes later the brave, local man goes up to the same cop and a group of new ones to ask politely again. This time A tall, buff, African American cop goes up to the man and for a moment I felt afraid for his life. The cop went up to him as if he were going to hurt him and I was really scared for him. This cop yelled at the man as well as if this man were stupid and deaf. Eventually the brave man fixed the problem himself and the 200 people that cut in front of the line went back to the back in the line. The commotion, fighting, and grumbles have stopped but without the police men’ help.

I was shocked and disappointed at these police men’s behavior. They have caused a problem and didn’t even bother to fix it. They were being rude, ignorant and mean towards the customers of Best Buy and I feel that it is unacceptable. Cops are here to help problems! This was a big problem at Best Buy which they caused and didn’t bother to fix. A riot or a death could’ve happened but these cops didn’t bother to help.

I know and hope that not all policemen aren’t as ignorant and disrespectful but these cop’s behavior were unacceptable.

Sincerely,



Cynthia Cuestas