Plea deal in police scheme

HONOLULU - Four Honolulu police officers have pleaded no contest in a scheme to receive unearned overtime by falsifying reports.

Sergeants Duke Zoller and Aaron Bernal, along with officers Christopher Bugarin and Patrick Bugarin pleaded no contest in a deal with prosecutors.

They were accused of falsifying DUI arrest reports so that officers who weren't there could qualify for overtime.

Zoller pleaded no contest to an accomplice charge. Bernal pleaded no contest two accomplice charges. Christopher and Patrick Bugarin pleaded no contest to tampering.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday that if they stay out of trouble during their deferral periods, they can have the charges cleared from their records.

Prosecutors say more than 200 DUI cases had to be dismissed because of the allegations.

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Hawaiian Electric to settle suit

HONOLULU - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says Hawaiian Electric Co. will pay $50,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit by an employee who is blind in one eye.

The commission filed a complaint on behalf of Patrick Obado, claiming he was denied a position as a meter reader because of his disability.

The EEOC argued that he was fully capable of performing the job because he has perfect vision in the other eye.

The agency announced the settlement Tuesday, which also requires the electric company to designate an Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator to handle disability-related employee inquires and to hire an outside monitor to provide training on federal disability law.

The company says it entered into the agreement to avoid litigation and that it's not an admission of liability.

- From The Maui News and its news services