NARCOTICS CHIEF BEING INVESTIGATED

The chief of the state's Narcotics Enforcement Division was placed on paid
administrative leave last week pending an investigation by the state
attorney general's office.

Keith Kamita, who has been head of narcotics enforcement since 1993, was
told last week of the disciplinary action against him, said Sidney
Hayakawa, deputy director for law enforcement for the State Department of
Public Safety.

Kamita did not return messages left for him at his office and home.

Two law enforcement sources who did not want to be named because they are
not authorized to discuss the investigation said Kamita has been accused of
having misspent government grant money given to his agency.

One of those officials said the investigation centers on whether Kamita
spent the money for law enforcement purposes not specifically related to
the grants.

Most grants are restricted to specific purposes, such as the purchase of a
specialized piece of drug analysis equipment.

Hayakawa declined to discuss the matters under investigation other than to
say, "there's been some allegations made against him."

The Narcotics Enforcement Division, with a staff of about a dozen,
investigates the criminal use of prescription drugs, controlled substances
and other drugs such as Ecstasy.

The office also monitors applications for those who want to use marijuana
for medicinal purposes.

Kamita's deputy, Ed Howard, has been named acting supervisor. He declined
to discuss the Kamita investigation.