Second such theft at a fire station in recent months Kaua’i County Police have begun an investigation into the apparent theft of money from a county firefighter after he and others left the Koloa fire station last Thursday on a
Second such theft at a fire station in recent months
Kaua’i County Police have begun an investigation into the apparent theft of money from a county firefighter after he and others left the Koloa fire station last Thursday on a water rescue call.
By the time Steve Doi and other firefighters got to the Po’ipu-area beach where eight youths caught in the surf had been reported, county lifeguards had brought the children safely back to shore.
Doi’s money wasn’t safe, though. The theft left him sad and frustrated, he said.
“We are doing a public service and somebody comes in and rips us off,” Doi said. “It is sickening.”
When he joined the fire department 15 years ago, break-ins and thefts at county fire stations were unheard of, said Doi, 42.
“You never had to worry about break-ins by anybody. Now, everybody like steal everything,” Doi said. “People should be aware of what is happening on this island.”
A few months ago, Doi was working at the Waimea fire station when he and other firefighters responded to a fire in west Kaua’i, leaving the station unattended.
When they returned, money and personal items had been taken from firefighters. Doi counted himself lucky because he nothing of his was taken, but he said he sympathized with the others.
In the Koloa incident, Doi said he had cashed a check and used some of the money to cover the cost of a birthday dinner for fire Capt. Bruce Akagi, himself and two other firefighters who were on duty.
Doi said he bought goods from a grocery store in Koloa Thursday morning and returned to the fire station. At noon, the station received a distress call: Eight youths had gotten caught in the surf in front of the old Waiohai Hotel site in Po’ipu.
After rushing to the scene and learning the youths had been rescued, the firefighters went back to the station and had their birthday dinner that evening. It was not until Friday morning, when Doi stopped at a fast-food restaurant in Lihu’e to pick up some breakfast for his two children, that he realized his money was missing.
Doi speculated the theft, a large amount that was not revealed, occurred while the firefighters were out on the rescue call. The money was taken from pants that Doi left at the station.
“What hurt was that I wanted to surprise my children with breakfast before they went to school, and then I find the money was taken,” Doi said. “I have other money, but that (stolen) money was mine.”
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
