The head of the Honolulu Police Department's CrimeStoppers program has been stripped of her police powers after being accused of leaving the scene of a traffic accident, police said yesterday.

Sgt. Kim Capllonch had to relinquish her badge and gun yesterday afternoon, said police spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii.

Fujii said Capllonch allegedly left the scene of a two-car collision about 10 a.m. Sept. 23 behind the department's Alapa'i Street headquarters. Capllonch received a traffic citation related to leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to a vehicle or property. The citation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 or up to 10 days in jail for a first conviction.

Fujii declined to discuss the details of the collision, citing an ongoing administrative investigation. Capllonch will continue to administer CrimeStoppers.

"It (the citation) will be adjudicated in traffic court," Fujii said. "The criminal investigation is closed with the issuance (of the citation).

"There is an open administrative investigation to determine that no policies or procedures or standards of conduct have been violated."

Capllonch declined comment.

A grievance was filed on her behalf yesterday by the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers, said Alexander Garcia, SHOPO's O'ahu Chapter chairman. He said traffic investigators completed their initial investigation of the collision and found no cause to issue a citation.

"She was exonerated by traffic investigators and the internal affairs case was re-opened only after media inquiries into the case. She was treated (by the department) as any citizen would be," he said.

"This is an unwarranted, ridiculous allegation that shouldn't have gone this far. We're really disturbed the chief doesn't treat members of the department in a fair and equitable manner."

Garcia said Capllonch possibly sideswiped a Dodge Neon while making a turn into traffic but did not realize it at the time. He characterized the collision as "not a major accident."

According to an officer with knowledge of the initial inquiry into the incident, who asked not to be named because the department forbids officers from discussing disciplinary investigations, Capllonch did not know she hit the other vehicle. The officer said Capllonch would be the first to offer aid and information if she got into an accident.

The officer said Capllonch discovered damage to her sport utility vehicle after returning from lunch and immediately reported it to police. Her report was received while officers were processing the complaint generated by the Neon driver's 911 call, according to the officer.

At the time of the collision, Capllonch had other police officers with her in the car, and none of them said they thought she had hit anyone, the officer said.

CrimeStoppers is a nonprofit network of citizens; city, state, and federal law enforcement groups; and the media, according to the police department's Web site.

About 30 volunteers take phone tips on crimes from the public. People who provide tips are offered anonymity and a possible cash reward in exchange for viable information about a case.

Since its inception in 1981, CrimeStoppers has helped clear more than 2,378 felony cases, including 26 homicides, according to the CrimeStoppers Web site.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.