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TESTIMONY OF LT. C. FUKUI <br /> PAGE 7 <br /> possibly kill unsuspecting persons who might wander into the <br /> marijuana patches. We have also come across posted <br /> "warnings" within a marijuana patch with the threat of <br /> repercussions to the "rippers", with firearms being <br /> mentioned. In a subdivision in Puna, we have come across a <br /> posted sign the says "Kill the Rippers". These examples are <br /> evident to the mentality of some of the marijuana growers, <br /> and the value they place on their patches. <br /> It was for these very reasons that this program got started. <br /> Back in the middle 1970's (I believe 1976), a multi-agency <br /> effort involving our department, Honolulu Police Department, <br /> Hawaii Volcano National Park, Hawaii Army National Guard, and <br /> the Coast Guard, was initiated to address these problems. <br /> The military was activated by the governor because of public <br /> outcry regarding increased violence directly resulting from <br /> marijuana cultivation. <br /> These incidents ranged from murders, threats, assaults, and <br /> numerous incidents where innocent people were confronted and <br /> threatened by marijuana cultivators, oftentimes, who were <br /> armed with weapons. The victims included hikers, hunters, <br /> plantation workers, and children. The areas that these <br /> confrontations took place included forests, hiking areas, and <br /> even undeveloped properties in various districts in this <br /> county. Other areas were canefields and areas such as Waipio <br /> <br /> wand waimanu Valley. I can only speak for our county, <br /> <br />