RES 187 Draft 01 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Keaukaha beach area is home to another one hundred plus residents of primarily Hawaiian ancestry. Unfortunately, many of the homeless we service through Bicycle Patrol are also of Hawaiian ancestry. We intend in the future to include Kailua-Kona, Kona Old Airport and Old Industrial area as funding becomes available. Most o f our target areas for service with the Bicycle Patrol have a large population of peoples with Hawaiian ancestry and are of lower socio- economic status. Through the support of The Office of Hawaiian Affairs we hope to increase the quality of service to the Hawaiian community by acquiring additional training and equipment for the Bicycle Patrol. Problem/Opportunity Statement As the State and County of Hawaii face immediate financial shortfalls and a budget crisis, many new challenges are being presented. In addressing these new financial realities, the State and County have cut or eliminated many services that directly affect the health of our community. Discretionary monies once available from the Hawaii County Counsel for programs like the Bicycle Patrol are no longer available. The effects of these cutbacks are now being seen in both the Hawaiian and non Hawaiian communities. Hilo and Kona have a large homeless population suffering from mental illness and unfortunately a substantial number of these homeless aze of Hawaiian ancestry. As case and medication management of the mentally ill and homeless have declined we are seeing an increase in disturbances involving the mentally ill and homeless. Livability, quality of life and the general safety of our communities have been negatively affected by these cutbacks. State cuts like Mental Health services through the Department of Health have been severely curtailed in not totally eliminated. This has had a direct impact on the Hawaii County Police Department as our calls for service regarding the mentally ill are increasing. Programs like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Ke Ala Lokahi (domestic violence assistance and prevention program) on the Island of Hawaii have been eliminated. Community Based Case Management has gone from 3.5 hours a day to 3.5 hour a month. As these programs have been cut we have seen a 30% increase in calls for Crisis Mobile Outreach. The Hilo Medical Center reports an increase in Person's Needing Emergency Mental Health Evaluation, (MHl) admittance since these cutbacks have taken place. Equipment, maintenance and uniforms are another challenge faced by the State and County financial shortfall. Currently the bikes we use for patrol aze ten years old and in declining condition. Bicycle Patrol Officers aze currently limited to one shirt and one pair of shorts as this is all the budget allows, hampering Bicycle Patrol efforts. Incident's have arisen during the course of duty were the uniform becomes unusable and the officer has to be pulled from patrol, effectively ending Bicycle Patrol for the day. Because of the cutbacks and financial realities of today's economy the burden on the police will only continue to increase. This making the Bicycle Patrol program even more critical