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Hawaii Police Commission <br />Regular Session Minutes <br />February 21, 2020 <br />Page 2 <br />in two churches and an entry of a motor vehicle at a hospital. They have been <br />educating the public to not leave items in view in locked vehicles. These are crimes <br />of opportunity. AC O'Connor briefly explained the abandoned vehicle process. <br />Traffic Services reviews their reports every day and send notice to the Department <br />of Environmental Management. They do try to notify the registered owner. It costs <br />money to have a vehicle towed away, and people have been abandoning them on <br />the roadside. <br />AC O'Connor reported on concerns of the canoe club. He stated that on the Hilo <br />side, January 8 to February 18, they increased daily night enforcement. Twenty-five <br />citations were issued, six arrested, and some warrants were served. They are <br />partnering with other agencies - DLNR, the Prosecutor, HOPE Services, and Parks <br />and Recreation. The University of Hawaii has canoes out there, and they have also <br />been doing checks. Community and business groups have been doing cleanups. <br />Cooperation with DLNR has been very good. <br />AC Wagner stated that the first time he heard about the problems was at the last <br />commission meeting. Since then, they made contact with various canoe clubs. <br />They did sweeps and found homeless sleeping in the area and in the area of the <br />King Kamehameha statue. Citations were given out. They continue to check the <br />area. Regarding the concerns of the Kawaihae Canoe Club, they made contact with <br />their president and vice president and are monitoring the areas. <br />AC O'Connor stated that they moved the homeless out of the Agasa Store area, but <br />they then moved to other places. <br />Chair Bertsch commended the Police Department for working on this issue. Island - <br />wide, they have seen a significant difference. <br />AC Wagner stated that there are about 17 crime prevention cameras in Kona. One <br />on top of the King Kam Hotel looks specifically in the canoe areas. Unfortunately, <br />Hawaiian Tel disconnected them in error, and they have not been working since <br />2016. AC Thomas stated that the electronics have been rendered obsolete. <br />Hawaiian Tel offered a compensation package that was deemed inappropriate, and <br />it was referred to Corporation Counsel. <br />SHELLEY OGATA, representing Council Member Sue Lee Loy, came before the <br />commission. She stated that she passed out a letter thanking the commission for <br />their support in addressing the concerns of the canoe clubs. They have received <br />reports that things are getting better, but things like in the photo she distributed are <br />happening. They want to continue working with the commission. <br />DOUG BUMATAY, representing the canoe club, thanked the commission for their <br />help. Since they reached out to the commission, they had immediate progress. <br />