2021-03-19 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 19, 2021 Page 3 • Commendations: Deputy Chief Bugado reported that they received 5 commendations involving 13 personnel since the last commission meeting. On March 29, the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii will be recognizing Officer Joshua Willing as the 2020 Aloha Exchange Club Officer of the Year. Due to Covid, this ceremony is being kept extremely small in their training room. Chief Ferreira reported that the Kona business community commended the Area II Operations CPOs for their response with regards to the homeless population and issues that affect businesses. Aimee Wana was promoted to Major in Administrative Services in Hilo and Sherry Bird was promoted to Major in Kona Operations. They now have two command staff who live in the Kona district or have a long history in that district. Other Department Activities: Chief Ferreira reported that April 11-17 is National Public Safety Tele -Communicator's Week which is emergency 911 dispatchers. They will have an in-house ceremony with a luncheon. Their budget review will go before the County Council on April 14. Their budget went up $600,000 from last year's actual primarily due to collective bargaining raises or operating costs such as utilities. Their training account was increased, but their travel account is zero. The council budget hearing will take public statements in Hilo and Kona. Chair Bertsch stated that the commission has oversight on promotions. As a commission, he would like to incorporate that into their executive leadership program. They would like to know how promotions are made from Police Officer I and up and how the executive team is chosen. He will confer with the commissioners on what areas of interest that they would like to be educated on. Chief Ferreira stated that the more the commission understands what they do, the more advantageous it is when reviewing complaints. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Bertsch stated that Sergeant Thomas Koyanagi of the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit would be giving them a presentation. Sergeant Koyanagi came before the commission. He stated that he is the commander of Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit. He gave the commissioners a written overview of the TEU and then went over it. The written overview is on file. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed to the Public) Commissioner Lassiter motioned to meet in executive session to consider charges against officers or employees of the police department where matters affecting privacy would be involved, to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety, and may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Schutte seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:27 a.m.