2022-04-29 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes April 29, 2022 Page 5 County Law enforcement agencies have their own training facilities. They allowed DOCARE and DLNR to opt out. Hawaii County Police Departments will still enforce all laws, it doesn't relieve county police departments from enforcing the laws, all it does is assign different duties to state law enforcement entities, under one umbrella. Commissioner Toci asked if the department does recruitment in elementary, middle, and high schools. Chief Ferreira stated that their community relations section does that, as well as their SRO's. They try to get individuals in high school, because decisions they make in high school can affect them for the rest of their lives. Commissioner Quartararo asked if they provide rental or mortgage assistance programs for officers. Chief stated they do not, the closest thing they have to any kind of assistance is the barracks at the old Captain Cook Station. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • State of Hawaii Police Commission Conference: Chief Ferreira stated that if the commission needs any assistance with this to let them know. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence 22-04: In support of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, John Tevis expressed concerns regarding the severity and hazards of distracted drivers. Commissioner Quartararo asked if we have any prohibitions against earbuds. Chief Ferreira stated no, one of the challenges they see is people believe hands free driving is holding their phones up with the speakerphone on. Commissioner Quartararo expressed that earbuds and earphones are extremely distracting if you're the driver and you can't hear emergency vehicles and everything else going on around you. He mentioned that it's used in other jurisdictions, we should at least begin a discussion and dialog regarding this. Chief Ferreira stated they would discuss it with the traffic commanders. Recess was called at 10:05 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:20 a.m. CONSIDERATION AND INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS (Briefly summarized) Vice Chair Brown announced that there are people in attendance who did not submit complaints, but wish to speak on items that were submitted. A few complainants request that they be heard in open session. • Megan Isaac Magdalene came before the commission. She stated that she is a member of the Aloha Business Freedom Alliance group and is in support of a number of complaints that will be heard today regarding the mask mandates. They have been in communication with the Police Chief to let him know that they weren't seeing officers