2022-04-29 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes April 29, 2022 Page 7 HPC 22-24A and HPC 22-2413: Complainant Michelle Melendez came before the commission. She stated that she has been a fitness and wellness expert since 1996, has a medical exemption, cannot wear a mask because she has anxiety and gets stressed out. They attempted to shop at Island Naturals without a mask on, they explained to the staff that they have medical exemptions. The staff called for police assistance, she was excited when the police showed up because she thought they would advise the business that they are to honor medical exemptions. She showed the officers the letter from the chief and the officer explained to them that this is a private business; they have the right to refuse service to anyone. Ms. Melendez stated that it's not a private business, it's a public establishment because they don't require membership dues. They cannot discriminate against race, creed, or medical/disability issues. An officer asked the security guard if he wants them to leave and the security guard stated yes. She feels this is illegal and is discrimination. The letter from the Chief dated March 2, 2021 states "Hawaii County Police Officers conduct public education to the community regarding the Mayor and Governor's orders regarding medical exemptions and no requirement for documentation to prove medical exemptions." Ms. Melendez states this is not a communist country and they cannot discriminate. She says she respects the officers, this has been hard on all of us, but this is a free country, we must honor the law and we have rights. She feels that the department should be educating the community as stated in the letter. HPC 22-26: Complainant Deanna Wentworth came before the commission. She stated that she a resident of lower Puna and has shopped at the Pahoa Island naturals for many years. She has a medical exemption and it has been hard for her to shop with a mask on. She states that police officers were very polite and listened to her, but the officers believed that the store is a private business and they have the right to refuse service. She tried to explain to the officers that that is incorrect. The officers asked the manager if they wanted to serve her with a notice of trespass. Ms. Wentworth says she is now unable to shop at Island Naturals for a year and will have to drive 45 miles to get the kind of food she wants. Ms. Wentworth alleges that the Chief of Police did not do his duty because the officers did not appear to be trained on this matter. Commissioner Quartararo asked how they prove that they have medical exemptions. Ms. Wentworth explained that businesses are not allowed to ask due to the HIPAA law. If someone with a disability comes in, businesses aren't supposed to question them. Medical exemptions must be allowed and they can't ask for proof. HPC 22-30: Complainant Sandra Roberts came before the commission. She says she has one complaint, but she will be filing another. She stated that she'll be submitting the first TRO that her neighbors filed against her on June 29, 2020. There is a total of 3 TRO's that were filed. The petitioner mentioned police reports that she claims were filed, but Ms. Roberts states that the information in the reports do not line up. Ms. Roberts spoke to Assistant Chief Quiocho and an officer in Pahoa about the issue. She