2022-07-22 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes July 22, 2022 Page 7 the government of the State or any county who are employed as department heads and deputies or assistants to a department head shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the State for at least one year immediately preceding their appointment; provided that the foregoing one-year residency requirement may be waived by the appointing authority when the appointive officer is employed as the head of a county police department. Chair Bertsch stated that he would like a commissioner to make a motion to waive the residency requirement. Commissioner Brown asked if they need to vote if it was already repealed. Chair Bertsch stated that he spoke to Human Resources, and it was discussed that the commission should vote on this, even though it's already mandated by law. ➢ Commissioner Robinson made a motion to waive the one-year residency requirement, as stated in HRS 78-1, seconded by Commissioner Sur. Discussion: Commissioner Brown asked Corp Counsel if they should vote on it even though it's been repealed. DCC Kekai stated it hasn't been cleared with their office, she would need to do more research. Chair Bertsch stated that he spoke to HR about this. If for some reason they find out that it's been repealed then the motion and the conversation is moot. He rather get this out of the way now, so we're not waiting another month for a decision from Corporation Counsel. He explained that all this provision is doing is not excluding, but including potential candidates. Chair Bertsch called a vote, those in favor were Commissioners Robinson, Quartararo, Brown, and Sur. Commissioner Springer opposed. There were 5 ayes, and 1 nay, motion passed. Chair Bertsch stated that the hiring process for the Police Chief is an arduous task. It is not something that the commission can accomplish effectively and in a timely manner solely at the regular commission meetings. It will require the commission to schedule special meetings. He stated that both law enforcement officials and the community are going to want to weigh in and we want to open that up and provide them that opportunity. He wants to look at the calendar, set goals and figure out how to accomplish those goals, and schedule relevant meetings. He stated these meetings might be afternoon or evening meetings in various districts. In the past, the community was given the opportunity to comment in both open and executive sessions. Chair Bertsch would like to open recruitment on August 1, 2022, and post it for four (4) weeks. Accept applications after September 1, 2022, it'll take one week for Human Resources to pre -qualify the applicants and present the list to the commission, then in the 2nd and 3rd week of September, schedule hearings. During the 2nd week of September, the commission could go through the applicants and schedule hearings. With the goal of hopefully selecting a new Chief by October 15, 2022. Commissioner Quartararo stated that looking at past advertisements in the newspapers, they limited themselves. He asked if there was any reason why they can't expand that.