2022-11-18 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 18, 2022 Page 8 Commissioner Quartararo wanted to know what constitutes a cell phone violation. He asked how do you know it's happening? AC Basque explained that the officers need to observe the driver holding a cell phone in their hands and speaking on the phone. Commissioner Quartararo stated that he's concerned about earbuds in driver's ears. Where he's from, it's prohibited. He stated in 17 states, earbuds are 100 percent prohibited from being used while driving, but here in Hawaii, there is no such prohibition. He further expressed safety concerns regarding this. He wants Council to look into this. Chair Bertsch asked if there was evidence that shows where earbuds cause accidents. AC Basque stated not to his knowledge, there are no prohibitions regarding this, it could be happening, but they're not looking for that. Commissioner Quartararo stated he wants the commission to go to Council and have them discuss and investigate this issue. Commissioner Robinson asked Corp Counsel if traffic laws are a function of the state or county. DCC Frenz stated the issue needs to be brought up to state legislatures, but this doesn't mean our council members can't make that contact, but it's not a county code. She advised he could talk to his council member, who could put it on the calendar. • Personnel Report: Assistant Chief Burian reported as of November 15, 2022, sworn vacancies are at 66 in the field, seven in recruit class, actual number of positions unfilled is 59. The actual positions they have for police communications officers is 44, there are 14 vacancies, and 30 are filled. There are five total supervisory positions in dispatch and all are filled. HPD has filled 426 out of 484 sworn positions 88% of the positions, putting them at a 12% vacancy rate. For civilian positions, they are at an 82.6% vacancy rate. • Recruitment activities: The 94t" recruit class was reallocated to Police Officer II, on November 1, 2022. The 95t" recruit class is in the solo phase until December 15, 2022. The 96t" recruit class is still in academic training until December 31, 2022. The 94t" recruit class probation was shortened due to the cancelation of the supplemental agreement. When they started, their probation was 18 months. SHOPO had requested that the supplementary agreement be canceled, therefore the probationary period is dropped to 12 months. The 97t" recruit class has 27 applicants remaining, tentative class start date is January 3, 2023. There are 38 applicants for the 98t" recruit class, they have completed the testing and physical agility, but they haven't established a class start date for this recruit class. The next police communication officer class starts on December 1, 2022, there's only one person for this class. They eliminated the initial test for recruitment, they have 53 applicants, and the realistic job preview is set for December 7t" 8t" and 13t". The primary reason they have so many applicants is that they eliminated a portion of the recruitment, the written test. Police Officer III internal recruitment ran from September 11t" to the 20t" and they have 55 candidates. Police Lieutenant, recruitment ran from September 4t" to 13t", the written exam is scheduled t" for December 8