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Hawaii Police Commission <br /> Special Meeting Minutes <br /> December 12, 2022 <br /> Page 26 <br /> magic kind of happens. The ability to speak truth to power is definitely <br /> something that's important in whoever you choose as the next chief because <br /> there are a lot of opinions and different voices that will tend to influence <br /> whomever the chief is either in positive ways or neutral ways or negative <br /> ways. The ability to tell someone like the Mayor, respectfully, I work for the <br /> Police Commission, you appoint the Police Commission, maybe we need to <br /> bring them into the conversation and make sure that we're consistent with the <br /> direction that the county is moving forward. <br /> • Vice Chair Tom Brown stated the hiring process for the police chief can often divide <br /> a department. Hawaii County is not immune. If selected, what steps do you propose <br /> to initiate that addresses this and ultimately reunifies the department? <br /> ➢ Benjamin Moszkowicz stated it's going to be a tough choice for you if you have <br /> to choose someone who doesn't currently work for the Hawaii County Police <br /> Department and that certainly is a concern. That will create challenges, a lot of <br /> them are perception challenges. Thinking through that process, what are some <br /> things he would do if he were selected to help alleviate that perception and to <br /> assure the members of the department that he is someone that can be trusted <br /> and will provide guidance and lead the department in the right direction going <br /> forward? If you bring in a chief who's not currently working for the department <br /> he thinks it's really important that person chooses a deputy chief, at least on a <br /> temporary basis who is in the department, someone who can help ease the <br /> transition, to help keep things rolling, to help the administration continue to roll. <br /> He thinks some of the mistakes or challenges that we have seen in other <br /> counties or areas where an outside chief comes in and they bring a friend from <br /> another department, it creates a lot more problem than needs to be created. <br /> Certainly, that's a challenge, finding a deputy chief in the department that you <br /> can trust that shares your vision and that's a fairly short process, but that's <br /> number one for him, coming from outside the department. Number two is he <br /> feels it's really important, especially for sworn officers we have a lot of honor <br /> and pride that we take in wearing the uniform. If you choose someone from <br /> outside the department, another huge perception piece is going to be, wait a <br /> minute this guy flies in from Oahu and suddenly he's wearing the same <br /> uniform I am, the same badge, same equipment and he wasn't from here. He <br /> thinks that its really important that whomever you choose if they come from <br /> outside goes through the same lateral transfer process, maybe during off duty <br /> hours there's a seven to eight-week period of classes that can be taken at the <br /> training academy, use of force scenarios, become qualified with all the <br /> equipment here before they put on the badge and wear the uniform of the <br /> Hawaii County Police Department. It's really important not only to demonstrate <br /> to the members that you understand the sacrifice that they have gone through <br /> to wear the uniform. It's also important to help whomever it is if they come <br /> from outside get up to speed on all these issues and topics. It's important for <br />