2022-12-12 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Special Meeting Minutes December 12, 2022 Page 8 ➢ Paul Applegate stated in his experience and under his leadership, we would make sure someone gets back to a question. It'll be him or he would delegate it. After assigning someone to get in touch with that person, he would request communication back showing it's completed and the results of that communication. He stated the follow-up is important. If he had to be the one to make the call, he would, if it's someone else, he would make sure the assignment is completed and the requestor is satisfied with the results that they received and if not, let's move up the chain and get the result that is fitting and appropriate. • Vice Chair Brown stated the following questions would be from the commission. He asked what is your definition of defunding? ➢ Edward Ignacio asked for clarification on the question. Vice Chair Brown stated defunding the police department. Mr. Ignacio stated it's about looking at what resources we have, and where our money is going. Is it efficiently being used? He doesn't believe in the word "defunding" he believes everyone just wants accountability. Accountability is not just fiscally, it's everything else that goes around with it. The department should look at what they're doing with their money, how they're spending their money, are they addressing the proper threats in the community, are we being responsive to what the community wants. He stated that he believes that is how we can deal with the defunding issue. ➢ Paul Applegate stated when he sees this question being asked, he sees bright lights that say "a decrease in public trust" this would be the only reason why this issue would come up. Public trust has been broken and the public feels that let's take some money away and put it towards other services to accomplish similar functions. If chosen as chief, he plans to immediately conduct an independent audit of the department. This would be a comprehensive, independent audit to identify where they are, where funding is going, what it's being spent on, what resources we have deployed, what training we need, and what training we have, and use this information to conduct a three-year strategic plan. That would be open and transparent, so the department and the public know where we are headed as an organization and what goals we have. This question comes up when you have a lack of public trust. ➢ Sherry Bird stated her definition or understanding of defunding of police is the public losing trust in the police department and seeking to move funds from the police department to other agencies. It may be appropriate in some circumstances. If she were to be selected as chief, she would look at every position to see if they're allocating their resources appropriately and are there things that can be addressed by other agencies. That's where our county