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Hawaii Police Commission <br /> Regular Session Minutes <br /> October 20, 2023 <br /> Page 8 <br /> Commissioner Quartararo proposed forming a committee consisting of two to four <br /> commission members and recruiting public members to focus on recruitment, retention, <br /> salaries, and retirement. He recommended hiring a consultant to outline the committee's <br /> objectives, gather conclusions, and report back to the commission. Referring to the <br /> PERF's report, he highlighted valuable insights to address the staffing crisis, expressing <br /> the need for a separate committee rather than handling it solely during commission <br /> meetings. <br /> Chair Robinson sought a second for the motion, and Commissioner Bertsch suggested <br /> clarifying its specifics. Chair Robinson mentioned Retired Chief Perry's correspondence <br /> regarding high-speed pursuits and the staffing crisis. He invited retired Chief Perry who <br /> was in attendance to provide more details for a clearer understanding. <br /> Retired Police Chief from the Kauai Police Department, Darryl Perry came before the <br /> commission, highlighting that many current issues echo those he faced during his tenure. <br /> Expressing regret for lacking certain informative resources, he emphasized the persistent <br /> challenges in recruiting and retaining officers, particularly in the context of leadership <br /> issues. He aimed to offer insights to assist the commission in making informed decisions to <br /> support the department in overcoming these obstacles, acknowledging the difficulty but <br /> emphasizing the necessity of moving in the right direction. <br /> Chair Robinson inquired about the high-speed pursuits referenced in the report. <br /> Retired Chief Perry highlighted that high-speed pursuits have been a persistent issue for <br /> law enforcement agencies. He mentioned his past role as a supervisor in a fatality team on <br /> Oahu, handling critical incidents, fatalities, hit-and-runs, and high-speed pursuits involving <br /> officers. He emphasized that many pursuits were unnecessary and led to the deaths of <br /> participants and innocent bystanders. Although improvements have been made, he <br /> stressed the need for a thorough examination of pursuit justifications. He emphasized that <br /> pursuits should only occur in life-or-death situations and not merely for certain property <br /> crimes, as they pose immense danger otherwise. <br /> Commissioner Quartararo expressed uncertainty about specific statistics but agreed with <br /> the sentiment. He inquired about the percentage of individuals pursued by law <br /> enforcement who have a history of prior non-violent offenses that could contribute to <br /> potential escalation toward violent crimes. He speculated on the possibility that leniency <br /> towards minor offenses might lead to a mindset prone to more serious crimes. He sought <br /> information on the percentage of individuals for whom this pattern might hold. <br /> Retired Chief Perry emphasized the situational aspect of behaviors, noting that individuals <br /> not previously involved in crimes might act unexpectedly under certain circumstances. He <br /> highlighted the tendency for those with a history of serious crimes, if not held accountable, <br /> to perceive they can evade consequences, which officers confront daily. Although he <br /> couldn't provide a specific percentage, he indicated that individuals who escape <br />