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Hawaii Police Commission <br /> Regular Session Minutes <br /> March 8, 2024 <br /> Page 12 <br /> charter school and they have to accept everybody. Chair Robinson asked if there is <br /> any thought of asking parents to put up money so they can hire security for the school. <br /> VP Woolverton stated that they do have security but they are overwhelmed and the pay <br /> is not that high. He is the lead security official who patrols the school and bus drivers <br /> are also security. But police presence would really send a message for their troubled <br /> youth and community in general. <br /> Vice Chair Bertsch thanked VP Woolverton for coming in and wanted to make it clear <br /> that the commission does not have the authority to provide him an SRO, and that our <br /> job is to hear community input and provide suggestions to the Chief. It is completely up <br /> to Chief whether or not they can allocate an SRO. <br /> Vice Chair Bertsch called Chief Moszkowicz for questions on any administrative <br /> guidelines for an SRO. Chief Moszkowicz stated that outside of county funding and <br /> county positions that are already established there are no guidelines. It is in Chief's <br /> purview to request additional positions from the county and that's usually on an annual <br /> basis. That being said there is flexibility as they do have people doing other <br /> assignments. If Chief does take a position to create an SRO for a school, he would <br /> need to determine what district he would take it from until he can get the county to <br /> approve and fund the position next year. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that in his tenure <br /> on the Police Commission, the CPO (Community Policing Officer) and SRO programs <br /> have a direct impact in the reduction of crime in our communities. Oftentimes those <br /> specialty assignments, no matter how valuable, have to take second fiddle to patrol <br /> officers because we need patrol officers to fulfill our basic needs. <br /> Chief indicated that as an administrator he is responsible for creating positions, and in <br /> December they asked for and got a grant coordinator who will be responsible for finding <br /> grant opportunities. The ability to expand the SRO or CPO operations would be to go <br /> to County Council next year. The other way which is easier is to find a grant <br /> opportunity that would fund an SRO position at least for the first number of years which <br /> would take the burden off County Council as to the cost. Vice Chair Bertsch cautioned <br /> that when the grant funding runs out though and there is no backfilling to accommodate <br /> that individual, that individual may leave the department. <br /> Commissioner Ing asked VP Woolverton if he spoke to the local CPO, to which VP <br /> Woolverton stated that he did and contacted Captain Finkey who also mentioned he <br /> would like to have a grant. Commissioner Ing asked if there was any other solution <br /> because grants would take a lot of time. VP Woolverton wanted to reiterate that their <br /> proposal is not just for their school but for the whole downtown Hilo area in general. <br /> Chair Robinson thanked VP Woolverton for coming today and bringing this to our <br /> attention. <br /> • Correspondence No. 24-09: SB 2003. Chair Robinson stated that it is his <br /> understanding that this was deferred by committee and he doesn't think it's gone <br />