2024-09-20 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawai'i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes September 20, 2024 Page 3 • Personnel Report: Major Sherry Bird reported that as of August 31, 2024, there are 90 sworn police vacancies in the field, minus 15 from the 99t" recruit class, 14 from the 100t" recruit class, and 16 in the 101st recruit class, and they have 45 actual sworn positions unfilled. For police communication officers, they have 26 filled and 13 vacant. All five supervising police communication officer positions are fully staffed. Overall, the department has filled 439 of 484 sworn positions (91%) and 127 of 157 civilian positions (81%). Major Bird gave an update on the status of current and upcoming recruit classes, as well as ongoing recruitment efforts. • Finance: Major Bird reported that HPD's overall expenditure target was 23.56%, with the actual expenditure at 24.11%. The target for salaries and wages was 20.83%, with the actual figure at 21.49%. Regular salaries and wages were at 18.92%, overtime salaries and wages at 65.14%, and miscellaneous salaries and wages at 37.11%. Commissioner Tavares recalled that during the July meeting, he had suggested providing the commission with a metric reflecting employee retention rates, both historically and year-to-date. He asked if that metric had been developed and if they could discuss it. Major Bird apologized, explaining that she hadn't brought it to this meeting but it was provided at the previous one. Commissioner Tavares noted he hadn't been present at that meeting. She offered to email the information to him. Chair Robinson mentioned a news report about the Honolulu Police Department, where officers retiring or quitting have led to a negative trend, with fewer replacements for the vacancies. He asked if they faced a similar situation on this island. Chief Moszkowicz explained that one challenge for Honolulu PD is that a large number of personnel, possibly 300-400, could retire at any time. In contrast, on this island, only about 23 are eligible for retirement, and over half of them hold the rank of Captain or higher. This represents a much smaller percentage compared to Honolulu. He added that they've hired 46 or 47 officers in the past year, which accounts for 10% of the department's sworn positions, all currently in some stage of training. With the addition of the November class, that number would rise to 12-13%. Even if all eligible retirees left within a year, they would still maintain a positive staffing trend. Commissioner Lacerte asked if there's a program that incentivizes officers to stay. Chief Moszkowicz explained that the collective bargaining agreement includes stipends, and in one or two years of the four-year contract, officers received a one-time lump sum based on years of service. The pay structure rewards longevity, with higher rates as officers advance in their careers, though once they reach the maximum pay step, increases only come from negotiated raises.