2025-01-24 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawai'i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 24, 2025 Page 2 • Traffic Report: Assistant Chief Basque reported there were 486 traffic crashes this fiscal year, compared to 415 last year. Traffic fatalities are at nine, compared to five the previous year. DUI arrests are at 480 compared to 461. In December 2024, there were 75 DUI arrests, compared to 85 the previous month. In December 2024, 3,612 citations were issued, including, 331 for seat belt violations, 32 for child restraint violations, and 1,303 for speeding. • Personnel Report: Major Sherry Bird reported a total of 84 sworn police vacancies in the field. After accounting for 13 recruits from the 100th class, 15 from the 101 st class, and 11 from the 102nd class, the department currently has 45 unfilled sworn positions. Currently, there are 25 positions filled and 13 vacant for police communication officers. All five supervising police communication officer positions are fully staffed. Overall, the department has filled 443 of 484 sworn positions (91%) and 125 of 159 civilian positions (79%). Major Bird reported PO I recruitment activities and continuous recruitment efforts. The 102nd recruit class currently has 11 recruits in academic training until May 17, 2025, having initially started with 12 new hires on November 18, 2024. The 101st recruit class has 15 recruits in academic training until January 31, 2025, after beginning with 18 new hires on July 16, 2024. The 100th recruit class has 13 recruits in Field Training Officer (FTO) assignments until January 31, 2025, originally starting with 17 new hires on April 1, 2024. The 103rd recruit class is scheduled to begin on March 17, 2025. A total of 27 candidates passed the written test, and 28 participated in the agility test, including retakes. • Finance: Major Bird reported that HPD's overall expenditure target was 44.73%, with the actual expenditure at 43.94%. The target salaries and wages were 45.83%, with the actual at 46.67%. Regular salaries and wages were at 40.59%, overtime salaries and wages at 150.66%, and miscellaneous salaries and wages at 82.25% • Commendations & Awards: Chief Moszkowicz reported receiving five commendations involving eight personnel since the last commission meeting in recognition of exceptional service. Additionally, Officer Severo Ines Jr. was honored as the Officer of the Quarter by the Hawai'i Island Safety and Security Professionals Association (HISSPA). Officer Augustine "Augie" Akiu Jr., a lifelong resident of Ka'u, was nominated by his peers and awarded the district's Officer of the Year. Officer Jenna Kosinski-Santos, also a lifelong resident of Ka'u, was recognized as the district's top enforcer, an award given to the officer with the highest proactive enforcement citation activity in the district for the year. Hamakua Patrol Officer Kaleb Caves received the Haweo Award in December for his investigative skills, which led to the recovery of stolen property in multiple cases during his first two months on solo patrol.