2025-07-18 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Regular Session Minutes July 18, 2025 Page 4 Peter Matlock explained thatthe most important issue in selecting a new police chief is ICE collaboration. He urged that the next chief be required to terminate the current MOU with ICE and avoid any new agreements, arguing that ICE involvement undermines trust, endangers community safety, misuses local resources, and compromises constitutional rights. He stressed that HPD must remain independent and accountable to the community, not federal immigration enforcement. Patti Cook expressed appreciation for the Police Department’s partnership in keeping the community safe,but stressed that trust is jeopardized by ICE collaboration. She shared that many community members recently attended a rapid response training to prepare for immigration enforcement actions,learning how to stay safe, remain peaceful, and push back appropriately. She stated that they plan to continue these efforts, to be more vocal, and to show up at commission and councilmeetings to advocate for removing MOUs from county policy and preventing any 287(g) agreements from being implemented.She urged the commission to ensure the new police chief prioritizes community safety by ending cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, noting that immigrant families live in fear daily and need protection. POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT ON DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Items from the chief’sreports were highlighted: Crime Report:MajorScottAmaralreported 5,928 serious crimes through June 30, 2025.Area I and Area II criminal investigation units investigated 773of these serious crimes, with 514in Area I and259in Area II. Calls for Service: InJune 2025,the department received 9,755 calls for service. Fiscal year to date is 92,899. Traffic Report:Major Thomas Shopayreported that as of July 16, 2025,there were 1,009traffic crashes this fiscal year, compared to 911last year.Traffic fatalities are at 23,compared to25the previous year.DUI arrestsfor the yearare at943compared to 946.In June2025, there were 69DUI arrests,compared to88the previous month.In June2025,5,213citations were issued, including 3,472for moving/regulatory, 336for seat belt violations, 14for child restraint violations, and 1,081for speeding. Personnel Report: Assistant ChiefSherry Bird reported 85 sworn police vacanciesin the field, not including five recruits from the 102nd class and five from the 103rd class. For police communication officers, 23 positions are filled and 16 remain vacant. Among supervising police communication officer positions, four are filled,with one vacancy. Overall, the department has filled 419of 493sworn positions (85%) and 119of 161 civilian positions (74%). Assistant Chief Bird provided an update onrecruitment activities, recruit classes, and ongoing recruitment efforts.