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HAWAI`I POLICE COMMISSION <br /> REGULAR SESSION MINUTES <br /> SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 <br /> WEST HAWAI`I CIVIC CENTER, BUILDING A, COUNCIL CHAMBERS <br /> 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HI <br /> UNAPPROVED MINUTES <br /> These minutes are DRAFT minutes. The commission has <br /> not voted to accept them. Changes may/may not be made prior to their adoption at the next meeting. <br /> CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL <br /> Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 9.01 a.m. <br /> Present: Rick Robinson, Chair <br /> John Bertsch, Vice Chair <br /> Wendy Botelho, Commissioner <br /> Arthur Buckman, Commissioner <br /> Eileen Lacerte, Commissioner <br /> Jacob Tavares, Commissioner <br /> Bernadette Urban-Smith, Commissioner <br /> Absent: Lloyd Enriquez, Commissioner <br /> Greg Yamada, Commissioner <br /> A quorum was present. <br /> Also present: Reed Mahuna, Interim Police Chief <br /> Sherry Bird, Assistant Chief <br /> Scott Amaral, Major <br /> Thomas Shopay, Major <br /> Tuck Loy Aurello, Captain <br /> Edwin Buyten, Captain <br /> Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br /> Charisse Correa, Secretary <br /> STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS <br /> Patti Cook testified on the recruitment and hiring process for a new chief. She requested <br /> that candidate applications include questions addressing immigration and other community <br /> concerns, noting she provided suggested language in her written testimony. She <br /> emphasized the importance of establishing ongoing communication between the <br /> department and the community to address changing needs and priorities, such as <br /> immigration, drugs, and other issues. <br /> (Commissioner Tavares arrived at 9.04 a.m.) <br /> Sam Guckenheimer summarized his written testimony, noting this was the third <br /> consecutive meeting at which they raised concerns about the police chief selection <br /> process. He emphasized the need to include questions on immigration and federal law <br /> enforcement practices in candidate interviews and requested that candidate responses be <br />