2001-05-18 Police Commission Minutes

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE COMMISSION MINUTES — REGULAR SESSION MAY 18, 2001 HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROOM CALL TO ORDER Chair Wilfred Okabe called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Wilfred M. Okabe, Chair Dwight K. Manago, Vice Chair John M. Bertsch, Member Horace S. Hara, Member Daniel C. Kama, Member Phoebe M. Lambeth, Member Clarence Mills, Member Walter Moe, Member Peter P. Muller, Member A quorum was present. Also Present: Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Lawrence Mahuna, Assistant Chief Thomas Hickcox, Assistant Chief Gary Maesato, Business Manager Josie Pelayo, Secretary Chair Okabe welcomed new Commissioners John Bertsch of District 8 and Daniel Kama of District 6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Ms. Pelayo pointed out that Complaints for Consideration HPC 00 -09 to 00 -15 should read 01 -09 to 01 -15. Commissioner Moe moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Manago and unanimously carried. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS JACK RUSSELL came before the commission and spoke regarding Correspondence 57. He expressed dissatisfaction with the investigations conducted by police officers. His farm has been burglarized many times. The police department and the detectives are working against each other. Police officers are not detectives. They look around, write up their report, and you don't hear from them again. Something is wrong with how they conduct their investigations, and something needs to be done. Commissioner Lambeth stated that they handle complaints against specific officers. His concerns are general and should be referred to the police department. DWIGHT VICENTE came before the commission and stated that he is speaking about the complaint process. It violates the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution does not allow use of guns. The State of Hawaii is illegal according to the U.S. Constitution. STEPHEN HICKS came before the commission and spoke regarding complaints listed on the agenda. The commission needs to set up criteria for complaints. The Department of Justice is interested in any excessive force cases by police anywhere.