2003-03-14 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 14, 2003 Page 5 DISCUSSION: Commissioner Moe inquired into whether the department had discussed land availability with Shipman for the new police station in Puna. Chief Mahuna stated that Shipman would make the land available at no cost to the County. However, statistics indicate that lower Puna is where most crimes are located, so they would like to move the station further down the road on Route 130 around the 6 -7 mile marker. Shipman's property goes to the 3 -mile marker. Commissioner Bertsch inquired as to why they were requesting 10 training positions when they have historically lost 15 officers a year. Chief Mahuna responded that 5 positions are usually command positions and 10 are lower ranking positions. • Office Management and Staffing (Muller /Mitchell) —The committee had no report. • Rules and Policies (Moe /Bertsch) — The committee had no report. • Contractual Services (de Silva) — The committee had no report. • Public Relations (Nara /Lambeth) — The committee had no report. CHIEF'S REPORT • Crime: Assistant Chief Paiva summarized the written report. Commissioner Moe asked that they identify Puna in the report. • Traffic: Major Day summarized the written report. • Personnel: Chief Mahuna introduced Charles Chai, the newly appointed Assistant Chief of Administration, who summarized the written report. • Finance: Accountant Nori Ishii summarized the written report. • Commendations: Chief Mahuna reported receiving eight commendations since the last meeting. • Other Departmental Activities: Chief Mahuna reported that they are looking at the records management system coming on line soon, and local area networks have been set up. The $10 million digital microwave system should start by the middle of next month. They will retrofit all of their microwave - powered repeaters to 6 gigahertz digital. They have embarked on strategic planning training sessions which include all commanders, and they have developed specific vision and mission statements (copies distributed). It is concise, to the point, and envisions all of the things that they want in this community. It also takes on the community policing philosophy. They tried to emphasize the spirit of aloha because it is something that is unique to Hawaii and the Big Island.