2003-06-20 Police Commission Minutes

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JUNE 20, 2003 HILO HAWAIIAN HOTEL CALL TO ORDER Chair Hara called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Horace S. Hara, Chair Dwight K. Manago, Vice Chair Paul M. de Silva, Member James A. Frazier, Member Phoebe M. Lambeth, Member Betsy Mitchell, Member Walter Moe, Member Peter P. Muller, Member A quorum was present. Also Present: Lawrence Mahuna, Chief of Police Wendell Paiva, Assistant Chief Charles Chai, Assistant Chief Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary Absent: John M. Bertsch, Member APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Manago moved to add the following items to the agenda and then to approve the agenda as amended: Correspondence 03 -52 from West Hawaii Crime Stoppers with regards to Correspondence 49; Correspondence 03 -53 from Thomas Russi and Christine Paul with regards to Correspondence 03 -48; and Complaint HPC 03 -11 in which complainant alleged mistreatment by an officer following a dispute with hotel personnel. Commissioner Moe seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS - Open to the public Corporation Counsel Lincoln informed that the public is allowed to comment on any item on the agenda. If it is a complaint against a police officer, they have the option to present a statement in either open or closed session. HAMEED HUNTER, COMPLAINT HPC 03 -07. Mr. Hunter stated that he initially had a problem with the 911 operator, and it took several minutes to give the location. They were unable to send an officer, but he later spoke to an officer at McDonalds. He was hit by his supervisors; one was Jewish, he is Arabic. The officer gave him seven minutes of his time and whited out everything that he wrote on his victim - witness report. The police report said nothing about his injuries. Many of things were not filled out. The officer told him he did not look black, that he looked Hawaiian. The officer asked him strange questions like where he lived. He asked the officer if he wanted his employer's phone number, and the officer said only if it didn't give him more work. This was a hate crime. The doctor found superficial abrasions. This has caused him emotional pain, and as a result, lost his job. STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS — Closed to the public (executive session) Commissioner Lambeth moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawai'i County Police Department where consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved and a closed session is requested and to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92 -5 (2) and Hawai'i County Charter Section 13- 20 (b). Commissioner Moe seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. The commission convened into executive session at 10:20 a.m. and then reconvened back into regular session at 12:20 p.m.