2003-10-17 Police Commission Minutes

Home

Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 17, 2003 Page 2 the status on the suggestion made by Mr. Ashida to have two different staff attorneys to represent the commission and the department. Corporation Counsel Ashida stated that with regards to the West Hawaii Today's article he said, "If and when there is a conflict." There is a difference between potential and actual conflict of interest. He can provide her with the phone number of the board of ethics and the disciplinary counsel. NANCY CAPRI came before the commission to speak on her complaint HPC 03 -24. She stated that during a seatbelt block, police officers mocked and laughed at her husband in public. She asked for a badge number and was denied it. An officer told her to talk to his lieutenant, and when she did, the lieutenant asked why she didn't look at the shield for the badge number. This was rude. Roadblocks are inconvenient for the members of the community. She wants the officers reprimanded. She was not in the vehicle with her husband. She was in the front car, and came down after her husband called her. There were no other witnesses. LIEUTENANT ROBERT HICKCOX came before the commission to answer questions regarding his request for legal counsel in CV02- 0149K. The commission had no questions. LIEUTENANT BRADLEY BALLETEROS came before the commission in response to Complaint HPC03 -24. He stated that he was a spotter and not in the area where Mr. Capri was stopped. He never talked to her husband. When she came down to speak to him, he was talking to a young woman about her husband who was in jail. Mrs. Capri was upset when she came up to him. Right after he told her to look at the officer's badge number, he realized that he had a vest on, so he gave her the name and badge number of the two officers. He was not rude. He gave her all the information she requested. They did everything by the book. No one was rude. After working an 8 -hour shift, they don't want to get into any confrontation. She told him that she was going up the street to warn drivers about their roadblock. LISA SIMS HURLEY came before the commission and read her written statement regarding her complaint HPC 03 -23. During the incident, when her friend was asked to leave Huggo's, she merely stood still and watched. While she was watching, she was attacked and forced to the ground. She does not know who threw her to the ground. Because of her court case, she could not bring the witness there. It is her word against the police officers. She was a police officer and sergeant for 17 years. She asked the commission to defer its decision until her jury trial so that her witness and evidence could be used. Her witness would speak to the commission's investigator if her attorney allowed it. DAWN TILLMAN came before the commission to speak on her Correspondence 03 -89 regarding the enforcement of laws regarding runaways. . It was not directed to an officer. She has no doubt that the officer is a caring individual. Her concern is the police in general regarding runaways. They do not do follow -ups. In Puna, kids and stay at various ranches, work, and buy food and drugs. She received the chief's response. REVEREND DENNIS SHIELD stated that he viewed the video of the Robisons and the police. The police violated rules and made rules on the spot. If you're suffering from cancer, you have enough on your plate. Officers have to be held in the highest standard. Vice Chair Manago told Mr. and Ms. Robison that the commission did a complete and thorough investigation. They looked at both sides and all the evidence that was produced. They looked at what was lawful and what was not lawful and made a decision with what they had on hand.