2005-02-11 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes — Page 4 February 11, 2005 • Commanders' meeting minutes: No discussion. • Other departmental activities: Chair Bertsch stated that at a previous meeting they informally asked Major Dawrs about the inventory status of radar guns in the various districts. They still would like that information. Commissioner Frazier pointed out that it is an effective tool, but it is not in the budget. Chief Mahuna reported that they are looking into a wireless system for police vehicles. This would make data available to officers without going through dispatch. Chief Mahuna spoke on the benefits of the drug court and that it needs support from the police department and community. • Chief's goals and objectives: No questions or discussion. Recess was called at 10:41 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:50 a.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review of chief's and deputy chief's salary and compensation for submittal to the Salary Commission. (Discussed under "Correspondence ".) NEW BUSINESS: None. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINTS STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS (open session) Corporation Counsel Ashida explained the difference between open and close sessions. TY KAHAKA (Complaint HPC 04 -50): While kicking back at her auntie's house, she saw a cop trying to arrest a girl. The cop put the girl's face on the ground. She told the cop not to do that because the girl couldn't breathe. When Officer Mahuna came, he asked what was going on and told them to get out of there. Her uncle Matt offered help, and Officer Mahuna sprayed him and then her Auntie Rhonda. Everybody was watching, and Officer Mahuna was spraying everybody who was there only to help. MICHAEL SCHISZLER (Complaint HPC 04 -44): Stated that his son was involved in a horrible auto accident. Officer Watanabe, without the doctor's permission, pushed his way into his son's room to read him his rights for drunk driving and said he needed a medical release form. His son was traumatized and under morphine. At that time he didn't know that his son had no alcohol in his system. The officer committed federal offenses by pushing his way into the room. The office had his hand on his gun. The other driver had no insurance and was not tested for alcohol. There were five people involved in his son's car. It was false arrest and illegal use of authority. He was very unprofessional. The officer said he would arrest anyone in his way. Everybody in the hospital unit watched.