2006-04-21 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes April 21, 2006 Page 4 incorporate a small dormitory. Hopefully, they can convince the finance people that that would be the most judicious use. Commissioner Lundkvist stated that a new police substation is high on the list for the Puna Development Task Force. Chief Mahuna stated that the substation will be in the area of the new fire station. Commissioner Mitchell thanked Chief Mahuna for opening the Volcano substation. Commissioner Politano Steckel asked to have Officer Reyes back at their Puueo substation. They also need a computer. She also asked about incentives such as tuition assistance for children of police officers. Chief Mahuna stated that that would have to be brought before the County Council. Recess was called at 10:45 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINTS Corporation Counsel Ashida explained the difference between open and executive sessions. STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS (open to the public) DETECTIVE JASON CORTEZ (Complaint HPC 05 -35): Stated that this complaint involved a criminal investigation of the complainant's daughter who stole her jewelry. The case itself was resolved after he contacted the daughter. He obtained a confession. He walked her through with the prosecutor and recommended drug counseling. The initial officer did a good job in getting her jewelry. They have someone from the National Guard who helps them with all the pawn shop receipts and inputs and checks with pawn shops. This was the one and only time that he utilized this person, and so he remembers it. He forgot to tell the complainant about it. The jewelry was important to her because it has sentimental value. It bothers him that he could not get all her jewelry back. NAPUA CORREA (Complaint HPC 05 -35): Stated that her complaint was about her jewelry not being returned. In 2004 she went to the pawn shops to find out how much it would cost to retrieve them. She got back 4 items out of 23 items. She felt that when the pawn slips were given out, it was not done properly. She didn't get a fair run of it. She went to the pawn shops the next day, and they said they had it. She told them they were stolen and that she would prosecute her daughter. STEVEN WEINSTEIN (Complaint HPC 06 -03): Summarized his written complaint. While passing a line of cars in which two officers where in, the officers sped up from 48 to 58 mph. He got ticketed for going 59 in a 55 zone. After he was cited, the younger officer sped away. He told Officer Troutman to ticket the officer. He feels that he was set up. He mentioned that he lives in Waikoloa Village, and the young officer said, "So I'll see you there." He thought that was inappropriate. He feels that it was a setup.