2007-03-16 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 16, 2007 Page 2 Commissioner Politano Steckel moved to accept the communications as listed. Commissioner Mitchell seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS • Budget and Finance (Whittemore/Kaoiwi): Commissioner Whittemore reported that he and Commissioner Kaoiwi met with Accountant Kay Oshiro to go over the budget process. They are working with Kay to familiarize themselves with the CIPs. Chief Mahuna stated that having commissioners at the budget hearing would add to their support. Each commissioner represents a district, and there are things within their district that they would like to see. Commissioner Kaoiwi stated that they need to address storage space for records and the firing range. All the districts need money, and they need to lobby for funding for their districts. It's impossible for the Chief to do it all. The county has the money, and they need to ask the County Council for more money. Corporation Counsel stated that one of the charter requirements is for the commission to review the department's budget. They could send a letter to council that they have reviewed the budget, as required by charter, and ask the council to approve the budget. Last year, the council de- funded all vacant positions. Commissioner Whittemore stated that he and Commissioner Kaoiwi would review the budget with Mrs. Oshiro. He further stated that educating the council is not lobbying. • Office Management and Staffing (Lass iter /Morimoto): No report. • Rules and Policies (Lundkvist /Mitchell): No report. • Contractual Services (vacant): No report. • Public Relations (Politano /Robinson): Commissioner Politano Steckel reported that Mrs. Cazimero will give a report on the fallen officers' monument at the Kona meeting. CHIEF'S REPORT Including: • Crime: Assistant Chief Derek Pacheco reported that they have had a lot of car break - ins in Ka'u. They did a search warrant on a residence in Naalehu and recovered a lot of property. He attributed the high numbers in Area II to a large number of auto thefts and credit card fraud. The West Hawaii detectives have been inundated with violent crimes. He doesn't believe there is a spike in the visitor industry, but areas of Hapuna and Punalu'u beaches are prime target areas. Normally on the larger cases, they put the word out to Crime Stoppers.