2007-03-16 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 16, 2007 Page 4 Chief Mahuna reported that they had testing for the police cadets. They received over 100 applications. Reading comprehension is a major issue, and a significant number of applicants did not finish that portion. They will try to look at the reading phase and maybe make adjustments. He does not want to downgrade the position because it has to be consistent with what's required of a police officer. Commissioner Lundkvist questioned whether they have meetings with teachers to let them know that they are passing students who can't read. Chief Mahuna stated that the problem in the schools is that teachers have to spend an inordinate number of time managing behavior. This is problematic nationwide. Commissioner Politano Steckel suggested that the newspapers put something out that they can't get people to pass a reading comprehension test. If this gets out to the public, and the public gets excited, maybe something can be done. Commissioner Lundkvist stated that she will get together with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, etc., and sit down as leaders, and see what they could do. She will start organizing it. Chief Mahuna stated that they have their school resource officers, and they see what's happening. They have very dedicated teachers who see what's happening. He doesn't think they can make a commentary that the Department of Education is failing. If you don't fix the functionality of the home, it won't work. If you are not in class, it won't work. It's a process. The Board of Education is very aware of what the problems are. It's a state and national problem. He does not want to be antagonistic with the BOE; he wants to work with them. Commissioner Lundkvist stated that she would like to meet with the Chief after the meeting because she disagrees with him. A.C. Pacheco reported that the bids for the Halehalewai sub - station have gone out, and they should start in about two weeks. Chief Mahuna thanked Commissioner Frazier for his years of service. Recess was called at 10:20. The meeting reconvened at 10:40 a.m. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINTS STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS (open to the public) LEROY DECOSTA (Complaint HPC 06 -31) stated that he has copies of statements from neighbors who disagreed with what happened. The police received a call that his fiance was stabbed. Instead of going to his house, the police took all his neighbors out of their homes at 4:30 in the morning. They brought in the swat team. This was overkill. They