2008-08-22 Police Commission Minutes

Home

Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes August 22, 2008 Page 4 Vice Chair Whittemore inquired where they would make their 4% budget reduction as requested by the Mayor. Chief Mahuna reported that they have already implemented it by cutting down on training and trips, including out -of -state training. He spoke of the difficulty he had with a web -phone seminar in which he probably got only about 5% of what the presenter was saying. They are not going to reduce personnel. It is very difficult to make a 4% reduction in two months. They had budgeted $1 million for additional blue and whites for the next year. That has been put on hold for a year. • Commendations: AC Tavares reported receiving 18 commendations since the last meeting. • Other Departmental Activities: Commissioner Sumja inquired about a story in the Honolulu Advertiser about Honolulu police officers manipulating the computer system in order to get choice special duty jobs. Chief Mahuna stated that it was an IT problem that went array. Hawai' i County's system has firewalls and backups. Chief Mahuna reported that they are working on a systemic fleet maintenance program which is above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty. Commissioner Behenna inquired whether Hawaii County would have jurisdictional issues such as the recent incident at lolani Palace in Honolulu. Chief Mahuna stated that they have concurrent jurisdiction with other agencies, and they wouldn't have a problem here. Recess was called at 10:44 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:55 a.m. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINTS STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS (open to the public) MURIAL HARDISTY (Complaint HPC 08 -19) stated that when the officer came to their home, he accused them of being trouble makers. MURIAL HARDISTY (Complaint HPC 08 -20) stated that the officer chased her daughter into their home. He had his Taser on and came right in. Her complaint is that it could have been handled in a more respectful, more civil way. There is tension between them and their neighbor and the police in the middle. The officer could have been less judgmental. He said they were guilty. He wouldn't listen to anything they had to say. They have had mediation with their neighbor. They have had accusations and law suits. This has been going on for 50 years with her husband's family and the neighbor. With her it has been going on 13 years. STEVE HARDISTY (husband) stated that when the officer first came to the house, he said, "1'm sick and tired of coming over here. Why should 1 believe you? 1 believe them." Another evening, he came shining the flashlight into their window and starting pounding on the door. It's his attitude. He judged them. He was not neutral. In another incident, the same officer