2008-10-17 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 17, 2008 Page 2 • Office Management and Staffing (Lassiter /Morimoto): No report. • Rules and Policies (Behenna /Sumja): As reported above. • Contractual Services (vacant): No report. • Public Relations /Information (Lassiter /Behenna): Commissioner Politano Steckel reported that at the last meeting, she stated that she would like to continue with the fallen officers' monument. However, she now wants someone else to take over the project and will pass on the information to that person. CHIEF'S REPORT Including: • Crime: Major John Dawrs summarized the written report. They recently filled some detective positions, and have already seen some outstanding results. An armed robbery and a theft case were found to be related. Traffic: Assistant Chief Pacheco reported that they will be shorthanded for the next three months due to TEU officers training off - island. Commissioner Behenna expressed interest in the rate of DUI arrests compared to registered drivers. Vice Chair Whittemore stated that he has gotten a lot of calls from people in Kona concerned about the large number of speeding tickets issued in the road construction area. AC Pacheco stated that they get calls all the time about speeders in all areas. Enforcement is something they do. The bottom line is that they are there to save lives. Major Dawrs stated that that there has been a lot of enforcement in the 35 mph zone. Vice Chair Whittemore suggested that they give public notice of the extra enforcement. AC Pacheco stated that normally when the speed board goes up, enforcement goes up. Chief Mahuna stated that the monies from traffic citations go to the state's general fund, not the county. • Personnel: Assistant Chief Ferreira reported that they will have full strength plus one on November 16. Commissioner Kaoiwi stated that he is concerned about staffing in dispatch because he has observed the working conditions there. • Finance: Assistant Chief Ferreira reported that they are into the first month of the new budget year. They were told to continue with a status quo budget and to be frugal and cautious about out -of -state travels. They were not told to anticipate any cuts. • Commendations: Chief Mahuna reported that they received 13 commendations since the last meeting -- South Hilo 7, Puna 1, Hamakua 1, South Kohala 2, Kona 1, and Ka'u 1. • Other Departmental Activities: Chief Mahuna reported that he could speak about traffic enforcement during his monthly radio show rather than placing ads in the newspapers. People who drive aggressively put themselves, their children, and other