2009-01-16 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 16, 2009 Page 7 such as for light duty, etc. Regarding the computers, it has been has been their position that administration is the last place to get anything. They have always put operations first. The new computers came from the contingency fund and are for recruit training on the RMS system. The computers in the cars will do the same function as the computer at the station. Previously, officers had to wait their turn to use the office computer. Now with the mobile data, they can use the one in their car. They now lease their computers, and if it breaks, they can return it. Commissioner Sumja inquired about the duties of the Public Relations Specialist whom he wants to work with on positive public publicity. Chief Kubojiri stated that Ms. Loos handles the department's website, fields calls from the media, and does their annual report. He spoke to her about the new committee, and she looks forward to working with the commission. Chair Whittemore stated that they will complement each other. Commissioner Morimoto inquired into the police department's response to banning of fireworks. Chief Kubojiri stated that the State is trying to leave it up to each county. Every year they have fire works related injuries, accidents, and fires. Honolulu wants a total ban. There has to be a balance between the cultural issues and safety. He wants to see what is proposed before he responds. NEW BUSINESS Discussion on Police Commission procedures and legal matters concerning its authority and limitations as defined in the Hawaii County Charter and Hawaii Revised Statues. Chair Whittemore stated that Corporation Counsel Ashida will help with this. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS OFFICER ANDRES FOJAS (Complaint 08 -31) stated that he read Mr. Larson's letter. Larson made false statements. They had a roadblock. He could smell that Larson was drinking, and his eyes showed it. After the standard field sobriety test, he offered Larson the breath test. After he started reading Larson the form, he started getting angry and raising his voice. He continued to read the form again. Larson interrupted him again and got real argumentative. He didn't get a chance to read him the form. Larson was very uncooperative, so he told him he was under arrest and to turn around. Larson started poking him on his shoulder. He told him to turn around. Larson tried to pull away from him. He had to take him down. He took him down on a grassy area, not a gravel area. Larson was non - compliant when he tried to put his hands behind his back, and Officer Pauole had to assist him in getting the handcuffs on. One of Larson's complaint is that the handcuffs were too tight. It is procedure to double lock, so it could not have gotten tighter. When he removed the handcuffs at the station, he did notice a little redness to the area. He had to put the cuffs back on when he transported Larson to the hospital. He knows the cuffs were not tight because he put his finger in to test it, and it was double locked. It could not become tighter or looser. After Larson had his blood drawn, he asked him if he wanted to see a doctor. He said no. Larson became uncooperative while he was reading the form to him.