2006-08-03 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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of the island, the other takes care of the west, and one does administration. Not only do they take care of the uniformed patrol services, they also take care of criminal investigations, traffic, licensing, the crime lab, and the finance division. The perception that they are not doing anything is the furthest thing from the truth. That may be the perception, but it is not true. Mr. Sakaguchi said he does not know what the solution is, but is suggesting rethinking how to do operate, and what the mission is. From what he has learned about the various departments, the County is at about 1980 or 1990 in terms of technology. Improving their technology would be another way for the Department to get more out of its manpower. Deputy Chief Kubojiri said he addresses that point further on in his letter. The Chair asked, regarding recruitment, whether the Department ever looked at the military, as there are a lot of service people returning from duty who are already in the rank - and -file structure and trained to follow superiors. Deputy Chief Kubojiri said the Department does work with the armed forces and that members of the Police and Civil Service departments fly to Oahu to be there when troops return from tours. They bring their recruitment posters and fliers, and they talk to the service people, showing them there is a job waiting for them with the Police. The Department does actively pursue them. The Chair asked whether the County getting fleet vehicles would hurt the recruitment. Deputy Chief Kubojiri said that issue had been brought up. Many candidates to become officers like the idea of purchasing and using their own vehicle. It was an incentive for some. On the flip side, the Department looks at what would save the County money in the long run. A task force did an analysis on this and determined it would be a wash —there would not be substantial savings by going with a fleet over subsidized vehicles. In fact, it they go with a maintenance program for the fleet, it will cost the County more. Mr. Sakaguchi said that from the community's perspective, having 200 more marked vehicles gives a sense of security. Having unmarked cars is confusing, and people can't tell if that officer is on duty or not. So though it costs more to go to a fleet, he for one would feel more protected seeing those marked cars. Deputy Chief Kubojiri said he agreed. They also looked at whether having marked vehicles causes a reduction in crime, but throughout the nation, it does not. However, the marked vehicles do give citizens the perception of security. But there are also those people who do not voluntarily comply with the laws, such as wearing their seatbelts. Mr. Sakaguchi said a better solution is to go after full recruitment, with better pay. Deputy Chief Kubojiri said that Police and Civil Service will be televising a recruitment film. Civil Service got the money to hire a professional producer to do the recruitment video, which is to air on television. 5