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Honorable Brenda Ford <br /> April 7, 2008 <br /> Page 12 <br /> Copies of communications between our office and the Police Commission <br /> are enclosed for your reference. As a friendly reminder, these are privileged <br /> communications shared with the Council on a "need to know" basis, and should <br /> remain protected as confidential. <br /> 6. What happens if a constituent makes a complaint of police <br /> misconduct to a Council member, and claims they do not want to <br /> report it to the Commission or Police Department, as they lack <br /> trust and confidence in the present system? <br /> There are many independent governmental agencies that may field such <br /> complaints. In addition to the FBI, the State Department of the Attorney General <br /> (the Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer in the State of Hawai'i, <br /> pursuant to statute), the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, or the United States <br /> Attorney may independently investigate such allegations. Please facilitate the <br /> report of any allegation of police misconduct or corruption to any of these <br /> agencies, if the complainant does not wish to report it to the Commission or <br /> police department. If in fact there is a systemic problem of police corruption as <br /> intimated in the preamble of Bill 270, an agency outside the confines of the <br /> County of Hawaii may be best able to properly investigate and surface any <br /> evidence of a culture of wrongdoing. <br /> Thank you for allowing our office to weigh in and comment on Bill 270. 1 <br /> will be present at the meeting on April 8, 2008, to address any questions the <br /> Council committee may have. <br /> Very truly yours, <br /> LINCOLN S. T. ASHIDA <br /> Corporation Counsel <br /> Ends. <br /> S: Departments/Council/LSA Corresp./Letter to Council re independent police auditor 4-7-08/LSAmr <br />