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Honorable Pudding Lassiter and Members of the Hawaii Police Commission Honorable Lawrence K. Mahuna May 24, 2006 Page 2 The statement in the May 18, 2006, edition of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that this bill had been "defeated" is misleading. In the unlikely event votes are reversed by at least five Council Members, the bill may pass. During the course of the spirited discussions had on May 1, 2006 (at the Committee level) and on May 17, 2006, many interesting observations and suggestions were made by Council Members. It may be appropriate for our Commission to consider these observations and suggestions as we examine possible improvements to the investigatory process. These questions and issues are discussed more fully below. 1. Complainants unwilling to bring their cases forward. Councilman Bob Jacobson has represented on multiple occasions he has spoken with "many people" who have told him they lack confidence in the Police Department and Police Commission in their ability to properly investigate charges of police misconduct. Councilman Jacobson further represented these complainants were so advised by their attorneys that it was "useless" to make a complaint to the Police Commission. When I queried Councilman Jacobson on these statements, within the spirit of seeking to encourage all citizens to bring any concern they may have forward, Councilman Jacobson declined to identify who allegedly made these statements. If there is any validity to this allegation, I surmise it may be the product of perceived inadequacies of the Commission fostered through the negative media attention received in the latter part of the 1990's, when the Police Department was embroiled in the "rigged promotions" scandal and other unfortunate matters. Perhaps my mother's sage advice of"Today is what people will think about you for the rest of your life" may be appropriate here. I believe the present membership of the Commission, together with the exemplary leadership of Chief Lawrence Mahuna, has taken great strides to dispel the ghosts of scandals past. Thus, Councilman Jacobson's statement, which I believe he genuinely believes is true, is a sobering reminder to us all that there is a long path ahead for our department and Commission to fully regain the public's trust, much of which is based on dated negative perception. 2. Additional powers for the Commission? Councilman Gary Safarik and other members of the Council have now repeatedly asked whether it would be appropriate for us to enlarge the present powers of the