Report of the Cost of Government Commission - January 9, 2007

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D. Recommend that entry-level police officers be compensated at a higher level to help the County recruit and retain officers. Back¢round/Exolanation: There is a shortage of police officers throughout the state of Hawaii. In our own Department, whenever an officer gets sick, injured, or takes leave for whatever reason, minimum staffing falls short. To reach the minimum staffing requirement, other officers have to work longer shifts, and others need to start hours early to compensate for the missing officers. This happens so frequently that some officers aze working overtime every other day, which is causing bum-out, illness, and a lesser quality of life. One reason for the shortage of officers throughout the state is the pay. Officers tend to leave Hawaii to work in mainland jurisdictions with higher pay. E. Recommend the Department go ahead with its Mobile Data Terminals program. Back¢round/Explanation: With computers in their vehicles, officers will be able to check on warrants for stopped individuals, which will free up the time it takes to call in the information to Dispatch, having the Dispatch personnel stop what they are doing and change computer screens and run the person's name through. Honolulu currently has the MDT system in place. In addition, officers will be able to take a person's complaint, write up the report in their vehicle, and send it in. XVIII. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY A response dated May 5, 2006, to the COGC's questionnaire was received from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. After reviewing and discussing the response, no recommendations were made by the COGC. XIX. PUBLIC WORKS An undated response to the COGC's questionnaire was received from the Public Works Department. In addition, Stanley Nakasone, head of the Highway Division, and Brian Kajikawa, head of the Building Division, met with the COGC on July 20, 2006. Based upon the written response, the July 20, 2006, meeting, as well as input from the Planning Department, the following recommendations aze made: A. Hi¢hway Maintenance Division: (1) Recommend pursuing negotiations with the union to go to a 10-hour, 4- day work schedule for employees. 12