2013-06-21 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawai‘i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes June 21, 2013 Page 2 POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: Crime report by area, category, and trends: Assistant Chief Tavares reported that up to May 31, 2013, there were 7,694 serious crimes. The Area I and II Criminal Investigation Units investigated 1,903 cases. For the month of May 2013, the department received 7,864 calls for service – 2,289 related to criminal and traffic incidents and 5,575 for miscellaneous public assistance. For crime trends in May, in Hilo they recognized the crime trend of Toyota Tacoma trucks being stolen. Their Special Enforcement Unit is working on this, looking into where these trucks are going and what is happening to them. The unique thing about the Tacoma is that parts over a six-year period are interchangeable. In Kona, they have seen an increase in camping violations and complaints of homeless and juveniles in the Kailua area. Community Police Officers in Kona continue to make checks and continue enforcement of all criminal violations. Vice Chair Ignacio asked if there are more homeless or if the homeless are being more problematic. Assistant Chief Kealoha stated that they have seen an increase over the last couple of years. Of interest are individuals they call backpackers. They are not the typical homeless. They are done with college, are in transition, and are living out of a backpack. They see that as an increase combined with their typical homeless which remains constant. They also see that during the summer season, the homeless population goes down. Around September-October, when the weather starts getting colder on the mainland, homeless increases. The backpackers have added to the population. Commissioner Bertsch stated that it seems like the homeless backpackers tend to congregate in intersections panhandling with signs, looking for money. Assistant Kealoha stated that they are the same group he referred to; he sees the same thing. They look healthy, young, and do not have substance abuse or mental illness. They are pretty stable, but they are homeless and traveling. Commissioner Bertsch stated that on the Kona side, they will see the same faces in the same intersections. Probably in the past year, they have seen a whole new level of young individuals with signs such as, “Too cute to be broke.” There would be about six of them that congregate within a half mile radius at major intersections. Vice Chair Ignacio stated that they (human services) frequently get calls about this. Her job is to get people into services, homes, and jobs. Panhandling is illegal. She asked why the panhandlers are not being arrested. Assistant Chief Kealoha stated that the ordinance is very weak.