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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0301.013 2020-2022 [Last Name] 1 Keoni De La Cruz 1614 Kaunala P1 Testimony for Comm.301 Requests a discussion with the Hawaii County Police Department in regarding staffing and operational service responsibilities rw Aloha County Council, a 1, My name is Keoni De La Cruz, I am a former Animal Protection/Control Officer for Hawaii Rainbow Rangers, 16-year combat veteran of the United States Army and a 12-year Federal Law Enforcement Officer with the Department of Defense. I am testifying to you today about the unfair termination of the County Contract which after 30 days will leave good workers out of a job in a time where people need to work to live here in the County of Hawaii. Comm. No 01 'I� Ref.To: Ref. Dote J U L - 6 2021 [Last Name] 2 I began my adventure with the Hawaii Rainbow Rangers after reading an article in the Hawaii Tribune Herald about Animal Control Services being awarded to Hawaii Rainbow Rangers and was working Security at the Hilo International Airport, which I had been employed at for 2 years and were downsizing due to COVID. I contacted Sylvia Dolena, who at the time was in charge of the hiring of contractors and had an interview set up with Dolena and President of the Organization Mary Rose. I submitted my resume and supporting certificates of training and was found to be qualified for the position as a Lead Animal Protection Officer. I then Joined the National Animal Control Association (NACA) and paid for Animal Control Officer Basic 1 and 2 which cost a total of$694 Dollars and was reimbursed by Rainbow Friends and not HRR. My first duty was to go to the Kona Shelter and clean cats at the facility. Having a Concealed Carry Permit issued by Department of Defense and the Hawaii Attorney General for the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, I had a firearm on my person as I did not know I was not allowed to have it and was not canying as an animal control-officer but a retired law enforcement officer in accordance with Federal Law to protect not only myself [Last Name] 3 But the community which is allowed both by former President George Bush and changes made to the law by President Barack Obarna. I was reported by then Director of Operations Manager Regina Dodaro Romero Serrano to at the time also sent to Sylvia Dolena, Assistant Chief Samuel Jelsma. An emailwas y Mary Rose and others in the organization that I had a weapon, was not qualified to be an animal control officer and had a false background check done on me. In order for me to have my permit to carry a firearm I am required to qualify every year, go through a medical evaluation which includes mental health and a check with my agency, which in this case is the Department of Defense, to certify my status to carry. There were no signs posted on the property that said "No Firearms Allowed". AAC Jelsma then contacted Sylvia Dolena and I was placed in a position as a dispatcher with HRR and I explained I did not know I could not carry and would correct the problem. From that point I did not carry again. Sylvia Dolena was in the process of hiring qualified candidates when Best Friends was Contracted and took over operations of HRR. I then found out from staff working with HRR that Dodaro Romero Serrano had resigned as well as other workes at the Kona Shelter and was why I had to go help take care of the animals in Kona because there was no staff left to take care of the animals. [Last Name] 4 Scheduling was handled by Sylvia Dolena and as contractors we gave our availability to work and hours which often required after hours for HPD emergency calls. When Best Friends came, in October 2020 Scheduling and other operations were handled by their worker Nick Lippincott, who was brought in from the mainland. Also in October our contract ended but was extended month by month until Full Services and interviews were supposed to be put in place to make us employees. I was never interviewed by Lippincott and was never told of any wrongdoing until 5/18/21 when I was falsley accused of numerous violations which included a very serious charge of Sexual Harassment. Lippincott informed Dodaro Romero Serrano, Gina Burrows(Assistant Director of Operations) and Mary Rose of his complaints. Prior to this happening a series of events had occurred which included myself and Animal Protection Officer Ryan Quinn, who has since left HRR and moved to the mainland, had informed Mary Rose of violations we had observed. The violations included, Threatening East side contractors that if they did not read the employee handbook they would no longer be employeed, Having Non Animal Protection Officers go through Training with HPD for Badging and signing a noterized paper stating they took the oath given by Chief Ferreira that they would perform the duties of Animal control, [Last Name] 5 Unauthorized Euthanaisia not approved by Mary Rose or any of her Leadership prior to having animals put down, No Background Checks or Drug Testing of Contractors put through the HPD Training. There are many others but I am sure you will hear these from others in the Organization. Our phone system was one issue we have been trying to address since Lippincott came on board, one i Dodaro Romero Serrano ssue was that we were using our own personal computers to handle calls through internet service set up by Lippincott. The issue with that is the internet would not work at times which caused a delay in calls being answered. There were also times where I was the only Animal Control Officer handling calls from Honokaa to Kau and Puna. When I asked Lippincott about Staffing he said he was working on it until the time the Contract with Best Friends was severed and. Dodaro Romero Serrano resigned. Dodaro Romero Serrano's position at the time of resignation was Program Manager of HRR. Michael Orr and Cheryse Emmons were promoted by Lippincott, Burrows • and Dodaro Romero Serrano to Lead APO for the West side and Shelter Managers while the East Side only had myself as Lead APO. Kona was given adequate staffing and equipment while the east suffered with what we had. Michael Orr, • Cheryse Emmons and Regina Dodaro Romero Serrano [Last Name] 6 Have also worked together with HIHS and use that to undermine everyone working with HRR that were not a part of the Humane Society. I have copies of Emails Defaming and Slandering me that were sent to Major Wanna and others in the HPD Leadership as well as communicated with Mayor Mitch Roth. I also have a copy of the false background check done on me. These exact people that have been terminated or resigned from HRR are now working for Hawaii County under HPD. I feel this is unfair and also discriminatory as many of us who lost our jobs are of different cultures and others that have been brought back in are of caucasian ethnicity and are not willing to work with those of us who have worked hard to make the contract work. I have also addressed to Lippincott that we needed fuel cards for the vehicles and a way to provide maintenance, many of these services were paid from our own pockets. I do not fault Mary Rose or anyone from Rainbow Friends as they did not have communication from the previous leadership and were not informed of where money was spent, what Best Friends put in to help as they state in their contract with Rainbow Friends and this was what led up to the change in Leadership. All Emails I have concerning me were dated June 7,2021 and I was placed on Leave pending review and cleared by the new leadership May 24,2021 of any wrongdoing and reinstated. [Last Name] 7 I request the county to look into the issues caused by Lippincott,Best Friends, Dodaro Romero Serrano, On, Emmons and Burrows. As contractors or even if we were employees, we did not have to accept the duties we were paid to do. It is unfortunate that after those who were terminated or resigned, it has come to the end of the contract for Hawaii Rainbow Rangers, Hawaii Counties trust in its workers, the animals and community we served. Mahalo, Keoni De La Cruz