HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 614 Draft 01 2024-2026A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, TO RECEIVE A GRANT TO PURCHASE
TWO HANDHELD MASS SPECTROMETERS FOR THE HAWAIʻI POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEREAS, Section 46-7 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes requires the consent of the Council in order for the County to enter into an agreement with the federal government or any other
public body respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted to the County by law and furnish, expend, and receive any funds or other assistance in connection with
projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, has authorized $163,269 in grant funds to be provided to the County as a grant for fentanyl abatement; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiʻi Police Department wishes to enter into an agreement with the Office of Justice Programs to receive these grant funds; and
WHEREAS, funds from this grant will be used to provide Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Vice Division with two handheld mass spectrometers and cover associated hardware, shipping, one-year
warranties, and tax; and
WHEREAS, one handheld mass spectrometer will be deployed in East Hawaiʻi, and one will be deployed in West Hawaiʻi; and
WHEREAS, ten police officers will receive training on how to use the handheld mass spectrometers; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Vice officers recovered nearly two pounds of illicit fentanyl, which had the potential to cause five hundred thousand fatal overdoses;
and
WHEREAS, without the ability to immediately identify miniscule yet lethal doses of fentanyl, probable cause may not be established, and a suspected dealer may be released from police
custody; and
WHEREAS, the handheld mass spectrometers will expedite the identification of low concentrations or trace amounts of fentanyl on scene to establish probable cause for a preliminary hearing
within forty-eight hours; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that, pursuant to Section 46-7 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with
the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, for the purposes hereinabove described.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi; Diane T. Nakagawa, Director of
Finance; and Reed K. Mahuna, Chief of Police.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
JENNIFER KAGIWADA
Council Member
BY REQUEST OF THE:
Chief of Police