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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0140.026 2000-2002 Kona Police Staffing We aze a recently formed group of concerned crtizens, who have been in drscussions with vanous individuals in positions that allow them to make informed recommendations regarding the size and makeup of our Kona police force Over the past months, our discussions with these individuals have lead us to believe that the present personnel allocation for the Kona police force is insufficient to provtde our commtuuty with acceptable police presence without subjecting the present personnel to undesirable working conditions The Kona Distnct requires five more patrol officers Please beaz in mind that the Distract of Kona has grown significantly over the past years, yet aside from the ten cellblock officers, no addrtional personnel have been allocated to the Kona Distract We have essentially the same number ofpatrol officers allocated to the Kona Distract as we did ten years ago. Ezcept, now there aze other demands of the Kona police force such as DARE or HI PAL ,which were staffed wtth personnel ongrnally allocated for patrol. We certainly do not advocate any reduction of services in these areas Both programs aze noble, pro-active attempts to instill values and curtail cnme before tt starts The Kona Drstnct cleazly has a need for additional police officers The tremendous growth rn tlvs district will generate more than enough revenue to pay for these officeis. The additional officers will also serve to improve morale to the department and improve public confidence The following is our assessment of the current situation and our recommendations for a solution Tounsm in West Hawaii has taken off in recent years and with it the construction industry, our work force and the population have grown With the growth we have increased traffic congestion as more tounsts discover the Brg Island and more people commute from other distracts to~obs in Kona created by the economic surge We aze also expenencing less destrable aspects of growth, increased drug use, increased gang activity, more traffic accidents, property crimes, assaults on tounsts and other cnmes to West Hawair Each distract of this county has unique problems and needs, but the current situation in Kona screams for immediate attention The irony is the tremendous revenue growth that has already occurred - not to mentron protected revenue growth -which could easily pay for the added service This is not an East versus West issue, we aze and should forever remain one county, equally concerned over the welfaze of all constituents However, we feel compelled to seek improved public safety, especially the safety of our children as well as our visitors Those visitors truly are the geese that lay the golden eggs; any event that teopazdizes their safety or their peroeption of our county, teopazdizes the economic well being of our entire county directly or Indirectly The rssue of police presence, public perception and average response time is cntical We cuaently have an average 30-minute police officer response time In emergency situations the desk officer can make a decision and pnontize incoming calls In theory, the response time for an emergency call would beshortened sigmficantly - assuming a patrol otTicer is within reasonable proximity, in spite of the vast distract they cover It also assumes we will not have more than three emergency incidents occumng within a 2 to 3 hour window The current staffing level can only handle three incidents concurrently. Adding five additional patrol officers will allow the department to Institute a minimum of two 8-hour watches with eight patrol officers and a third 8-hour watch with seven patrol officers. (Submitted by Roaney Watanabe) N0. u FYIe No. Ref. To: ~ Ref. Date Thus is the same level of police presence Puna has A review ofthe 1999 Police Dtstnct Statestics shows that Kona has the highest number of incidents per officer at 303 5 per officer According to the report Puna has 281.2 mctdents per officer We elected to compare Kona and Puna because both destncts use the same method ofrepomng mctdents per officer Both distracts record their own mctdents as opposed to having a dispatcher generating wntten encident reports We make this point because patrol officers with multiple pnontees, who generally aze working overtime to waste up reports, tend to under report less significant incidents Whereas officers with the luxury of verbally reporting incidents to a despatcher who then documents that incident, aze more likely to report each incident Puna is also simelaz because it too is a vast area with limeted street addresses and has recently expenenced rapid growth. These statistics ellustrate a need for additional police officers to help deter and contain imdesirable behavior The current Kona staffing does not allow the department to efFectively man three 8-hour watches with the number of patrol officers mentioned, without encountenng significant overtime expenditiues. Actually, the current staffing does not allow the Deparheient to man two seven man watches and a third six man watch without encountenng overtime expenditures Overtime dollazs spent on personnel who aze pazd at regular trine pay will equate to a sigmficant increase en actual police presence for the same amount of money However, thus requires additional police officers; that es our goal We understand and certatnly appreciate the complexity of making this goal a reality We know Cevil Service rules prohibit linng for im-funded positions. We also imderstand recruitment is an intense selection process, followed by mne and one-half months of specialized police traening We recognize that in spite of the tremendous economic up turn, the county revenues will lag behind that growth and this fiscal year's budget is still rather teght. Yet ,how can we ignore or sacnfice public safety when it is so obvious that Kona needs additional patrol officers That need is clearly illustrated by the actual overtime hours Kona police have incurred over the past 42 months Dunng fiscal year 1997-1998, the overtime budget was $260,000 but the actual overtime was $322,582 Fiscal year 1998-1999 was no different with $225,000 budgeted for overtime and $433,423 actually paed Dunng fiscal year 1999-2000, $225,000 was budgeted for overtime and $422,503 was actually spent For the first six months of this fiscal yeaz, $269,477 has been spent on overtime, only $225,000 was budgeted for the whole yeaz Merely companng the actual dollars spent to the budgeted overtime however, does not present the whole story Budgeted overtime has not changed due to our county's budgetazy constraints These statistics ellustrate the need for additional police officers Excesseve overtime is costly to the coimty and it can be very costly to personnel, as their personal loves and quality time with loved ones are being sacnficed. This es no way to treat those who at times nsk their lives to make ours safer The base salanes of five additional patrol officers would amount to $163,560 We have exceeded this amount in actual overtime overruns for the past two years and more than likely will exceed that amount rhos fiscal yeaz Doesn't et make more sense to have fresh patrol officers covenng a beat, rather than tired, holdover patrol officers spendeng fewer hours on the same beat -for the same amount of money' The growth In the Kona Distract has been much greater than many of us would have Imagined Inevitably, that growth is also creating alarming Issues that need to be addressed for that growth to continue We have a unique Island environment, which we have harnessed and created Into the backbone of our economy -tounsm. We cannot Ignore how fickle tounsts aze and how fiagile our economy is. The tremendous tounsm growth has created Jobs for many outside of the Kona It has helped employ many displaced plantation workers and allowed our county to forge through budgetary constraznts, brought about by leaner times We need to nurture the environment and the expenence we have so successfully promoted Anything short of this Is contrary to the County's pnmary goal to make this a better place In which to live Exaznples of the growth in Kona aze abundant Dunng 1999 there were 298 commercial permits Issued in the County, 127 or 42 6% were for Kona The $20,210,000 valuation of these buildings represents 43 5% of the total valuation of commercial building permits Issued dtinng this penod. Of the 2,644 residential building permits issued dunng 1999, Kona was responsible for 867 or 32 8% The valuatton of these homes totaled $84,512,000, which represents 43.0% of the total value of all residential building permits The Kona Distract has the highest growth rate and highest valuation for both commercial and residential building permits of any distract and the trend continues. The best information currently avazlable Indicates that 1,700 building permits were issued in West Hawaii dunng the yeaz 2000 This figure, is inclusive of North and South Kohala, but not inclusive of any building permits issued in Hilo for West Hawazi The cougty's main source of revenue is property taxes; it funds all county operations, Including the Police Department Dunng the 1999-2000 fiscal yeaz, North and South Kona (TMK Zones 7 & 8) were responsible for $29,604,444 or 36.6% of the $80,841,436 of collected property taxes The level of construction also suggests property tax assessments will rase in Kona Tlus Implies there are more than enough funds being generated in Kona to pay for the five additional positions we are requesting Explosive growth inevitably creates a de facto population, as people aze not as mobile as opportumttes Add to this the de facto population tounsm creates and the population in the Kona Distract Is difficult to estimate, but certaznly is higher than any census would indicate The state estimated a de facto population of 165,900 for the county in the yeaz 2000 Tlus is significant , considenng the estimated residential population for that same yeaz was only 149,600 Obviously, a de facto population of this magnitude makes significant contnbutions to our economy Many Jobs have been created to house and provide services for this de facto population With the tounsm Industry centered in Kona, the de facto population has placed a strazn on our roadways, pazks and our police The de facto population is also compnsed of local people who live in other distracts, but regulazly work in Kona Therefore, the increase of our police force will benefit a broad spectrum of people and is not intended for Kona's sole benefit We have shown a very valid and tmmediate need for five additional personnel in the Kona Police Department We have also Illustrated how revenues from the Kona Distract have the ability to support these additional personnel With that we respectfully ask for your support of the amended Police budget as submitted by both Police Clvef James Correa and Mayor Hairy Kim Last Name Fint Name Company Phone Number Ackles Sharon Ironman /Executive VP Race Operations 329-0063 (W) Beyers Collin Fireman Campbell Roc Troan Lumber 329-3536 (W) Chock Nolan Deputy Attorney General 323-2045 (W) Clewett Ken University of The Nations 329-2301 (H), 326447 (V1/) Clothier Tina Amencan Cancer Society 329-0091 (H), 324-0442 (W) Conro Am Four Seasons Resort / Director of Secun Cnsafi Mike Captain Cook Nei hborhood Watch Crisafi Susan Captain Cook Nei hborfiood Watch Dawrs John Kona Police Department /Captain Duarte Doug Honaunau Coffee Company representin the Farm Watch Pr ram Duerr Fred Kona Vdla a /General Manager Duma uin James Konawaena Hi hschool / Pnnapal Tempora 323500 Flickinger Reed West Hawaii Today /Editor Frazier Mike Video Show Place, Kona Cnme Prevention Comm 329599 (W) Fu imoto Mark HPM / Fortner Li uor Commissioner Fur erstrom Dale Fortner Police Captain Furukawa Jerome Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chips Greenwell Sherwood Kealakekua Ranch, Kona Historical Gwillermo Anthony Fire Department -Captain Cook Station /Captain 323-3636 Harai Geor a Board of Water Commission Herkes Mami Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce 329-1758 (W) n Cathleen Four Seasons /General Mana er Hoy Fanny An Palace Administrator 329-9555 Hurley Evonelle Kamakana Park Founder w/ husband Hu h Hurley Jameson Jerry Royal Kona Resort /General Manager Kasumi Aimee Honaunau School /Vice Principal 328-2727 Kimura Bnan Kimura Store I BSA 323-2515 Kifaoka Warren Probation Department 326-4890 (W) Leaf Diane Stone Leaf Ted Refired Dentist Levu: Cheryl Kailua View Estates Nei hborhood Watch Lightner Jim Community Col a Hospitality Institute 325-0911 (H), 322850 (W) Maddox Paul Holualoa Business Mens Association 326-7709 (H) Makarewicz Bruce Advanced Drug TesOn Services Mana o Dwi ht Mana o Hotel /Police Commissioner Martin Jeff Aloha Aulines Matsumura Lance State Farts Insurance 329-0486 (W) McGufty Mark Keauhou Beach Hotel /General Man er Miyasato Matthew Fire Department -Keauhou Station /Captain 322-5627 Last Nams First Name Company Phons Number Moren Ron Kin Kartwhameha Hotel /General Marva er Mo an Lonnre Bi IsWnd Substance Abuse Counal Coordinator Nakamoto Wall Wal 's Watch Service 322-3111 (W) Nreblock Brenda Kona Vista Nei hborhood Watch O iNro Fa a Honaunau School / Pnnci al 328-2727 O in Gren Clark Realty Olrviera Da I Fire Department -South Kohala Station /Captain 885-5799 On¢uka Claude Amencan Sawn s Bank /Mana er, Jr Golf Konawaena Golf Coach Palmer Jim Kahakai School / Pnnapal 327-4313 Peterson Ann Kona Traffic Safety Committee 331-2765 Re Holds Ma Konawaena Elementary /Vice Pnnapal 323555 Sakata Norman Kona Lions, Kona Coffee Committee, Fortner Bo Scout Leader Shimakura Henry Center for Independent Living 328-2365 (H), 323-2221 (VV) Shireki Dale Shireki Ck+aners / BSA 323-3678 Simmons Ann Kona Heavens Simons Ann West Hawan Concrete 329-3561 (\M1~ Susman Scott Fire Department - Kailua Station /Captain 327-3545 Suzuki Shawn Hookena School /Vice Pnncipal 328-2710 Towle Gm er West Hawau Humane Soaety and Kona Cnme Prevention Wamer Carol Children's Advocacy Center /Director 325663 (H), 327985 (W) Watanabe Rodney Hawau Community FCU / Sernor Vice President, Salary Commissioner Williams CI de Police Commissioner Yoshida Claire Konawaena Elementary / Pnncipal 323555 C VurflNelROd 8 Mfke AlSelary Commgasion Est xb