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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0551.004 2002-2004 Page 1 of 1 ;:.:~L. _ jarakaki@interpac.net ~t~-,~--„~ , mT~~~ CUU1'11" T~:~ From: <CSIPRATT~aol.com> To: <konacoles~konacoast.com>; <Hashboy46Qaol.com>; ~slarldboyz~pPpttlc,com>; <kokoolua@hawaii.rr.com>; <KalunaJ001Qyahoo.corrff3ik~~7@~iawaii.rr.com>; <cdkoppdds@hawaii.rr.com>; <wvagm~hawaii.rr.com>; <vernu@ilhawaii.net> Cc: <bertschj002(alhawaii.rr.com>; <rflickingerQawesthawaiitoday.corn>; <RoryinHawaii(ii?aol.com>; <jcecc@interpac.net>; <achung(a~interpac.net>; <ctyler@interpac.net>; <jarekaki@interpac.net>; <gsafarik@interpac.net>; <cohmayor~interpac.net>; <Ikm~ilhawaii.net>; <john.maier~sbcglobal. net> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 12:54 PM Attach: coplights.doc Subject: COUNTY RISK Sunday, May 16. 2004 Aloha! It is over 2 years since this letter was sent to Lincoln Ashida and the situation has not changed. We must also stress this aspect of "VISIBILITY" to those concerned. This was copied to the Chief sat that time and also the County Council representatives from Kona at that time. Presumably the Mayor did not receive from Mr. Ashida. Comments? Alan Comm. No.~~ Ref. To: y Ref. Uate 1`~/t,_ Y_~~[]~a 5/17/04 c COUfJi . James S. Correa, Chief of Police Hawaii County Police Department 349 Kapiolani Street Hilo, HI 96720 February 12, 2002 Dear Chief Correa: I believe the enclosed copy of my letter to Lincoln Ashida is self-explanatory. I have no idea whether you can or would support any of my suggestions, but the reason I directed my concerns to him rather than you initially is because it is as much a county risk management issue as it is a police administrative issue. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Respectfully, Jack Brunton 77-6439 Walua Road Kailua Kona, HI 96740 Aloha Lincoln, I hate to drop this on your desk, but I think you are the best person to direct this to. Although it may appeaz to be a minor issue, I think it has potentially expensive implications. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Frankly, the police deparhnent continues to be more of a liability than it is an asset: the potential claims, if filed, from the most recent Puna police shooting, the Captain Cook and Puna pedestrian accidents, the Pacheco homicide will continue to spread county resources thin. You would think we lived in a jurisdiction with ten to twenty times the population (and tax base). The liability issue I present here is one that could be very inexpensively resolved -for much less than the cost of one claim. 1 am confident you will know who to forward this to if you feel it is worthy of action. Keep up you good work. Respectfully, Jack Brunton Mr. Lincoln Ashida Corporation Counsel, County of Hawaii 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 Hilo, HI 96720 February 13, 2002 RE: Potential county liability for inadequately equipped police vehicles Dear Mr. Ashida: This letter was already drafted when I read in the newspaper of the cancellation of the Hawaii County Police Department's no-fault insurance policy due to excessive claims. I do not know whether those excessive claims are in part related to issues I raise here, or whether they are due to inadequate driver training and emergency vehicle operations, or other reasons. But in either case, the concerns presented here become much more timely. You are probably aware that almost all of the HCPD patrol vehicles are county subsidized, and that, in their various colors, makes and models, not one of these is obviously and unmistakably marked as a law enforcement vehicle. The only clue as to what they are is the presence of miniscule, ineffective roof-mounted strobe lights and antiquated electronic sirens mounted behind the grille (which muffles their already meager volume). They have no insignia, no identification of any kind whatsoever, not even a county license plate. I am concerned that the inadequacy of the markings and the complete absence of safety equipment may result in future liability to the county. Even if there are not potential legal ramifications, it seems to me the county has a moral and ethical responsibility to protect its police officers and members of the public by using standard, contemporary safety equipment. I am addressing my concerns to your office because the county has no risk manager that I am aware of Furthermore, your office will defend any future lawsuits resulting from my concerns here, and 1 know that you are personally and professionally concerned about potential county liability. A few weeks ago, a subsidized Kona police SUV responding to an emergency during the daytime with only it's blue strobe roof light flashing (no headlights, no four way flashers) and an inaudible siren, passed a group of cars by crossing the centerline of the Queen Kaahumanu highway on a curve. My vehicle, with several others, was in the opposing lane of traffic. All of us had to take swift evasive action to avoid a collision with the police vehicle, which -other than being on the wrong side of the road -was virtually indistinguishable from every other vehicle in both lanes of traffic. My point is not that the officer was driving recklessly, although he may have been given the fact that his vehicle was so inadequately equipped. My point is that had he been driving a highly visible, properly equipped police vehicle in the same situation, other vehicles on the road would have had ample opportunity to see and identify the situation, and yield appropriately without endangering the officer and other motorists. I will try to describe as briefly as possible my specific concerns, which fall into two areas, both of which would be resolved by adopting reasonably contemporary standards for law enforcement vehicles in the United States First, one of the traditional purposes of uniform patrol is the deterrence of crime through high police visibility. HCPD vehicles are virtually invisible and fail woefully in this regard. Although locals maybe able to identify them as police vehicles, our many mainland and foreign visitors unequivocally cannot. This not only negates the effectiveness of uniformed patrol, but also creates false impersonation issues. Even low profile vehicles of west coast police departments are easily identifiable to avoid any doubt in a citizen's mind as to their legitimacy. Citizens not objectively convinced of an officer's legitimacy are rightfully concerned about stopping for fear of impersonation and assault, a fear borne out by a number of criminal incidents on the mainland in the last twenty years using that MO. If I were a visitor not familiaz with these vehicles, I would never, ever stop in the Ka'u desert at midnight for a late model black sports car with spoilers and nothing more than a miniscule blue light on the roof to convince me it was a "police car". Nor, I might add, should I be required to. Police vehicles used for everyday interaction with citizens must be marked and easily identifiable. The second issue is that of emergency response and protection. A police vehicle responding to an emergency (and protecting the scene after arrival) must be highly visible above normal traffic. The majority of Hawaii County police vehicles again fall woefully short. They are not only invisible while they aze responding -placing officers and the public at great risk -they are virtually invisible when they have arrived, for example, when they aze "protecting" a traffic accident scene. The hazard of emergency response is exacerbated on this island by the profusion of two-lane roadways, many without shoulders or turn lanes, coupled with increasingly heavy traffic. On the Kona side, it is not unusual to see traffic backed up for miles (literally) on the main thoroughfazes during rush hour; again, most of these are two-lane roadways. To meet any minimal contemporary police standards in the United States, Hawaii County police vehicles should bear insignia identifying them as police vehicles*. Patrol vehicles should be equipped with adequate (removable) light bars (or warning light combinations, including grill lights, strobes in turn signals/side mazkers/brake/backup lights), wig-wag headlights or an equivalent, and audible high-wattage sirens (without restriction as to which "position" they can beused -department policy forbids use of the "hi-lo" position even though this is the tone most recognizable to many foreigners). I would also encourage the installation of spotlights or "take down" lights, or some equivalent, to improve officer safety at night. In my opinion, all of the current subsidized vehicles could be adequately equipped with identification and safety equipment to make the vehicles assets, not significant liabilities, and it could be done without compromising the use of subsidized vehicles off duty. I recognize that the current practice is a unique local custom, one in which many may take pride. But times have changed. The use of unidentified and unidentifiable police vehicles for patrol purposes is impractical, ineffective and unsafe. Rather than maximizing, they minimize protection and safety and aze counterproductive to the mission. To continue the present course would be irresponsible. Hawaii County should recognize that a few dollars spent today in complying with basic contemporary standards will not only improve service but may well save the taxpayers substantially in future insurance premiums and claims against the county. As a taxpayer, I would appreciate your efforts to improve this situation. Sincerely, Jack Brunton 77-6439 Walua Road Kailua Kona, HI 96740 (808)331-1138 e-mail islandboyzLbigfoot.com cc: James S. Correa, Chief of Police Curtis Tyler, Hawaii County Council Nancy Pisicchio, Hawaii County Council * Removable magnetic insignia and markings could accomplish this; West Hawaii Crimestoppers offered some time ago to subsidize this improvement but the county rejected the offer.