HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PSPRC 005 02/28/2005 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC SAFETY and PARKS AND RECREATION
DATR: February 28, 2005 RE: Comm. 5.4
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96730
Your Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation, to which was referred
Communication No. 5.4, reports as follows:
Communication No. 5.4, dated February 16, 3005, was transmitted by Public Safety and Parks
and Recreation Committee Chairperson Stacy K. Higa. In this conununication, Mr. Higa
submitted the name of Clifford D. Kopp. DDS for consideration as the second community
member designated to represent the County Council on the police fleet implementation working
group, pursuant to Resolution No. 224-04, adopted by the Hawaii County Council on September
1. ?004.
Ur. Kopp, a prosthodontist in the Kailua-Kona area, stated that he is willing and enthusiastic to
serve on the working group. Dr. Kopp acknowledged that he is an active member of West
}{awai'i Crime Stoppers, Inc (WHCS), a group that is advocating a police tleet of marked and
highly visible police cars. Dr. Kopp stated that despite his participation in WHCS, he does not
have a bias towards the police tleet, but rather a belief that the current system is inadcyuate.
Dr. Kopp believes that unmarked cars are not police vehicles, but are personal vehiccs with an
insignia on top, that insignia being the blue light. Dr. Kopp believes the vehicles are
under-equipped. Ur. Kopp also advocates clearly visible identitication of police vchides.
Ur. Kopp stated that certain issues such as equipment and safety are can only be addressed by the
police. Dr. Kopp stated that he will provide copies of WHCS's three phase visibility study to the
current council for their review.
Ur. Kopp. a six year resident of the County of Hawaii, recommended that John Mayer from
Fresno, California he contacted to provide insight for the working group. based nn Mr. Mat'er's
experience with fleet implementation in the Fresno area. Ur. Kopp stated that the working
group's budget should provide the necessary funds to bring in Mr. Mayer as a consultant, touting
the Fresno study as a model for the County to study, as that county's area and police force size
are similar to flawai'i County.
PS&PRC REYOR"F NO. 5
Council Chair Gary Satarik reminded Dr. Kopp of the uniyue qualities and characteristics of the
State and County of Hawaii. Dr. Kopp stated that his recommendation of John Mayer stemmed
from his understanding that there has been a ten year delay by the Hawaii County police
department to send representatives to the mainland to observe and learn and to bring back
information regarding the subject. Dr. Kopp indicated that he is capable of working with the
group.
Your Committee, having discussed Dr. Kopp's qualifications, is in support of his appointment to
the police fleet implementation working group.
Your Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation recommends the confirmation of the
appointment of Clifford D. Kopp, DDS as the second of two community members designated to
represent the County Council on the police fleet implementation working group.
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AYES NOES A&E_ EX Respectfully submitted.
HIGA X
HOLSCHUFI X COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFEIY AND
PARKS AND RECREATION
ARAKAKI X
HOh'fMANN__ X _ _ ~r
IKF.DA X ~~~`~~_s._-
ISBELL X ~
JACOBSON X ~ S~TAC'~'K. H[GA, CHAIR
PILAGO X PS&PRC REPOR'I~ NO. 5
snrARIK x nDOPTrD: MAR 1 0~~