HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0479.004 1996-1998 M<V OF I,
u!~'~;; Wayne G. Carvalho
- _ " , Police Chief
Stephen K. Yamashiro ~ - -
Mayor James S. Correa
iy. :~•i r~~-~ O Ll~ Deputy Police Chief
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
349 ICapiolani Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720.3998
1808) 935337] Fax (808) 961-2702
September 15, 1997
Honorable Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd
Council Member, District II
And Members of the County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Ms. Leithead-Todd:
Re: Draft Bill 137, Relating To Creating A Public Safety Commission
We have been afforded the opportunity to review your proposal (Bill 137), an ordinance
initiating a charter amendment to the Hawaii County Charter (1991 Edition) as
amended, creating a Public Safety Commission to have oversight of both the Police
and Fire Department. Having reviewed the entire proposal, we would like to comment
on several areas of concern.
While recognizing a need to place the Fire Department under a commission to expand
public oversight and accountability, combining two commissions (Police/Fire) into one,
we believe would be counterproductive.
Although both departments fall under the umbrella of "public safety," each has distinct
and separate responsibilities that would be difficult to manage under your proposal.
The Police Department is tasked with the preservation of public peace, prevention of
crime, detection and arrest of offenders against Federal, State and local laws,
protection of the rights of persons and property, and enforcement and prevention of
violations of all laws of the State and ordinances of the County.
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Honorable Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd
September 15, 1997
Page 2
The Fire Department's powers, duties and functions are prescribed by ordinance(s) and
generally encompass fire prevention and the protection of life and property from fires !1!,
and natural disasters. It is also charged with search and rescue duties and other i
emergency medical services to those in need.
While we defer final comments to the Police Commission and Fire Department,
problems encountered by each respective department are unique to that department,
and we believe it would be unwieldy and an onerous task for one Commission or body
comprised of volunteer members who are appointed, to provide efficient and effective
oversight over two of the largest departments in the County with such unique and
distinctively separate missions.
Also, we recommend the language of Section 7-2.2, "Statement of Hiring Policy," be
amended to be applicable to all departments and organizations within the County.
Perhaps an overall general statement would provide for a more uniform and consistent
policy throughout the County and not only to the Police and Fire Departments, per se.
Sincerely,
WA NE G. CARVALHO
POLICE CHIEF
cc: Stephen Yamashiro, Mayor
Sharon Scheele, Police Comm. Chair