Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0177.171 1998-2000 [Y a• :'L L~ Stephen K. Yamashiro Sharon K. Scheele, Chair Mayor Deborah L. Baker, Vice Chair • Jo-Anna K. Herkes, Member ~i"~ J Phoebe M. Lambeth, Member OI M' Clarence Mills, Member ( Wilfred M. Okabe, Member ~tIW Ott Francis E. Smith, Member Clyde K. Williams, Member POLICE COD~IISSION 101 Aupuni St., Ste. 228A • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone: (808) 961-8412 Fax: (808) 961-8563 ~ RE[ENED June 8, 1999 11"ms..-- sy...._-_------------=- ..~~CouNY ~ndl The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the Hawaii County Council Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni St. Hilo, HI 96720 RE: BILL 45, DRAFT 3 PROPOSAL TO AMEND 1999-2000 OPERATING BUDGET Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Hawaii County Council: The proposed line item reductions of the Police Department's budget made by Councilman Dominic Yagong lead me to wonder why the County Council is micro managing the department when the Police Commission has the authority to hire the manager (Police Chief) to do the job. The Police Chief and his management team are experts in public safety and are accountable for the impact that the cuts will have on the safety of our community. Not only does the commission object to the budget cuts of the Police Department, but it also objects to the County Council's dictation of specific line item cuts. MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACT SERVICES (INVESTIGATOR) A major responsibility of the Police Commission is to investigate complaints by the public of misconduct of on-duty police personnel. Forcing the Police Commission to make cuts in its investigative budget would cause the commission to stop investigating complaints when funds run out. Is it fair to the public to say, "We cannot investigate your complaints because we don't have the funds."? It was the intent of the Charter Commission to have complaints investigated by a neutral civilian oversight board. With diminished funds, the Police Department would probably end up investigating their own. Would this cut in investigative services be for the good of the public? Comm. No. ~ I b31e No. ~ l1 D Ref. To: P?essMed ~ wN c r~ Hef. Date `~N 8 1999 James Y. Arakaki, Chairman June 8, 1999 Page 2 OVERTIME SALARIES & WAGES The Police Commission's office is staffed by one person, a secretary who manages the day-to-day operations of the office and all administrative duties. She acts as a liaison between the pubic, the Police Department, and the Police Commission. There is no one else to fill in for her, and this is reflected in the fact that she has only missed work three times due to illness in almost six years. When overtime work is required, it must be done, and it must be done by her alone. The workload of the Police Commission is very unpredictable, and everything is regimented by a monthly meeting schedule. Who does the Police Commission turn to to handle its highly confidential work if there are no funds to pay its only staff member? MILEAGE The nine police commissioners come from the nine council districts. The Police Commission has at least one meeting a month, and the meetings are held at different locations around the island in order to be accessible to the public. It is important to have an open government and be as accessible to the community as possible. It is only fair that all commissioners take turns driving around the island rather everyone driving to Hilo or Kona. The commissioners are unpaid volunteers. If the county cannot reimburse them for their mileage, the only alternative would be to have less meetings and make themselves less accessible to the public. This would also mean that complaints would not be reviewed in a timely manner, but would be stacked up for review according to availability of funds. MEALS The Police Commission meets once a month. The meetings generally run anywhere from 3-5 hours and does run into the lunch hour. The commissioners are unpaid volunteers and the county can at least feed them for driving up to 4 hours and meeting for 3-5 hours. Whether the Police Commission recesses for lunch or has lunch after the meeting, all invitees are provided lunch, especially in light of the fact that the majority of the group would be traveling from different parts of the island. TRAVEL AND CONFERENCES The Police Commission budgets for all members and its one staff to attend the annual State of Hawaii Police Commission Conference and the Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association Conference. The commission also budgets for the current chair and vice chair to attend the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Conference. James Y. Arakaki, Chairman June 8, 1999 Page 3 Some people think that traveling and attending a conference is a "perk". However not one of our commissioners consider it a perk to take off from their jobs, catch the first flight out, attend a conference for two days, and then back to their offices to catch up on work that needs to be completed. However, we do consider it important that we be as educated as possible so that we are better able to fulfill our responsibilities as commissioners. All conferences are educational and directly help the Police Commission in its decision-making process. Every year there is a change in membership and the commissioners need to be constantly educated in matters in which legal issues must be determined and decisions made that impact the county, the police officers, and the public. The commissioners need to be constantly education in matters such as determining scope of duty for legal counsel, contested case hearings, use of force, etc. Our public officials need to be reminded of the value of its unpaid volunteers who sit on boards and commissions. If you feel that these boards and commissions are not important to the welfare of the county, then now would be an opportune time to recommend to the Charter Commission that they be abolished. We would appreciate your reinstatement of the original budget appropriation. Sincerely, Sharon K. Scheee~~ Chair SKS:jp cc: Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro Chief Wayne G. Carvalho Commissioners