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<br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII �- `' / •...:-..-::................. j STATE OF HAWAII
<br /> RESOLUTION NO. 65 19
<br /> A RESOLUTION URGING AN INCREASE OF FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE
<br /> PRESENCE IN THE DISTRICT OF PUNA TO ACCOUNT FOR POPULATION
<br /> GROWTH.
<br /> WHEREAS,the Hawai`i County Police Department is charged with preserving the
<br /> public peace,preventing crime, and protecting the rights of persons and property by enforcing
<br /> the laws of the United States,the State of Hawaii, and the County of Hawai`i; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the Vision Statement of the Hawaii Police Department articulates a
<br /> commitment to providing the highest quality of police service and forming partnerships with the
<br /> community to achieve public satisfaction making the Big Island a safe place to live, visit, and
<br /> conduct business; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the District of Puna is located on the windward side of Hawai`i Island, has
<br /> an area of 686 square miles, and is a rural district comprised of mainly private unpaved roads;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS,the U.S. Census data for the District of Puna on Hawai`i Island reported a
<br /> total of 31,335 people in 2000 and 45,326 people in 2010;forecasting a 45 percent increase in
<br /> population,which would equate to 65,723 residents by 2020; and
<br /> WHEREAS,the Hawai`i Police Department reports receiving 42,652 calls for service
<br /> for the District of Puna in 2018; a 117 percent increase from calls for service received in 2008
<br /> (19,621); and
<br /> WHEREAS, the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program reports that in 2016,police
<br /> departments serving cities with populations exceeding 25,000 residents employed an average of
<br /> 16.8 officers per shift for every 10,000 residents; while the District of Puna is currently patrolled
<br /> by only eight officers per shift, equaling a ratio of 1.78 officers for every 10,000 residents; and
<br /> WHEREAS, many areas in the District of Puna have poor visibility, isolated homes, and
<br /> rugged terrain, making conditions exceptionally hazardous, which increases risk and response
<br /> times for police officers attempting to help those in need of assistance; and
<br /> WHEREAS,new neighborhoods, businesses, and parks such as the Puna Kai Center and
<br /> the Pahoa Regional Park, have been or are in the process of being built in Puna, requiring more
<br /> services including police patrols and response commensurate to those required by existing
<br /> neighborhoods, businesses, and parks; now, therefore,
<br />
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