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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0474.000 2018-2020 Harry Tim o .°•!; Wayne De Luz,Chair Mayor eA•'; �'�!'�� John Bertsch,Vice Chair Thomas Brown,Member Joan Obra,Member Wil Okabe Paul Paiva Member Managing Director Denby Toci,Member ra oia'K�'� COUNTY OF HAWAII Police Commission 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 9 Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Phone: (808)932-2950 Fax: (808)932-2949 August 29, 2019 C - Mayor Harry Kim C:) R County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. _ . Hilo, HI 96720 v SUBJECT: POLICE COMMISSION'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2018 Dear Mayor Kim: Attached is the Police Commission's Annual Report for 2018. Please call me if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, 14 Wayne K. De Luz Chair WKD:jp cc: Wil Okabe, Managing Director Aaron Chung, Council Chair Comm. No. 414 Ref.To: Ref. Date_--AUG 3 0 2919_:. Hawai`i County is an Equal opportunity Provider and Employer. COUNTY OF HAWAI"'I POLICE COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT MEMBERS Peter Hendricks, Chair Wayne De Luz, Vice Chair Arthur Buckman, Member Carl Carlson, Member Jak Hu, Member Paul Paiva, Member Colleen Pasco, Member POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS The Hawai'i County Charter states that the Police Commission shall consist of nine members, one from each council district. The members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the County Council. The commission is authorized to: • Adopt rules necessary to conduct its business and may review the rules and regulations of the Police Department. • Review the Police Department's annual budget and may make recommendations to the Mayor and Managing Director. • Submit an annual report to the Mayor, Managing Director, and County Council. • Receive, consider, and investigate charges of misconduct brought by the public against the Police Department and its members. • Advise the Police Chief on police-community relations. • Review the Police Department's operations, as deemed necessary, for the purpose of recommending improvements to the Police Chief and Managing Director. • Conduct an annual evaluation of the Police Chief's performance. ACTIVITIES In 2018, the Police Commission held ten monthly meetings. During the meetings, the Police Chief and his management staff apprised the commission of department activities relating to crime, traffic, personnel, finance, and commendations. They discussed island-wide public safety issues and ways to improve service and safety to the community. Throughout the year, commissioners attended commanders' meetings, police week and police recruit graduation ceremonies, and various island-wide community meetings and functions. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS The Police Commission investigates notarized complaints at its monthly meeting. All available reports and documents relevant to the case are reviewed. The complainant and the accused are given an opportunity to present testimony and be questioned by the commission. Following this investigation,the commission may do any of the following: • Make a finding of insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations or a finding of sufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations. • Refer the complaint to the Police Chief for ftirther investigation or to address concerns relating to customer service,procedures, operations, or jurisdiction. • Decline investigation for reasons provided in its rules. SUMMARY OF COMPLAINTS In 2018, the Police Commission received 37 notarized complaints. One complaint was later withdrawn. Eight complaints were declined for not meeting the 90-day filing deadline or for being speculative, hypothetical, or not based on facts. COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS & FINDINGS Insufficient Evidence Sufficient Evidence Allegation to Prove the Allegation to Prove the Allegation Referred to Chief 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 Conduct Towards the Public 6 11 0 0 1 3 Excessive Use of Physical Force 4 3 0 0 0 0 Overbearing Conduct 0 0 0 0 0 1 Performance of Duty 8 7 0 0 7 5 TOTAL COMPLAINTS PER OFFICERIEMPLOYEE 2017 2018 Named Officer with 1 Complaint 27 33 Named Officer with 2 Complaints 3 2 Unidentified Officers 4 3 Police Department 1 2 COMPLAINTS BY DISTRICT 2017 2018 Hamakua 0 2 Ka'u 1 2 Kona 5 5 North Hilo 0 1 North Kohala 0 0 Puna 11 5 South Hilo 17 11 South Kohala 1 2 2