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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-18 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 18, 2019 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair De Luz called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Wayne De Luz, Chair John Bertsch, Vice Chair Joan Obra, Commissioner Guy Schutte, Commissioner Denby Toci, Commissioner Absent: Thomas Brown, Commissioner Paul Paiva, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Paul Ferreira, Police Chief Kenneth Bugado, Deputy Chief James O'Connor, Assistant Chief Samuel Thomas, Assistant Chief Chad Basque, Major Malia Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Correspondence No. 19-03, from Linda Fuller, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for Volcano regarding policing of their community: LINDA FULLER, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for Volcano, came before the commission to speak about concerns of their community. She read her written testimony in which she talked about a man in Hawaiian Orchid Island Estates who has been harassing, intimidating, and terrorizing people when they walk, jog, bike on the paved roads in their subdivision. She talked about another person who lives in Mauna Loa Estates who does drugs and has been terrorizing the community also. They should not have to live in fear, and something needs to be done before someone gets hurt. Their Community Policing Officers are familiar with their situation, but they are not always the ones who respond to a call. She asked for guidance and help. Ms. Fuller's written testimony is on file. CHRIS CORELEY, Neighborhood Watch Block Captain of Volcano Farm Lots, came before the commission. She spoke about a break-in at her home and of another incident with trespassers on her property. A responding officer told her that because of Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 18, 2019 Page 2 the situation on Mauna Kea, he wouldn't be able to do a follow-up. She spoke about the subsequent problems with these incidents. She didn't want to give any names of officers. She stated that they need more officers to control this large area in Puna. She was able to have a long, detailed talk with the Police Chief. Correspondence No. 19-04, from the North Hilo Community Council regarding the merger of North Hilo and Hamakua police operations: LUCHILLE CHUNG came before the commission. She gave the commission a long narrative of their concerns which is on file. She read their recommendations highlighted in read. They do not believe the North Hilo and Hamakua police stations should be merged together. They want North Hilo to be disengaged from Hamakua. They want its staff and budget reinstated and have it remain as a functioning station. She asked the commissioners to read the detailed packet. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 23, 2019, regular and executive session minutes: Commissioner Schutte moved to approve the minutes with non -substantive corrections. Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE • Correspondence No. 19-03: from Linda Fuller, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for Volcano, regarding policing of their community. Correspondence No. 19-04: from North Hilo Community Council regarding the merger of North Hilo and Hamakua police operations. Commissioner Schutte moved to accept the correspondence. Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. Chair De Luz asked Police Chief Ferreira if he wanted to respond to the community's concerns. CHIEF FERREIRA stated that regarding the Volcano Community's concerns, he is disappointed that an officer said they couldn't do their job because of activities on the mountain. That should not be used as an excuse or reason. In order to do corrective action, they need to know who they are talking about. He asked Captain Briski of the Puna District to attend this meeting, to hear their concerns. Captain Briski had been a CPO in Puna. With regards to the North Hilo Community's concerns over the merger of the North Hilo and Hamakua stations, North Hilo still has two officers on shift. The CALEA Report stated that they lacked supervisors. Captain Burian's recommendation to merge the stations alleviates the insufficient number of supervisors. Chief Ferreira further stated that he has put it in writing that he has no intention of closing the North Hilo station. In Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 18, 2019 Page 3 fact, he would like to move the station to the highway. There are no plans to close either station. With regards to judicial boundaries, the Hamakua station supports North Hilo when there is a shortage. CALEA's report was that they needed more supervisors, not to combine the stations. They tried to address the recommendation for more supervisors. Officers must learn to work in both districts. He is not one to give up a police station. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Items from the written reports were highlighted: • Crime Report: Assistant Chief O'Connor reported that up through September 30, there were 1,625 serious crimes. The Criminal Investigation units investigated 159 of those cases. There were no crime trends. Mauna Kea is at status quo, and they have not had a loss of personnel due to Mauna Kea. For the month of September, they had 9,609 calls for service. • Traffic Report: Major Basque reported that for the month of September, 4,950 citations were issued: 3,377 moving/regulatory, 293 seat belt, 21 child restraint, and 1,259 speeding. No traffic trends were noted. • Personnel Report: Assistant Chief Thomas reported having 45 sworn vacancies inclusive of the 6 officers in on the job training. The 91St recruit class has 20 recruits in training. Police recruit applications are down. It is cyclical. If the economy is good, they don't get many applicants. They are losing their ability to retain officers. They are retiring a lot sooner or leaving for another county or the mainland. They have 8 dispatch vacancies, and interviews were conducted. • Finance Report: Assistant Chief Thomas reported that they are working on the 2020-21 budget. The County asked them to prepare three budgets: status quo, 5% reduction, and 8% reduction. The preliminary budget needs to be submitted by November 1. • Commendations of Sworn and Civilian Employees: Deputy Chief Bugado reported receiving 11 commendations involving 16 personnel since the last meeting. He also reported that Officer Alric Dalere will be honored at the Annual Law Enforcement Top Cop Banquet n Oahu on October 24. Officer Dalere was recognized for his quick action in responding to a call of a possible drowning. He resuscitating a two- year old child who had fallen in to the family's swimming pool. Chief reported that the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii will be honoring Sergeant Shawn Tingle and Officers Michael Lucas-Medeiros and Chance Lunsford for saving the life of an unconscious women in a parked vehicle on the median of a roadway in Puna. The officers administered CPR and used an AED. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 18, 2019 Page 4 Other Department Activities: Chief Ferreira reported that the County will be honoring the supervisor and employee of the year on November 14. National drug take -back day will be on October 26 at the Ponahawai St. Medical Complex parking lot and the Kona police station. Members of the public may turn in unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medications. The CALEA conference will be held on November 12-17 in Kentucky. This is when they find out about their accreditation. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Program of Work for the Police Commission (No discussion.) • Program of Work for the Police Chief (No discussion.) CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None.) (CLOSED SESSION) EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Schutte moved to meet in executive session to consider charges against officers or employees of the Hawaii Police Department where matters affecting privacy will be involved, to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety, to work on the Police Chief's annual evaluation, and may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:41 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 12:22 p.m. (OPEN SESSION) ACTION ON EXECUTIVE MATTERS • Consideration and Investigation of Complaints ➢ Complaint HPC 19-20: Complainant alleged that when officers responded to a call to a big box store, an officer would not write-up her complaint, and another officer assisted in the wrong -doing. Vice Chair Bertsch moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct. ➢ Complaint HPC 19-22: Complainant alleged unnecessary roughness and sexual harassment and assault by an officer. Vice Chair Bertsch moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct. Commissioner Toci seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 18, 2019 Page 5 ➢ Complaint HPC 19-24: Complainant alleged that during a traffic stop, an officer was rude and had a threatening attitude. Vice Chair Bertsch moved to refer the complaint to the Chief for customer service concerns. Commissioner Schutte seconded, and it carried unanimously. ➢ Complaint HPC 19-25: Complainant alleged that an officer's police report did not have complete information, and that he was rude to her. Vice Chair Bertsch moved to refer the complaint to the Chief for further investigation. Commissioner Schutte seconded, and it carried unanimously. ➢ Complaints that fall under the non -consideration rule ✓ HPC 19-21: Commissioner Schutte moved to accept the Chair's decision of non-acceptance for no element of misconduct. Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ HPC 19-26: Commissioner Obra moved to accept the Chair's decision of non-acceptance for not filing within the 90 -day filing period. Commissioner Toci seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair De Luz announced that the next meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2019, 9:00 a.m., in West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conf Rm, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: APPROVED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY WAYNE K. DE LUZ, CHAIR