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Home My WebLink About2019-11-15 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 15, 2019 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER, BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair De Luz called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Wayne De Luz, Chair John Bertsch, Vice Chair Thomas Brown, Commissioner Joan Obra, Commissioner Denby Toci, Commissioner Absent: Paul Paiva, Commissioner Guy Schutte, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: James O'Connor, Assistant Chief Samuel Thomas, Assistant Chief Chad Basque, Major Brian Prudencio, Detective Malia Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 18, 2019, regular and executive session minutes: Vice Chair Bertsch moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Items from the written reports were highlighted: • Crime Report: Assistant Chief O'Connor reported that up through October 30, they had 210 serious crimes. The Criminal Investigation Units investigated 205 of those cases. For the month of October, the department received 9,448 calls for service, 39,125 year-to-date. Regarding thefts, people are being let out of jail. The Hilo jail has double its capacity. If they put someone in, they have to take someone out. In his opinion, non-violent offenders are being let out. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that many times there are drugs and firearms in vehicles. Chair De Luz stated that it was mandated several administrations ago, that one in, one out. There doesn't seem to be any movement to increase the jail capacity. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 15, 2019 Page 2 Commissioner Toci stated that she spoke to two offenders this week. They said it was easier to fall back into criminal activities because there was no one there to help them when they came out. AC O'Connor stated that that's true. You would think they would have someone on the outside to help them. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that for the record, the crime statistics have dropped compared to last year. This conversation started because it seemed like vehicle thefts in Area I increased. Major Basque stated that robbery is down, but auto thefts have increased in Kona. They look at the victims. A lot of them are in the same community victimizing themselves. A lot of them are in the drug community, and they victimize each other. The last 3-4 robberies in Kona was this. A guy stole car that he had sold to a guy 6 months ago. The same people are victimizing each other, but it's still statistics. Major Basque further stated that now that they have downsized their presence on Mauna Kea, and with the recruits coming on board, they are using the extra personnel and creating a Special Enforcement Unit. If they have one or two extra people, they will be assigned to the downtown Kona area. The other districts are still working at minimal capacity. Traffic Report: Major Basque reported that for the month of September, 4,921 citations were issued: 3,245 moving/regulatory, 316 seat belt, 33 child restraint, and 1,327 speeding. The Daniel K Highway has three different districts. Officers need to know the district, and stats must be recorded accordingly. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that at a previous meeting, he expressed concern about the enhanced enforcement on the Daniel K Highway and questioned where the directive was coming from. AC O'Connor stated that in his opinion, the department has not run an adequate amount of enforcement on the Daniel K Highway. The speeds on up there are ridiculous. Chair De Luz stated that the fatality count has decreased. • Personnel Report: AC O'Connor reported that four HPD employees were nominated for employee of the year for the County of Hawaii. Assistant Chief Thomas reporting having 55 sworn vacancies. The 91St recruit class with 22, will graduate in March. They are targeting February for the next recruit class, and have started background checks. Another recruit exam will be in January. Dispatch has 7 vacancies. They started a dispatch class with 6, and now Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 15, 2019 Page 3 only have 4. Once they fill the vacancies, it should be less stressful. They run 7 on a shift. The lieutenant in dispatch is usually an administrator. The sergeant is there for the heavy times. The supervisor helps to smooth things over between dispatchers and officers. They also make copies of 911 dispatch tapes. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that in the survey by employees, a comment was about the environment in the dispatch center, and that the chairs were uncomfortable. He asked about making the dispatch area more comfortable. AC Thomas stated that dispatchers have very expensive chairs. AC O'Connor stated that everyone there is on top of each other, and the area was not made for dispatch. Having a new building would help. He believes their pay is too low. Statewide, there has been a dramatic decrease in dispatchers. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that in the employee survey, there was a frustration with the Spillman dispatch system. AC O'Connor stated that it's been 9 months since the survey was taken, and things have changed. • Finance Report: AC Thomas reported that they received their first reimbursement from the State for $3.8M for TMT expenditures. On January 7, at 9:00 a.m. in the Hilo station, they will meet with County Finance to go over their proposed. Ms. Pelayo pointed out that the commissioners received the police department's proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-21. Commendations of Sworn and Civilian Employees: There were 6 commendations involving 5 personnel since the last meeting. Other Department Activities: AC Thomas reported that Chief Ferreira is in Kentucky attending the CALEA Conference, and HPD received reaccreditation. 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 Chair De Luz reported that the commission term limit for him and Commissioner Paiva will expire at the end of December. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 15, 2019 Page 4 (CLOSED SESSION) EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Obra moved that the commission 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). Vice Chair Bertsch seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:07 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:45 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS Investigation of Complaints: • Complaint HPC 19-23: Complainant alleged that when an officer responded to an incident involving her son, the officer used intimidating language and threatened to arrest her son. Vice Chair Bertsch moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct. Commissioner Toci seconded, and it carried unanimously. Complaints not received within the 90 -day filing period. Commissioner Toci moved to affirm the Chair's decision not to accept both complaints. Commissioner Obra seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair De Luz announced that the next meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2019, 9:00 a.m., in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: WAYNE K. DE LUZ, CHAIR