HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOH POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS -127436Harry Kim Jc os '.'Paul K. FerreiraIJi
Mayor n Police Chief
rTE...N••Ik Kenneth Bugado Jr.OF
Deputy Police Chref
County of Hawaii
POLICE DEPARTMENT 0
349 Kapi'olani Street • Hilo,Hawaii 96720-3998 C)Z. 7
808)935-3311 • Fax(808)961-2389 G =-=
August 26, 2019
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TO 11f)IC IRECTOR, PLANNING DEPARTMENT c..)
FROM PAUL K. FERRE RA, POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT : REVIEW OF THE DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
I received your memorandum dated August 13, 2019. Captain Aimee Wana of our Administrative
Services Division will be attending the"open house"on August 29,2019.
The comments to the plan are italicized as follows:
Under 2.75, it states:
Create a 20 MPH Zone Program, reducing speed limits on residential and local streets with
high collision (crash) history to 20 MPH. Most 20 MPH Zones will be installed near schools
and parks.
You may want to consider looking into the cause ofcrashes for each area in question, as it
may not be directly/mainly caused by speed. There are manyfactors to look at and consider,
it is not a "fix all"solution for every area with high collision history. Lookfurther into road
design, as it is the No. 1 reasonfor traffic deaths on the west side ofthe island
Under 363, it states:
Maintain police staffing to 2.5 police officers per 1,000 residents in all districts. [Rationale:
Based on General Plan Policy 10.3.3 (a), Kona CDP PUB-2 Public Safety and PUB-2.1, and
includes the industry standard ratio(2.5/1,000).]
With all things being equal, the above is a good idea. However, every district is not equal in
location, crime, traffic accidents, and calls for service. As an example, there are over two
times the amount of traffic accidents in Hilo and Kona then there are in Puna, but all districts
have roughly the same population. Do we assign the same amount of officers to these
accidents in these three districts? (Traffic Accidents for May 2019 to July 2019: Puna 156,
Kona 378, Hilo 401).
With a 2.5 to 1,000 ratio,forjust the district ofPuna that has roughly a population of49,000,
you would need approximately 122 officers, which is double the amount of officers they have
now. The increase in police personnel would also be significant in Hilo and Kona. For a
smaller district that has a very low crime rate like North Kohala, this ration would give them
an additional 12 officers.
1 2 7 4 3 6HawaiiCountyisanEqualOpportunityProviderandEmployer"
MICHAEL YEE, DIRECTOR, PLANNING DEPT.
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF THE DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
PAGE 2
In the district of Ka'u where there are significant issues with crime especially in the Ocean
View area,you would have to take away 13 positions to comply with your 2.5 to 1,000 ratio.
To summarize, the ratio of2.5 to 1,000for example would be giving an area with a low crime
rate (N. Kohala) more officers, and an area with a high crime rate (Ka`u) less officers.
Under 361, it states:
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) shall be incorporated into village
design guidelines.
This is an excellent suggestion. CPTED is a Community Policing model; but I would ensure
that present buildings/designs, such that of Village 9 in Kona, comply with CPTED as well.
Village 9 hits several points in regards to creating crime.
RW