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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-17 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 17, 2020 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HWY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Bertsch called the meeting to order at 9:14 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: John Bertsch, Chair Guy Schutte, Vice Chair Thomas Brown, Commissioner Rod Quartararo, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Anthony Sur, Commissioner Absent: Joan Obra, Commissioner Denby Toci, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Paul Ferreira, Police Chief Kenneth Bugado, Deputy Chief James O'Connor, Assistant Chief Samuel Thomas, Assistant Chief Robert Wagner, Assistant Chief Burt Shimabukuro, Captain Malia Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 20, 2019, regular and executive session minutes. Vice Chair Schutte motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime Report: Assistant Chief O'Connor reported that up through December 30, 2019, there were 3,076 serious crimes. Of these, 301 were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Units. In December, they received 11,233 calls for service. Traffic Report: Assistant Chief Wagner reported that as of December 2019 FYTD, there were 514 traffic crashes vs. 488 in the previous year, 12 traffic fatalities vs. 17 the previous year, and 6 DUI fatalities vs. 8 the previous year. For the month of December, Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 17, 2020 Page 2 4,777 citations were issued: 3,121 moving/regulatory, 463 seat belt, 20 child restraint, and 1,173 speeding. In response to questions from the commissioners, Assistant Chief Wagner stated that the large number of citations in Kona were not related to what happened on the mountain. Citations on the mountain were in the Hilo District. Kona had twice the number of citations as Hilo and has a greater need for traffic enforcement. The Queen K Highway causes a lot of problems. The State has jurisdiction over roads. Chair Bertsch stated that the Police Department does not design the roads. They only enforce the laws. Personnel Report: Assistant Chief Thomas reported having 82 sworn in -field vacancies. On January 31, they will conduct a recruit agility test. 86.7% sworn vacancies are filled. They have 8 radio dispatcher vacancies, and with a resignation tomorrow, there will be 9. They will conduct dispatcher recruitments in February and August. Commissioner St. Ambrogio stated that there are a lot of grants out there. She suggested that one or two reserve officers spend a portion of their time working on grants. The Fire Department works with the Sayre Foundation who provide them with a lot of grants. Finance Report: AC Thomas reported that a lot of their overtime is due to TMT. They are waiting on an agreement with the County for overtime payment. Commendations of Personnel: Deputy Chief Bugado reported receiving three commendations involving eight personnel since the last meeting. Other Department Activities: Police Chief Ferreira reported that they are still on track with bodyworn cameras. They will conduct test with three vendors. Regarding the Spillman, it is their record management system and computer aided dispatch. Spillman is the new vendor providing the software. He invited the commissioners to observe their dispatch center in Kona or Hilo. Recruit graduation will be on March 13, and invitations will be sent to all commissioners. Regarding the Reserve Officer Program, the CALEA standard is that reserve officers must do the same things regular officers do. They use reserve officers to supplement staffing, especially when they have events. They do lack a grant writer. Officers in Vice, JAS, and CPO do look at grants when they come up, but they are specific to their jobs. The AG's office also notifies them of grants. Recess was called at 10:48 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 11:10 a.m. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 17, 2020 Page 3 NEW BUSINESS Concerns of the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association of illegal activities in the area of canoe facilities: Commissioner Brown reported that he attended a meeting in Honoka`a with Council Member Lee Loy and Community Policing Officers Almeida and Drummondo. Association members brought up their concerns of drug activity in Hilo and Kona restrooms and people living in cars in the area. They were told to call the police about the problems. Council Member Lee Loy told them to call P & R about cleaning the restrooms. The World Sprints will be coming to Hawaii in August, and they want to make a good impression. COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LEE LOY of Council District 3 stated that she and Council Chair Chung have heard of drug activity in the canoe area. She runs by the area every day. Doug Bumatay, VP of the Association and coach, is there with the kids, but it is not safe for the kids to be in the bathrooms. There is a section in the County Charter and commission rules that allows the commission to advise the Police Chief on community relations. Chair Chung and she are ready to work with the commission. They have tools in their belt where they can work. They also control the budget. She wants to work smarter, not harder. DOUG BUMATAY, Vice President of Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association, stated that in recent months, illegal activity has increased right in front of them. It's going on in and around the bathrooms. There is graffiti in the bathrooms and vandalism on their canoes. It's the middle of the high school season, and the kids don't want to go to the bathrooms. Hilo has gotten bad. Kona is also bad. Council Member Lee Loy stated that the community policing officers did empower this group with tools and what to do. They brought their concerns back to department's leadership. They want some kind of action. They want this resolved. They need to figure out a long term solution. MIKE ATWOOD of Moku O Hawaii stated he also coaches high school paddling. The circumstances in Hilo are similar in Kona, but they also have tourists who see this. The Kona pier is State property. The bathrooms are closed at night, and these people use the canoes to do their business which is a health issue. They were advised to call the police non -emergency number. Commissioner Quartararo stated that the bathrooms at the Old Kona Airport are also a problem, especially at night. Commissioner St. Ambrogio suggested that the canoe clubs mount cameras to capture images of the people in the area. CAROLYN CARTER of Moku O Hawaii stated that they have 15 canoe clubs, and at one point they all will be affected. The upcoming World Sprints will have international participation. They want to be in a good space. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 17, 2020 Page 4 BILL ROSEHILL of Moku O Hawaii stated that he wants the police to know that when they do enforcement on these people, they do retaliate. He spoke of incidents that occurred after they called the police. One incident was when the cords on a canoe were cut and came off when they were on the water and another incident when a canoe was set on fire. Commissioner Sur stated that he did a study of homeless people in Hilo. He took photos. They do take action against people or businesses who go against them. Chair Bertsch thanked the members of the canoe club for attending this meeting. He stated that this is the first time in his 13 years on the commission where a Council Member and people from around the island came to talk about an issue. The Police Commission wants to help. This is not just the Police Department's job. It's also for the Council, the community, and the canoe clubs. Maybe they could set drug free zones like in the schools. He asked for volunteers to sit on a steering committee. He asked Council Member Lee Loy to spear head this. He also asked the Police Department to participate. Council Member Lee Loy stated that they have the resources and will reach out to Parks and Recreation. Chair Bertsch suggested they also get the Department of Health and Prosecutor involved and focus on these high risk areas and finding solutions. Police Chief Ferreira reported that on January 9, Community Policing Officers and DLNR did a sweep in downtown Hilo. They are addressing the halau area. It's a huge issue, and it's coming about because they moved the homeless out of one area, and they moved to another area. Mental health is also a component of this issue and is being addressed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Program of Work for the Police Commission: Ms. Pelayo stated that this was started by the former Chair and has been on the agenda since the beginning of last year. Program of Work for the Police Chief: Chief Ferreira stated that this is still a draft, and they have not gone over it. Chair Bertsch will review the Programs of Work. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Bertsch asked about the missing evidence from about a year ago and what the Chief's office has done since. Chief Ferreira stated that polices were reviewed and addressed. Chair Bertsch stated that years ago, $50,000 was missing. Now, they have evidence missing. He asked what they are doing to prevent that from happening again. Chief Ferreira stated that changes were done, such as money is no longer kept if not needed. The issue is not the same and is a totally different situation. He is satisfied with the policies and procedures they have in place now. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 17, 2020 Page 5 Chair Bertsch asked for a copy of CALEA's recommendations. Chair Bertsch stated that he used to have an access card into the police stations. Now, he doesn't have access. Chief Ferreira stated that access to secure areas is for officers. Chair Bertsch disagreed and stated that the commission is part of the Police Department. Chief Ferreira stated that he will look into it. Commissioner Sur didn't think it was necessary to have access into the police stations. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed session.) Vice Chair Schutte motioned to meet in executive session to consider charges against officers or employees of the Hawaii Police Department where matters affecting privacy would be involved, to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety, 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 St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:02 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:47 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS Review of complaints that fall under the non-acceptance category: The complainant's interest is not of the type which would give that individual standing to maintain an action in court of law, the complainant is not an eyewitness to the events which are the basis for the complaint, and the complaint was not filed within 90 calendar days of the incident in which the complaint is based. Vice Chair Schutte motioned to accept the Chair's decision to decline investigation on the two complaints. Commissioner Sur seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Bertsch announced that the next meeting is scheduled for February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m., in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:48 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: JOHN M. BERTSCH, CHAIR