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Home My WebLink About2010-01-15 Police Commission MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 15, 2010 WAIMEA CIVIC CENTER INVOCATION Commissioner Politano Steckel gave an invocation. CALL TO ORDER Chair Whittemore called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Tom Whittemore, Chair Donn S. Mende, Vice Chair Richard J. Behenna, Member Melvin S. Morimoto, Member Anita Politano Steckel, Member Michael B. Sumja, Member Absent: Carol R. Ignacio, Member Louis Kaoiwi, Member Also present: Paul K. Ferreira, Deputy Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Derek Pacheco, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief James O'Connor, Captain Lincoln S. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Mende moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Morimoto seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS - None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Politano Steckel moved to approve the minutes of December 17 and 18, 2009, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Sumja seconded, and it carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS • Correspondence 2010 -01, from Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, Police Department's Goals for 2010. Commissioner Behenna moved to accept this correspondence. Commissioner Sumja seconded, and it carried unanimously. Discussion with Chief Kubojiri was deferred due to his absence. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session minutes January 15, 2010 Page 2 • Commissioner Politano Steckel moved to accept the Maui and Honolulu Police Commission minutes. Vice Chair Mended seconded, and it carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS • Budget and Finance (Kaoiwi /Mende): No report. • Office Management and Staffing (Whittemore): No report. • Rules and Policies (Behenna /Sumja): ➢ Development of vision and mission statement: Done at end of agenda. ➢ Review of revised rules and regulations: Deferred. • Contractual Services (vacant): No report. • Public Relations /Information ( Politano Steckel /Ignacio): Commissioner Politano Steckel stated that the committee still needs to meet. The fallen officers' monument will be on the corner of the police department's lot across St. Joseph School. She is willing to continue working on the monument when she is off the commission. • Chair Whittemore stated that the Mayor is working on filling the commission's vacancies. CHIEF'S REPORT Including: • Crime: Assistant Chief Tavares summarized the written report. • Traffic: Assistant Chief Pacheco summarized the written report. He reported on a traffic fatality on the Akaka Falls Road. Regarding the cell phone ban, when pulled over to use the phone, the vehicle's engine must be turned off. The commission asked that they put out a press release about this. • Personnel (Including, but not limited to work and training assignments, promotions, reallocations, severance from service, automobile allowances, and appointments.) Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that the vacancies are the same as in December. Three sworn officers retired in December. Civilian vacancies are still at 13. Finance will have a full staff in February. Chair Whittemore stated that in the Chief's goals for 2010, he brought out furloughing of civilian staff. The majors have been asked to implement a plan. It seems that they will stagger the work. • Finance: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that their target is 50 %, and they are at 48 %. They are continuing on with the budget process. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session minutes January 15, 2010 Page 3 • Commendations: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported having nine commendations since the last meeting. Part of the Chief's goals is promoting the good that officers do on the streets. He asked the commissioners to get the word out in their communities about the commendations. Other Departmental Activities: Deputy Chief Ferreira stated that they have taken measures to cut costs such as curtailing unnecessary overtime and turning off air conditioning and power sources. The Mayor has a CIP work group that prioritizes the annual submittals. Chair Whittemore stated that the 2010 meeting schedule will be revised. NEW BUSINESS Correspondence 2010 -01, from Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, Police Department's Goals for 2010: Commissioner Behenna stated that the goals are not quantifiable for the Chief's annual evaluation. He did not see any comment about community policing and wants to know if it has been accomplished. Chair Whittemore was concerned about setting goals that were too rigid for the budget. Commissioner Sumja stated that having older officers mentor younger officers does not cost money. Commissioner Behenna stated that in wanting to be quantitative, it would be fair to ask the Chief how they could tell if it has been accomplished. Goals are planning tools. It says what you want to accomplish during the year. Commissioner Behenna moved that they thank the Chief for his efforts in putting the goals together and to ask him to review and revise it with goals that would have quantifiable results and to have it ready for the next meeting. Commissioner Politano Steckel seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS — None. EXECUTIVE SESSION (CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC) Commissioner Sumja moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawai'i County Police Department where consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved, to conduct an annual evaluation of Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, and to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92 -5 (2) (4) and Hawai'i County Charter Section 13 -20 (b). Commissioner Behenna seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:30 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 10:50 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • HPC 09 -47: Complainant Marvin Pescador requested a reconsideration of the Police Commission's decision that there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations that a police officer lacked jurisdiction to issue citations. No motion was made to reconsider the complaint. The commission's decision stands. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session minutes January 15, 2010 Page 4 HPC 09 -54: Complainant Christopher Marlow alleged that his arrest by Officer Levon Stevens for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest was trumped up. Commissioner Morimoto moved to defer this to the next meeting in order to get a statement from the officer and to allow the complainant and his witnesses attend also. Commissioner Sumja seconded, and it carried unanimously. • REVIEW OF 2009 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF POLICE CHIEF HARRY KUBOJIRI - The complaint was deferred to the next meeting when the Chief is present. • DEVELOPMENT OF VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT: After much discussion, the commission agreed on the following: "We advocate for law enforcement based on due regard for the rights of all persons, promoting the highest degree of mutual respect between the police and the public." STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS - None. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Whittemore announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on February 19, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. at the Kona Department of Liquor Control, 75- 5722 Hanama PI., Suite 1107, Kailua -Kona. • Collection of files and documents - Done. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m. SUBMITTED: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED: raw Amwo'-e, TOM WHITTEMORE, CHAIR