HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-12-22 Police Commission MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
DECEMBER 22, 2010
PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM, HAWAII COUNTY BUILDING
INVOCATION
Commissioner Sumja gave an invocation.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Whittemore called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Tom Whittemore, Chair
Donn S. Mende, Vice Chair
Carol R. Ignacio, Commissioner
Michelle L. Kualii, Commissioner
Kenneth T. Ono, Commissioner
T. Ka`ili Pe`a- Ferrari, Commissioner
Michael B. Sumja, Commissioner
Leroy J. Victorine, Commissioner
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
A quorum was present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Victorine moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Ignacio seconded,
and it carried unanimously.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS — None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Commissioner Ignacio moved to approve the minutes of November 24, 2010, regular
and executive sessions. Commissioner Sumja seconded, and it carried unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS
• Correspondence 2010 -14, Police Department's Annual Misconduct Report to the State
Legislature: Deputy Chief Ferreira stated that they are addressing violations of report
writing through their Records Management System. They do progressive discipline.
Commissioner Sumja moved to accept this communication for filing. Commissioner
Victorine seconded, and it carried unanimously.
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Regular Minutes
December 22, 2010
Page 2
(Commissioner Ono arrived at 9:10 a. m.)
• Police Commission's 2011 Meeting Schedule.
• Honolulu Police Commission Minutes of October 20, 2010.
• Maui Police Commission Minutes of October 20, 2010.
Commissioner Victorine moved to accept these communications for filing. Vice Chair
Mende seconded, and it carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Budget and Finance (Mende, Ono): No report.
• Office Management (Whittemore): No report.
• Rules and Policies (Sumja, Victorine): No report.
• Public Relations (Ignacio, Pe`a- Ferrari): No report.
CHIEF'S REPORT
Including:
• Crime: Assistant Chief Tavares summarized the written report. Chair Whittemore
pointed out that North Kohala had only one burglary.
• Traffic: Assistant Chief Pacheco summarized the written report. DUI roadblocks and
traffic posts are being manned almost on a daily basis, and grants are used for these.
They are waiting for the toxicology report on the accident in which Colt Brennan was a
passenger. They are considering a joint media release with the prosecutor's office.
Personnel (Including, but not limited to work and training assignments, promotions,
reallocations, severance from service, automobile allowances, and appointments.)
Assistant Chief Kanehailua summarized the written report. They have 21 sworn
vacancies, and anticipate three more vacancies due to retirements in early 2011. They
are targeting February for the start of the next recruit class. They have 16 civilian
vacancies.
Finance: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported doing well on target expenditures, a lot
of which is due to reduction in overtime. They should be below their target at the end
of the fiscal year.
Assistant Chief Pacheco stated that they have cut back on some overtime, but not all.
They do work overtime if the commander feels they need to do it and it's justified. The
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Regular Minutes
December 22, 2010
Page 3
commanders have to make the daily decision as things come up. Public service should
not be impacted.
Assistant Chief Kanehailua stated that they cut back on overtime in records and
records report processing. They are getting complaints about OIP requirements,
although not a lot.
Chair Whittemore expressed concern about CALEA accreditation being jeopardized
because of budget cuts. Kanehailua stated that their budget for CALEA is $20,000.
They have a staff of four. They are one year away from accreditation. The money
pays for training and equipment so they can be accredited. CALEA has certain
requirements such as that males and females must be separated in sight and sound in
the cellblock. Hawaii and Kauai counties are the only ones not accredited. He invited
the commissioners to meet with the officers who are working on CALEA. Chair
Whittemore asked that the commission be given updates at future meetings.
• Commendations: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported receiving 12 commendations since
the last meeting.
Other Departmental Activities: Deputy Chief Ferreira further reported on the Legislative
report of misconduct. He stated that it could involve the same officer. They do take
report writing seriously. The other counties have a different way of report writing to the
Legislature, so they can't compare. Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that Honolulu
will not report it until the grievance process is finalized. Deputy Chief Ferreira will
report back on how they compare with the other islands.
Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that they are scheduled to meet with County Finance
the week of January 14 to go over their budget. They submitted their budget, was
asked for justifications, and then asked to provide additional justifications. After the
meeting it goes to the Mayor for approval. They are looking at making cuts in all
accounts. Regarding the overtime account, they have been fortunate this past year
with having no disasters. Although the census says we have grown, they cannot go to
the Mayor for additional sworn positions because of the funding, but it will come to the
point where they will have to.
NEW BUSINESS
• Police Commission's 2011 Meeting Schedule: No Discussion.
Selection of Chair and Vice of the Police Commission for 2011: Commissioner Ignacio
stated that Michael Sumja and Donn Mende were interested in being Chair. No one is
interested in the Vice Chair position. She asked both nominees to give a brief
statement of why they believe they have the qualities and interest in serving the
commission and the public. Commissioner Sumja gave a brief summary of his
qualifications and then withdrew his interest in being Chair. Then, Donn Mende said he
was interested in being Chair and Leroy Victorine expressed his interest in being Vice
Hawaii Police Commission
Regular Minutes
December 22, 2010
Page 4
Chair. Written ballot votes were unanimous for Donn Mende as Chair and Leroy
Victorine as Vice Chair.
Recess was called at 9:53 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:03 a.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Sumja moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and
charges against officers or employees of the Hawaii Police Department where
consideration of matters affecting privacy would be involved 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 (a) (2) (4) and the
Hawaii County Charter Section 13 -20 (b). Commissioner Victorine seconded, and the
motion carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:05 a.m.
Regular session reconvened at 11:10 a.m.
ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Complaint HPC 10 -35: Complainant alleged that her ex- boyfriend violated a TRO and
when she called the police, the responding officer told her it couldn't have happened, and
he didn't show up. Commissioner Victorine moved that there was sufficient evidence to
prove the complainant's allegations. Commissioner Ignacio seconded, and it carried
unanimously. Discussion: Commissioner Victorine stated that the police department
needs to do a thorough investigation of all her concerns from failure to respond to entry of
department information into Facebook. The department needs to look into the entire
matter and report back to the commission. Captain O'Connor stated that this complaint
will go to I.A. for an investigation. Chair Whittemore reiterated that the commission wants
I.A. to look into violations of releasing department information by police personnel in
Facebook.
Lunch recess was called at 11:15 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 12:05 noon.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Victorine moved to meet in executive session to conduct an annual
performance evaluation of Police Chief Harry Kubojiri where consideration of matters
affecting privacy will be involved and a closed session is requested by Chief 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 (a) (2) (4) and
the Hawai'i County Charter 13 -20 (b). Vice Chair Mende seconded, and it carried
unanimously. Executive session convened at 12:08 a.m.
Regular session reconvened at 2:05 a.m.
Annual Performance Evaluation of Police Chief Harry Kubojiri: The commission
conducted its evaluation which will be presented to Chief Kubojiri for his review and
then discussed at a future meeting.
Hawaii Police Commission
Regular Minutes
December 22, 2010
Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Chair Whittemore announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will
be on Friday, January 28, 2011, in the Mayor's Old Office Conference Room in Kona,
Hanama 1, 75 -5706 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 103, Kailua -Kona.
• Collection of files and documents. — Done.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:07 pm.
SUBMITTED:
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JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY
APPROVED:
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TOM WHITTEMORE, CHAIR