Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-13 Police Commission Minutes HAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JULY 13, 2011 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER INVOCATION Commissioner Sumja gave an invocation. CALL TO ORDER Chair Mende called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Donn S. Mende, Chair Leroy J. Victorine, Vice Chair Paul W. Horner, Commissioner Michelle L. Kualii, Commissioner Kenneth T. Ono, Commissioner T. Ka`ili Pe`a-Ferrari, Commissioner Michael B. Sumja, Commissioner Excused: Carol R. Ignacio, Commissioner Also Present: Harry S. Kubojiri, Police Chief Paul Ferreira, Deputy Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Samuel Thomas, Major James O'Connor, Captain Lincoln S. T. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Victorine moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Sumja seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS — None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Horner moved to approve the minutes of June 24, 2011 and June 30, 2011. Vice Chair Victorine seconded, and it carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS • Correspondence No. 2011-11, request for legal counsel for former Police Officer Robert Wolverton in Civil No. 07-1-0152K. Discussion was held in executive session. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 13, 2011 Page 2 CHIEF'S REPORT Including: • Crime: Assistant Chief Henry Tavares summarized the written report. He pointed out that the crime decreased in both Areas I and II. There was a significant decrease in burglaries in Puna. A burglary task force has been assigned to work with Puna Patrol, and there has been a significant decrease in burglaries in the district. • Traffic: Major Samuel Thomas summarized the traffic report. There was a 2% increase in traffic crashes over last year, and DUI arrests were up 1% over last year. • Personnel: Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua stated there was no change in personnel since the last meeting. The recruit class graduates this Friday. Two will be held back because they were unable to finish the academic and physical training due to injury. The rest will go on to full training. Major Paul Kealoha will be promoted to Assistant Chief in Kona on July 18. Major Samuel Thomas will replace him in Administration. Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that 43 training positions were unfunded due to the economy. • Finance: Assistant Chief Kanehailua summarized the written report. • Commendations: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported receiving three commendations since the last meeting. • Other Departmental Activities: Training by Dr. Kimo Alameda: Commissioner Sumja stated that they attended Dr. Alameda's training, and it was quite good. Deputy Chief Ferreira stated that they received very good feedback from those who attended. Assistant Chief Kanehailua stated that an issue is whether or not Dr. Alameda wants to continue doing the training. To put things into prospective, they are looking at flying in a trainer/negotiator, and the fee will be about $10,000412,000. Dr. Alameda's fee is substantially less. Deputy Chief Ferreira stated that he doesn't think there is a stumbling block with the Mayor's office. It's more whether or not Dr. Alameda wants to do it. They are following procurement rules. They are not doing anything illegal. Commissioner Sumja stated that it is sad that they let a newspaper editor run them. Assistant Chief Kanehailua stated that when they did this, they were looking at the best training for their officers. He was insulted when a newspaper reporter said he was lying about the issue. Commissioner Ono stated that he met with Reed Flickinger of West Hawaii Today. Flickinger had a different prospective. He is not opposed to training. He recognizes that the police department has the ability to enter into contracts without an RFP. The issue was that it was done with a person who was the Mayor's campaign manager. It gave the appearance of a sweetheart Hawaii Police Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 13, 2011 Page 3 deal. He told Flickinger the commission pushed hard for training for the police department. Unfortunately, when they talked about it, a lot of them did not know there was a connection between Dr. Alameda and the Mayor. Deputy Chief Ferreira stated that, unfortunately, they did not look at who he was. They looked at who was the best trainer for the police department. They did it the way they normally do. Dr. Alameda was the best qualified. They did not do anything illegal. If they did do an RFP, that would have been out of the ordinary for them. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Continued discussion on current and new committees: Chair Mende stated that he had concerns relating to a possible committee on review of discipline which he would like to discuss in executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vice Chair Victorine moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawaii Police Department, to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety, 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) (5) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Pe`a-Ferrari seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 9:33 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:15 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Correspondence No. 2011-11, request for legal counsel for former Police Officer Robert Wolverton in Civil No. 07-1-0152K. Vice Chair Victorine moved to follow the advice of Corporation Counsel Ashida and provide legal counsel by Corporation Counsel. Commissioner Sumja seconded, and it carried unanimously. • Complaint HPC 11-15: Complainant was arrested for DUI. He alleged that while being processed, the officer grabbed and threatened him. Commissioner Horner recused himself from discussion and voting because the complainant is his employee. Commissioner Sumja moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct. Vice Chair Victorine seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Mende announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, August 12, 2011, in the Waimea Civic Center Conference Room, 67-5189 Kamamalu St., Waimea. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 13, 2011 Page 4 • Commissioner Ono stated that at the next meeting he would like to have continued discussion on current and new committees. He wants to see multi-year planning and wants the Chief to be involved in the discussion. It will be on the next agenda. • Collection of files and documents. — Done. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m. SUBMITTED: 6!4e 2--w JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED: DONN S. MENDE, CHAIR