Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-19 Police Commission Minutes HAWAI‘I POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES APRIL 19, 2013 WEST HAWAI‘I CIVIC CENTER BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER Chair Leroy Victorine called the meeting to order at 10:09 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Leroy J. Victorine, Chair Carol R. Ignacio, Vice Chair John M. Bertsch, Commissioner Keith T. Morioka, Commissioner Guy K. Schutte, Commissioner Also Present: Harry S. Kubojiri, Police Chief Randy Apele, Major Mitchell Kanehailua, Major Samuel Thomas, Major Samuel Kawamoto, Captain Lincoln S. T. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Schutte moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Morioka seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS – None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice Chair Ignacio moved to approve the minutes of March 15, 2013, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Schutte seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. ACCEPTANCE/ACTION ON COMMUNICATIONS Correspondence No. 2013-05: Invitation to the 2013 Police Week Ceremonies. Ceremonies will be held at the Police Headquarters in Hilo on May 13, at 10:00 a.m. and at the Kealakehe Police Station on May 14 at 10:00 a.m. – No action, just announcement by the Chair. POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: Crime report by area, category, and trends: Major Randy Apele summarized the written report. He stated that up to March 31, 2013, they were 6,373 serious crimes. Of those serious crimes, the Area I and Area II Criminal Investigation Units investigated 1,464 of those cases – 883 by Area I and 581 by Area II. In the month Hawaii Police Commission ‘ Regular Session Minutes April 19, 2013 Page 2 of March, the department received 7,774 calls for service. Of these 2,213 were for criminal and traffic offenses and 5,561 were for miscellaneous public assistance. They had some burglary trends in the Hilo District in the Waiakea Uka and Pepe’ekeo areas. Those have been addressed by their enforcement and investigative units, resulting in arrests, closures, and referrals to the Prosecutor. Since then, those trends have subsided. In the Puna District, they had a small burglary trend in the Volcano area – about 8 burglaries. They are still working on those investigations. One suspect was arrested on some other offenses, and that trend has subsided. A small number of persons are responsible for the majority of these problems. Kona had increased complaints of liquor and park hour violations in Kailua town. The community policing officers are addressing these complaints along with patrol and plain clothes units. Traffic report by area, category, and trends: Major Mitchell Kanehailua summarized the written report. He stated that for the month of March, 3,871 citations were issued – 2,586 moving/regulatory, 348 seatbelt, 48 child restraint, and 889 for speeding. For traffic trends, there were 35 major traffic accidents. Causes and locations were consistent, and they will continue with traffic enforcement. Personnel report on vacancies, recruitment, training, promotions, reallocations, severance from service, and work assignments: Major Samuel Thomas reported that 20 recruits are going through FTO (Field Officer Training) in various districts. On July 16, they are targeted to go out as solo officers. They also have a partial class of 5 officers, 4 of which were transferred from other police departments from within the State of Hawai‘i, and one was a rehire. They are in an accelerated training program which should be completed at the end of May. They will go through FTO training for about a month. On July 1, they are expected to be assigned to individual districts. By the end of July, they are looking at having an additional 25 officers fully training and out in the community Finance report of budget and expenditures: Major Samuel Thomas summarized the written report. He stated that ending March, their targeted expenditure for salaries and wages was 79.2%. They actually expended 75.7%. The difference is due to vacancies. The targeted expenditure for the month ending February was 66.6%. Discounting grants, they expended and encumbered 67.5%. It should be noted that some contracts are encumbered for the entire year, meaning that some expenses have been paid for the rest of the year. With grants, expenditure was at 60.9% of the overall budget. Commendations of sworn and civilian employees: Chief Kubojiri reported receiving 8 commendations involving 32 personnel since the last commission meeting. Hawaii Police Commission ‘ Regular Session Minutes April 19, 2013 Page 3 Chief Kubojiri reported further on the budget. He stated that they went before the County Council to present their 2013-14 budget. In their supplementary budget, they requested an increase in personnel. They gave a Power Point presentation illustrating the calls for service that show the drastic increase over the last several years and personnel being maintained pretty much the same. This translates to delay in responding to the increased calls for service. It has gotten to the point where patrol officers are reactive as opposed to proactive. They asked for an increase in personnel for Ka’u. They want to have the Hawaiian Ocean View area covered with at least two officers per shift. They received six additional positions from the COPS grant. They reallocated vacant county positions upwards. They now will have a lieutenant in the North Hilo District, a sergeant for the Traffic Enforcement Unit in West Hawai‘i, and another supervisory position for North Kohala. They anticipate three captain’s vacancies which includes Captain Kawamoto’s position. They are in the process of filling all the positions. Commissioner Bertsch stated that in the Crime Report, he noticed the trending from last year to this year. There is a 15% increase in burglary and at least 10% increase in theft island-wide with the same staffing. He asked if they are able to bolster up the investigation division in order to follow-through and clear the crimes. Chief Kubojiri stated that they are asking for additional detectives for both sides. Commissioner Bertsch asked the Chief if he noticed a higher rate of complaints both internally and externally as the officers become overworked. Chief Kubojiri stated that they started monitoring complaints through new computer software. They have seen a decline in rudeness. They see spikes here and there but no direct correlation. Chief Kubojiri stated that besides uniform officers, they also asked for civilian positions. The Evidence Technicians in Hilo respond to major crimes scenes for the entire island. They do diagramming and collection of evidence and help free up the detectives to do police work. These technicians are overworked, and they are asking for a position in West Hawai‘i. Vice Chair Ignacio stated that three people complained to her about roadway construction. There have been sites where construction has been completed for months, but the reduced speed limit signs are still up. The perception for people is that the police are using this to ticket people. She asked if they could influence the State to do a better job of removing the reduced speed limit signs because the police department gets the rap for this. Chief Kubojiri stated that since they discussed this issue previously, they have asked personnel to make calls when the construction sites are over. He hasn’t seen an increase in citations for those areas with lowered speed limits. He acknowledged the public’s perception. Hawaii Police Commission ‘ Regular Session Minutes April 19, 2013 Page 4 Vice Chair Ignacio stated that she recently found out that Driver’s License is no longer under the Police Department, although the office is still located in the police station. She recently renewed her driver’s license, and she was in line for two hours and fifteen minutes. Chief Kubojiri stated that the Mayor has been trying for awhile and looking into going online to do government business instead of standing in line. Chair Victorine stated that the problems that Vice Chair Ignacio brought up are not within the Police Department’s jurisdiction. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Schutte moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawai‘i 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) (6) and the Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Ignacio seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 9:30 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:25 a.m. ACTION BY THE COMMISSION Request for reconsideration of Complaint HPC 12-49. Complainant alleged that the officers’ attempt to locate him during an investigation was harassment. He requested a reconsideration so that he could make a presentation to the commission. The complainant did not attend the meeting. There was no motion to reconsider the complaint. The commission’s previous decision that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct stands. Investigation and Deliberation of Complaints HPC 12-47: Complainant alleged that when officers executed a writ of possession and ejection, they caused her bodily injury and emotional distress. She also complained about her treatment following her arrest. Vice Chair Ignacio moved to continue the complaint to the next meeting. Commissioner Schutte seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. HPC 13-09: Complainant’s son was involved in a traffic accident. She alleged that the officer should not have considered it a minor traffic collision and wants it changed. She also alleged that she and her son were not allowed to press charges, and that the other party was only given traffic tickets. Vice Chair Ignacio moved that there was sufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Bertsch seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Bertsch stated that the misconduct is regarding Standard of Conduct and Performance of Duty. Hawaii Police Commission ‘ Regular Session Minutes April 19, 2013 Page 5 HPC 13-11A and 11B: Complainant alleged that two police officers trespassed onto his private property and used a conducted electrical weapon (Taser) on him. Commissioner Schutte moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant’s allegations. Commissioner Morioka seconded the motion. A “nay” vote was called by Commissioner Bertsch, and the motion died without a quorum vote. Commissioner Bertsch moved to refer the complaint to the Chief for an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards. Vice Chair Ignacio seconded the motion. A “nay” vote was called by Commissioner Schutte, and the motion died without a quorum vote. Corporation Council Ashida stated that without another motion, this complaint would be placed on the next meeting’s agenda. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Bertsch stated that he would like to go back into executive session to discuss Complaint HPC 13-11A and B further. Commissioner Bertsch moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawai‘i 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) (6) and the Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Ignacio seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:30 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:44 a.m. ACTION BY THE COMMISSION Investigation and Deliberation of Complaints HPC 13-11A and 13-11B: Chair Victorine moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant’s allegations. Commissioner Schutte seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. HPC 13-14: Complainant alleged that when she spoke to an officer about an accident, he gave her attitude. Commissioner Morioka moved that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant’s allegations. Commissioner Schutte seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. (Vice Chair Ignacio exited the meeting.) Hawaii Police Commission ‘ Regular Session Minutes April 19, 2013 Page 6 ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Pelayo announced that the Police Commission’s next monthly meeting would be on May 17, 2013, 9:00 a.m., in the Waimea Civic Center Conference Room, 67-5189 Kamamalu St., Kamuela, Hawai‘i. Collection of files and documents. – Done. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APRPOVED BY: LEROY J. VICTORINCE CHAIR