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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-13 Police Commission Regular Minutes HAWAI‘I POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 13, 2014 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAI‘I CALL TO ORDER Chair Bertsch called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: John M. Bertsch, Chair Guy K. Schutte, Vice Chair Peter L. Hendricks, Commissioner Karolyn P. Lundkvist, Commissioner Keith t. Morioka, Commissioner Leroy J. Victorine, Commissioner Absent: Robert G. Gomes, Sr., Commissioner Kenneth T. Ono, Commissioner Ka‘ili Pe‘a-Ferrari, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Harry Kubojiri, Police Chief Paul Ferreira, Deputy Chief Paul Kealoha, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Kenneth Bugado, Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins, Detective Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary Chair Bertsch welcomed new commissioners Karolyn Lundkvist and Peter Hendricks. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Schutte motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Victorine motioned to approve the minutes of February 21, 2014, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Morioka seconded. Discussion: Chair Bertsch pointed out a correction, and reminded the commissioners to review the minutes for any corrections because it becomes a public record. The motion carried unanimously. Hawai‘i Police Commission Regular Session Meeting March 13, 2014 Page 2 CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence 14-02, Alex Libbrecht alleged that someone stole items. Commissioner Lundkvist motioned to file this correspondence. Commissioner Morioka seconded. Discussion: Commissioner Victorine stated that this complaint was not notarized, was received after the 90-day deadline, and the complainant did not show up for the meeting. Ms. Pelayo said she sent Mr. Libbrecht two letters asking him to come in to notarize the complaint, and if it was not notarized, it would be handled as correspondence. He did not come in to notarize the complaint. The motion to file carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: Crime report by area, category, and trends: Assistant Chief Tavares reported that they continue to see Toyota trucks being stolen. They believe people are coming to Hilo in the late hours of the night traveling on Highway 11 and Stainback Highway. Burglaries in the Waiakea Uka area are being addressed with surveillance and newsletters to neighborhood watch coordinators. In Kona, crime has decreased, but they continue to have complaints of teenagers in parks and homelessness. Burglaries in Ka’u have decreased. Persons of interest have been identified. They do pawnshop checks and have good working relationships with the pawnshops. They are getting information about items being shipped somewhere else to get it pawned. Assistant Chief Kealoha said there are a lot of options to get rid of items such as gold buyers and the internet. Traffic report by area, category, and trends: Assistant Chief Kealoha reported that traffic crashes, fatalities, and DUI fatalities are down. No traffic trends were identified in any district. Commissioner Bertsch said he is curious to see a 5 and 10 year trend to understand staffing, etc. Personnel report on vacancies, recruitment, training, promotions, reallocations, severance from service, and work assignments: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported having 19 sworn and 8 civilian vacancies. They hired three new police dispatchers and will be fully staffed. Finance report of budget and expenditures: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported they are scheduled for a budget hearing before the County Council on April 3 at 1:30 p.m. They will take public statements at the start of the meeting but not at the time of individual department presentations. Commendations of sworn and civilian employees: Chief Kubojiri reported having 5 commendations involving 6 personnel since the last meeting. Other departmental activities: Chief Kubojiri reported they will be hosting the Statewide ICC IU and Tactical Conferences at the end of April. They received a letter from the Cost of Government Commission asking if they implemented the recommendations the commission made in 2011 on how to reduce cost and if not, why. Hawai‘i Police Commission Regular Session Meeting March 13, 2014 Page 3 He said the commission recommended they base the fuel reimbursement on actual mileage rather than a fixed amount and cut the monthly car allowance. Both are contractual issues, and it is not up to them to do it. The other was to develop a notification system in the event subpoenas for court are cancelled so they could save on overtime and travel time. A lot of that is totally out of their hands because when they get the notification, oftentimes it is at the last minute, literally on the date court is cancelled or continued. According to GOs they have to be in court at least half an hour ahead of time. They try to contact the officers as soon as they get notification. The vast majority of the time it is overtime. If they are working, that’s not a problem. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion on Committee Assignments: Chair Bertsch said they will continue to leave committee reports off the agenda and will add it on as needed. Update on State of Hawai‘i Police Commissioner’s Conference April 24-25, 2014: Chair Bertsch said the Police Department has been very helpful in providing speakers for the conference. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Victorine motioned to meet in executive session to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities; 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 review the Police Chief’s annual evaluation pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Schutte seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 9:50 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:35 a.m. ACTION BY THE COMMISSION ON COMPLAINTS HPC 13-42: Complainant alleged that she witnessed an officer use a billy club on someone. Commissioner Lundkvist motioned that there is insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Victorine seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Morioka motioned that they also refer this complaint to the Chief for customer service, procedural, and operational concerns. Commissioner Victorine seconded, and it carried unanimously. HPC 14-04: Complainant alleged that an officer did not tell him that questions he was going to ask his minor daughter was regarding a criminal investigation. Commissioner Victorine motioned that there was sufficient evidence of misconduct and to refer the complaint to the Police Chief for further investigation. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawai‘i Police Commission Regular Session Meeting March 13, 2014 Page 4 HPC 14-05: Complainant alleged that her brother was denied the right to make a police report. Vice Chair Schutte motioned to decline further investigation because the complaint was not received within the 90-day deadline. Commissioner Victorine seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Bertsch announced that the Police Commission’s next monthly meeting will be on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Collection of files and documents. – Done. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: JOHN M. BERTSCH, CHAIR