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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-21 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 21, 2014 WAIMEA COMMUNITY CENTER 62-1260 KAWAIHAE ROAD, KAMUELA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Bertsch called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: John M. Bertsch, Chair Guy K. Schutte, Vice Chair Robert G. Gomes, Sr., Commissioner Peter L. Hendricks, Commissioner Karolyn P. Lundkvist, Commissioner Keith T. Morioka, Commissioner Kenneth T. Ono, Commissioner Leroy J. Victorine, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Harry Kubojiri, Police Chief Paul Ferreira, Deputy Police Chief Paul Kealoha, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Kenneth Bugado, Captain Kathy Garson, Deputy Corporation Counsel Belinda Castillo Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None) APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Victorine motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 15, 2014, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Victorine motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Morioka seconded. Discussion: Vice Chair Schutte said he told Ms. Pelayo before the meeting about non -substantive changes. Chair Bertsch asked that the changes be articulated in the meeting. Vice Chair Schutte stated that changes were that Detective Prudencio was present at the meeting, not Captain Bugado. He also pointed out that in the executive minutes, HPC 14-26 involved a Ford pickup truck. The motion carried with the noted changes to the minutes. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 21, 2014 Page 2 (Commissioner Gomes entered at 9:24 a.m.) POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime report by area, category, and trends. Assistant Chief Tavares reported having 3,218 serious crimes, of which 669 were investigated by the Criminal Investigative Units. The department received 8,812 calls for service of which 2,708 were for criminal/traffic and 6,104 for miscellaneous public assistance. The trend in Hilo was an increase in unauthorized entry which was one-night crime spree. Puna had an increase in burglaries, but it was not looting. The Burglary Detail continues in North Hilo and Puna. The entire council I district of Puna is covered under the emergency proclamation that enhances penalties. Weekly crime reports are sent out to community watch leaders in Puna. There were no crime trends in North and South Kohala. Kona has issues with drinking in public and camping violations. Ka'u saw an increase in property crimes in Ocean View. Police presence has been increased, and they continue to educate the public in crime prevention. Assistant Chief Kealoha stated that the increase in property crimes in Hawaiian Ocean View coincide with unauthorized entry into vehicles. Some persons of interest originated in Puna. • Traffic report by area, category, and trends. Assistant Chief Kealoha reported that for the month of October, 5,656 citations were issued: 3,502 moving/regulatory, 387 seatbelt, 39 child restraint, and 1,728 speeding. They have special funding for holiday enforcement. • Personnel report on vacancies, recruitment, training, promotions, reallocations, severance from service, and work assignments. Deputy Chief Ferreira reported having 29 sworn and 30 civilian vacancies. They are currently screening applicants for the next recruit class. They are doing recruitment for dispatchers. • Finance report of budget and expenditures. Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that their overtime is slightly over budget due to the Puna emergencies. They were instructed to prepare a status quo budget. The commission will be given a copy of the budget. • Commendations of sworn and civilian employees. Chief Kubojiri reported receiving 8 commendations involving 20 personnel. • Other Departmental Activities. Chief Kubojiri, as a member of Marijuana Dispensary Task Force, reported that the current proposal by the subcommittee is for a dispensary for every 500-1000 patients. It is mandating that every county have the dispensaries. The law will be crafted so that individual counties cannot say they cannot have dispensaries. The University of Hawaii facilitates the meetings. The public has an opportunity to weigh in at every meeting. In January, medical marijuana will come under the Department of Health. The current system is under NED. If they come Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 21, 2014 Page 3 across someone with marijuana plants, they can call NED at any time to see if the person has a legitimate card. The Dept. Health does not have enough personnel and they will have problems getting information. If they have dispensaries, individual growers of medical marijuana will be illegal. Growers want to continue to grow, but the Legislature will not allow it. His argument to the Task Force is that if this is medicine, you cannot have dispensaries and back yard growing. Last week he was told the permit number is now over 14,000, with the Big Island leading the numbers. Chief Kubojiri informed the commission that he plans to retire soon. He is concerned about the salary of the Chief and Deputy Chief. Last year the Salary Commission gave them a raise to address the inversion issue. Two months later, personnel were given a raise, and their salary was again lower than their subordinates. This will be a concern when selecting the next Police Chief. Come January, the Assistant Chiefs and others will get another raise. Under the new contract, personnel will get a raise every 6 months. Come July, the Majors will be making more than them. When people start getting up there, they are concerned about their salary and how it affects their retirement which is based on their highest three years. It will be a challenge during the next Chief selection process. The longest he will stay is to the end of the Mayor's term. Chair Bertsch stated that the salary of the Chief and Deputy is set by the Salary Commission. The Police Commission is responsible for the Police Chief. The commission has to hire, but any of his senior rank would have to take a pay cut if they elect to become the Chief. They need to present this to the Salary Commission. Consequences are that they would be attracting people of lower rank without the knowledge or experience. Commissioner Lundkvist said she was on the Salary Commission when they tried to rectify this problem, but it lasted only two month until subordinates were given a raise. When she first got on the Salary Commission, they didn't meet for a year because they couldn't get a quorum. Commissioner Hendricks suggested agendizing this matter for further discussion at a future meeting. Commissioner Morioka stated that this issue is similar to every State and County administrator. They need to be cognizant of the pay raises that the union will be asking for their members. The Salary Commission should be thinking forward about union raises. In schools, when they go before the Salary Commission, they go as a body in support of having the pay raises for the people they are looking at. Deputy Corporation Kathy Garson introduced Deputy Corporation Counsel Belinda Castillo Hall who will be the Police Commission's new attorney. Recess was called at 11:11 a. m. The meeting reconvened at 11:28 a. m. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 21, 2014 Page 4 EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Victorine motioned to meet in executive session 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 Hawaii Police Department; to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety; and to consider the upcoming evaluation of the police chief pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Schutte seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:30 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 12:16 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Bertsch announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, December 12, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., in the Puna Conference Room, Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaii. • Collection of files and documents. (Done.) ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned a5 12:20 p.m. SUBMITED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: JOHN M. BERTSCH, CHAIR