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Home My WebLink About2015-03-20 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 20, 2015 NORTH HAWAII EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER 45-539 PLUMERIA ST., RM. 204, HONOKA`A, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Schutte called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Guy K. Schutte, Chair John M. Bertsch, Vice Chair Peter L. Hendricks, Member Keith T. Morioka, Member Kenneth T. Ono, Member Absent: Robert G. Gomes, Sr., Member Karolyn P. Lundkvist, Member Leroy J. Victorine, Member A quorum was present. Also present: Paul Ferreira, Deputy Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Kenneth Bugado, Captain Belinda Castillo Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Morioka motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Ono seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS ATTORNEY BRIAN DE LIMA came before the commission to speak on Correspondence 15-04. He stated that he was there representing Officer Jody Buddemeyer who was in a serious auto accident. The officer is on administrative leave for negligent homicide. State law HRS 52D allows for counsel when a police officer is prosecuted for a crime or sued in a civil suit. He understands this is a little early because there is no criminal prosecution or civil suit. He wants the commission to find that the officer was on duty during the incident. He believes that it is important that they be proactive because there could possibly be civil action. His firm is qualified to be hired by the county. He has been retained and is representing the officer. He is assisting him in the investigation. He is looking at civil and criminal issues. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 20, 2015 Page 2 COUNCIL MEMBER GREGGOR ILAGAN came before the commission to speak on Correspondence 15-05, a draft of an amendment to the ordinance relating to the Neighborhood Watch Program. He distributed updated information. He stated that he is before the commission because they have the knowledge and experience with the police which he lacks. He will make a wiser decision with the commission seeing what he has to present. They want the program to be organized, have strong standards, and be flexible. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that he sees no problem with the proposals, and that he is on the right track. Community Watch Programs take the pressure off Community Policing Officers. Council Member Ilagan stated that he will continue working on this program and will vet it with the police department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Commissioner Hendricks motioned to approve the minutes of February 20, 2015, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Ono seconded, and it carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS • Correspondence 15-04, from Attorney Brian De Lima requesting counsel for Police Officer Jody Buddemeyer who was involved in a vehicle accident. • Correspondence 15-05, from Council Member Greggor Ilagan regarding a draft of a bill relating to the Neighborhood Watch Program in Hawaii County. Statements were taken at the beginning of the meeting. The commission took no action. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime report: Assistant Chief Tavares reported that up to February 28, they had 6,215 serious crimes, of which 1,359 were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Units. In the month of February, they received 7,627 calls for service. They had a slight increase in property crime in Downtown Hilo which is related to homelessness in the area. Latest statistics show there are over 100 homeless individuals in Downtown Hilo. They are working with property owners, although some owners do not want to prosecute. Two officers are being assigned to downtown Hilo with bikes and walking. Hamakua saw a slight increase in crime, specifically at the Honoka`a Club. They are working with management to increase security. Ka'u had a decrease in crime with no trends. Hawai'i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 20, 2015 Page 3 • Traffic report. Assistant Chief Kealoha reported that for the month of February, 4,172 citations were issued: 2,878 moving/regulatory, 261 seatbelt, 23 child restraints, and 1,010 speeding. They had three traffic fatalities in one accident involving students and a recently graduated male. They are working with the schools to get their message across about safety and driving. There were no identified traffic trends. • Personnel report: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported having 33 sworn vacancies. The vacancy will be down to 21 when the 12 recruits go on the road on June 1. Recruitment continues, and they are looking to hire 20 people. They are in the sergeant promotions process. They now have 11 dispatch vacancies. Dispatch training takes about 3 months, and multi -tasking is an important trait for a dispatcher. They reached out to the County's HR to make dispatch recruitment continuous. The lieutenant in records will be going to the FBI Academy. They had mock CALEA exercises in preparation for the June assessment. • Finance report (including FY 2015-16 Budget): Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that they are tracking at 68%, just below the target of 70%. The slow down of the lava flow has helped with the overtime issues. Vacancies also help, but it increases overtime. Overtime in dispatch is about 300 hours. The 2015-16 budget is $62,052,000, which is slightly less than last year. They were told to prepare a status quo budget. • Commendations of sworn and civilian employees: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported receiving 7 commendations since the last meeting. • Other departmental activities: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that Chief Kubojiri is attending the FBI Academy refresher course. Their budget hearing with the County Council is scheduled for April 23 at 1:30 p.m. Comments can be made at that time. Vice Chair Bertsch stated that one of the duties of the commission is to review and make recommendations on the police department's budget, and they have to look at it. Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that April 13-17 is National Telecommunications Week. They will have a dispatch recognition luncheon on April 16 at the Hilo station. Recess was called at 10:04 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:20 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Morioka 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 conduct an annual evaluation of the police chief pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawai'i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Ono seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 20, 2015 Page 4 Executive session convened at 10:22 a.m. Open session reconvened at 12:38 p.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Complaint HPC 15-03: Complainant called the paramedic and police for help for her husband. She alleged that she told the officer her husband did not hurt or threaten her, but he pressed charges against her will. Commissioner Ono motioned to refer the complaint to the Chief for further investigation. Vice Chair Bertsch seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Schutte announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, April 24, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in the Aupuni Center Conference Rm., 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. • Collection of files and documents (done). ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GUY K. SCHUTTE, CHAIR