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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-15 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MAY 15, 2015 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Schutte called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Guy K. Schutte, Chair John M. Bertsch, Vice Chair Robert G. Gomes, Sr., Commissioner Peter L. Hendricks, Commissioner Peggy K. Hilton, Commissioner Keith T. Morioka, Commissioner Also present: Harry Kubojiri, Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha, Assistant Chief Randy Apele, Major Kenneth Bugado, Captain Belinda Castillo Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Morioka motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Gomes seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (none) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • April 24, 2015, regular session and executive sessions: Commissioner Hendricks motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Morioka motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Commissioner Gomes seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime report: Major Apele reported that up to April 31, there were 7,755 serious crimes. Of these, the Criminal Investigation Units investigated 1,692 cases. In April, they had 8,173 calls for service. Stats go down when suspects are put in jail. A lot of them are repeat offenders. They are addressing auto thefts with police presence and focusing on suspects. A lot of auto break-ins are at businesses and along roadsides. Increase in burglary is related to people on drugs. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes May 15, 2015 Page 2 Traffic report: Assistant Chief Kealoha reported that 4,181 citations were issued: 2,764 moving/regulatory, 364 seatbelt, 30 child restraint, and 1,023 speeding. There were 11 traffic fatalities compared to 10 at the same time last year. They had another traffic fatality this weekend on the Queen K Highway when a driver crossed the center line, struck a vehicle, and then struck a motorcycle. Speeding seems to be a factor in many of the accidents. Traffic on the Queen K has increased. Personnel report: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that vacancies for account clerks, WPC clerks, and police record clerks have been filled. Eight dispatch positions were filled. They will hire four more. School crossing guard vacancies continue. Their Traffic Safety Coordinator left for a position on Oahu. • Sworn vacancies: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that they have 37 vacancies, but that will be reduced with the 11 recruits. A new recruit class of 27 will start in July. The sergeant's test was just done. There will be a lieutenant's vacancy, but the county's Personnel Review Committee (PRC) deferred approval of filling the position until the next fiscal year. He is appealing that decision. A county -wide process is that every vacancy requires PRC approval. The PRC approved continuous recruitment for dispatchers. CALEA reaccreditation will be during the week of June 15. They go through a reaccreditation process every three years. They now have to show proofs. Finance report: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that the budget is targeting really close on everything. It goes to June 30, but because of the payroll lag, it will track to June 15. Everything was submitted for the new budget, and they go before the County Council on June 18. • Commendations of sworn and civilian employees: Chief Kubojiri reported receiving 8 commendations since the last meeting. Other departmental activities: Chief Kubojiri reported that the County's Personnel Review Committee (PRC) and Expense Review Committee (ERC) process does not fit well for the police department because of the 9 months of training for new hires. AC Kanehailua has been working with HR to cut down on vacancies. Insurance for subsidized vehicles was increased for the new budget. The budget increase is due largely to salary increases. CALEA standardizes all polices, standards, directives, and procedures. They have to show proofs that they are in compliance with the standards. Crime stats allow them to see where problem areas are. They will obtain a program to track problem areas. The legislature passed the marijuana dispensary bill. More officers are going through impaired driving training for drugs and alcohol. They want to keep our roads safe Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes May 15, 2015 Page 3 The have not been reaching the majority of the community, and they are now looking into having the meetings after work hours. They want to know the concerns of the working people and the community. HIPAL's intent was to reach out to high risk youths, but they ended up competing with P & R. The two HIPAL positions were absorbed by patrol, and the duties were moved to the SROs who know more about the community's needs and at -risk youths. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Gomes 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 Police Chief Kubojiri pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawai'i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Bertsch seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:08 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 1:16 p.m. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS RACHEL WENTWORTH came before the commission. She stated that she was there representing her brother who requested a reconsideration of his complaints, HPC 15-01 and HPC 15-02. Her brother could not be at the meeting. She had nothing else to say. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Complaint HPC 15-01: Complainant requested a reconsideration of the commission's decision that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. No motion made. • Complaint HPC 15-02: Complainant requested a reconsideration of the commission's decision that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. No motion made. Complaint HPC 15-07: Complainant's vehicle was stolen, then towed, and stored. She was not notified by the police that her vehicle was found and only found out about it when she received a bill from the tow company. Commissioner Hendricks motioned to refer the complaint to the Chief for customer service and procedural concerns as noted in her complaint. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. She will be given information on restitution recovery for loss. Complaint HPC 15-08: Complainant alleged that an officer spoke to him in an unprofessional manner. Commissioner Hilton motioned that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Gomes seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes May 15, 2015 Page 4 Complaint HPC 15-10: Complainant alleged that an officer retaliated against him for filing a complaint by issuing him a false traffic citation. Commissioner Morioka motioned that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Schutte announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, June 26, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in the Puna Conference Room, Hawaii County Bldg., 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, HI. • Collection of files and documents (done). ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Morioka motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Gomes seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GUY K. SCHUTTE, CHAIR