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Home My WebLink About2015-10-16 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 2015 WEST HAWAN CIVIC CENTER 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HWY, KAILUA-KONA, HI CALL TO ORDER Chair Schutte called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Guy K. Schutte, Chair John M. Bertsch, Vice Chair Arthur F. Buckman, Commissioner Peter L. Hendricks, Commissioner Peggy K. Hilton, Commissioner Keith T. Morioka, Commissioner Absent: Robert G. Gomes, Sr., Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Paul Ferreira, Deputy Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha, Assistant Chief Randy Apele, Major Kenneth Bugado, Captain Belinda Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Bertsch motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Hendricks motioned to approve the minutes of August 7, 2015, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime report: Major Apele reported a reduction in car break-ins in the Hilo area. Some responsible parties were put in jail. Kona reported a decrease in auto thefts. However, there were increases in burglaries and car break-ins mostly at nighttime. To address this, the Kona Division is continuing police presence and working with community and neighborhood watches. Ka'u reported a decrease in property crimes. They attribute this to police presence and working with the community, neighborhood watches, and sharing information. Hawai'i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 16, 2015 Page 2 Traffic report: Major Apele reported that the fatality rate increased slightly over last year. The traffic trends in East Hawai'i remain stable. Puna had an increase in traffic accidents, and police presence was increased in problem areas. Assistant Chief Kealoha reported that West Hawaii had no significant traffic trends. A lot of the traffic accidents were weather related. They received many letters commending officers for their work during bad weather. Historically, Kona has always had higher traffic citations. Kona is huge district that encompasses North and South Kona, and the roadways are limited. They have grant funding to do selective enforcement for speck violations, and this is when the citation numbers go up. • Personnel report: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that they are doing background checks for the 84"' recruit class. The current recruit class is scheduled to begin field training in December. The CALEA conference will be held in November in Miami, and this is when they will be informed of their accreditation status. Vice Chair Bertsch asked to review the report when it is available. They are putting. deadlines on the selection process for their civilian vacancies to speed it up. They are looking at incorporating the school crossing guard position in with the traffic coordinator's position. • Finance report: Assistant Chief Kanehailua reported that Salaries and Wages are tracking around 28%. They are already working on the budget for the next fiscal year. • Commendations of sworn and civilian employees: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported receiving five commendations in September and seven in October. Other departmental activities: AC Kanehailua reported that the County's radio upgrade has started. A vendor was selected for their CAD records management upgrade. Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that they were instructed to submit a status quo budget. Any changes must have justifications. Increases must have a supplemental budget. If the commission wants increases in its budget, it has to be submitted now. Personnel will be participating in the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event on Saturday, October 24th, to bring attention to violence against women. Recess was called at 9:50 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:10 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 Hawaii Police Department; to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety; and to work on the 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 Hilton seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:10 a.m. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 16, 2015 Page 3 Regular session reconvened at 12:28 p.m. ACTION ON COMPLAINTS • Consideration of complaints received after the 90 -day filing deadline ✓ Complaint HPC 15-17: Vice Chair Bertsch motioned to decline investigation due to the 90 -day rule. Commissioner Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-18: Vice Chair Bertsch motioned to decline investigation due to the 90 -day rule. Commissioner Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-21: Commissioner Hilton motioned to decline investigation due to the 90 -day rule. Commissioner Morioka seconded, and it carried with a no vote from Vice Chair Bertsch. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-25: Vice Chair Bertsch motioned to decline investigation due to the 90 -day rule. Commissioner Hilton seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-28: Commissioner Morioka motioned to decline investigation due to the 90 -day rule. Commissioner Hilton seconded, and it carried with a no vote from Vice Chair Bertsch. • Investigation and deliberation of complaints ✓ Complaint HPC 15-26: Complainant alleged that an officer was rude and disrespectful when he responded to a false 911 call. Commissioner Morioka motioned that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Hilton seconded, and it carried with a no vote from Vice Chair Bertsch. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-32: Complainant alleged that an officer who blocked the road to her home during a storm should have allowed them to drive through. Vice Chair Bertsch motioned that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-33: Complainant alleged that he was not provided medical attention following an accident. Commissioner Hendricks motioned that there was insufficient evidence of misconduct. Commissioner Hilton seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ Complaint HPC 15-34: Complainant alleged that an officer disrespected him when he hung up the phone on him. Commissioner Morioka motioned to refer the complaint to the Police Chief for customer service concerns. Commissioner Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawai'i Police Commission Regular Session Minutes October 16, 2015 Page 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Schutte announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, November 20, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in the Puna Conference Room, Suite 1501, Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaii. • Collection of files and documents. (Done.) ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:32 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GUY K. SCHUTTE, CHAIR