Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-18 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 18, 2016 WAIMEA COMMUNITY, PARKS & RECREATION 62-1260 KAWAIHAE RD., KAMUELA, HI CALL TO ORDER 9:09 Chair Schutte called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Guy Schutte, Chair Keith Morioka, Vice Chair Arthur Buckman, Commisioner Carl Carlson, Commissioner Wayne De Luz, Commissioner Robert Gomes, Sr., Commissioner Peter Hendricks, Commissioner Paul Paiva, Commissioner Absent: Jak Hu, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Harry Kubojiri, Police Chief Paul Ferreira, Deputy Police Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Mitchell Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Malia Ho, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Morioka motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Gomes seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Gomes motioned to approve the minutes of October 21, 2016, regular and executive sessions. Commissioner Paiva seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime Report: AC Tavares reported that were 2,397 serious crimes up through October 31. Of these, the Criminal Investigation Units investigated 470 cases. The only trend they identified were nursery thefts in in the Waiakea area of the Hilo District. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 18, 2016 Page 2 Traffic Report: Major Mitchell Kanehailua reported that as of November 4 of this fiscal year, they had 14 traffic fatalities compared to 3 last year. They had 100 DUI arrests compared to 112 last year. For the month of October, 4,220 citations were issued: 2,857 moving/regulatory, 304 seatbelt, 25 child restraint, and 1,034 speeding. No trends were noted. The Hokulia connector road opened, and they started enforcement in that area to try to educate people into slowing down. • Personnel Report: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported having 35 sworn vacancies,15 of which include recruit officers in training. They are in the process of recruiting new officers for a start date in December. They have 7 dispatcher vacancies. • Finance Report: Deputy Chief Ferreira reported that their budget is at 39%, but they expended over 55% of their overtime budget. All monies from citations go to the State. Every year they ask the Legislature for some of those monies, but are always stifled • Commendations of Sworn and Civilian Employees: Chief Kubojiri reported that since the last meeting they had 13 commendations involving 19 personnel. • Other Departmental Activities: Earlier this month staff spearheaded an event where they filled 136 shoe boxes of toys and shipped them overseas. Staff also participated in the Troy Barboza event. They received automatic defibrillators from Hilo Medical Center which were assigned to officers to keep with them when they are around town. They took money out of the asset forfeiture account and purchased AEDs for all stations and cellblocks. They still have to budget for its maintenance. Forfeiture funds cannot be used for recurring costs such as maintenance. Deputy Chief Ferreira just submitted their transition report to the incoming administration. A hiring freeze has historically been a common practice for a new administration so they can see where the money is. Assistant Chief Kealoha will retire on December 1. Major Kanehailua will be promoted to his position. NEW BUSINESS • The Annual Report will be submitted to the Mayor, Managing Director, and County Council. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Gomes motioned to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against officers or employees of the Hawaii Police Department, to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety, to work on the annual evaluation of Chief Kubojiri, to work on the selection of a new Chief of Police, and may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner De Luz seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:18 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 11:32 a.m. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 18, 2016 Page 3 ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS Complaint HPC 16-38: Complainant was involved in a traffic stop. He alleged racial profiling, false citing, and harassment. Vice Chair Morioka motioned that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct and that the officer's actions were lawful and proper according to the rules of the police department. Commissioner Buckman seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Schutte announced that the Police Commission will have a meeting on Thursday, December 1, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI, to work on the selection of a new Chief of Police. There will be another meeting on December 8 at 9:00 a.m. in the Department of Liquor Control, Hilo Lagoon Center to select the new Chief of Police. • Chair Schutte also announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, December 16, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, HI. • Collection of files and documents (Done.) ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GUY SCHUTTE, CHAIR