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Home My WebLink About2017-03-17 Police Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 17, 2017 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Hendricks called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Keith Morioka, Chair Peter Hendricks, Vice Chair Arthur Buckman, Commissioner Carl Carlson, Commissioner Jak Hu, Commissioner Paul Paiva, Commissioner Guy Schutte, Commissioner Absent: Wayne De Luz, Commissioner Robert Gomes, Sr., Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Paul Ferreira, Police Chief Kenneth Bugado, Deputy Chief Marshall Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Mitchell Kanehailua, Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief Burt Shimabukuro, Captain Malia Ho, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Schutte motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Buckman seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • February 17, 2017, regular and executive sessions: Commissioner Buckman pointed out non -substantive changes. Commissioner Schutte motioned to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Hu seconded, and it carried unanimously. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Including, but not limited to: • Crime Report: Assistant Chief Henry Tavares reported that up through February 28, there were 4,830 serious crimes of which the Criminal Investigation Units investigated 1,055 cases. For the month of February, there were 7,728 calls for service. There was a decrease in burglaries in Area I, although there was an Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 17, 2017 Page 2 increase in the Volcano area. Kona had a decrease in auto thefts, and Ka'u had an increase. The Crime Reduction Unit continues to work on burglary cases in Ka'u. Traffic Report: Assistant Chief Mitchell Kanehailua reported that YTD February 17 there were 920 traffic crashes. For the month of February, 6,317 citations were issued: 4,250 moving/regulatory, 559 seat belt, 65 child restraint, and 1,443 speeding. There doesn't seem to be an increase in accidents on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway with the increased speed limit. Personnel Report: Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua reported that the current recruit class started with 14 personnel but is now down to 10. They are targeting May 2 for the 86th recruit class and are hoping for at least 18 candidates. They have 2 intergovernmental recruits in field training. They have had recruitment from the mainland, but retention beyond three years is difficult. Promotions are progressing. 10 dispatchers were recently hired. It takes about 3-6 months of training before they can go solo. The South Kohala Operations Clerk position was filled. (Chair Morioka arrived at 9:11 a.m.) Finance Report: Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua reported that their account balance is running very close to budget. They were initially told to cut the upcoming budget by 5% and then told to cut even more. This is not the final budget. The areas being cut does not leave much room, especially where overtime is inherent in the job. He will send the commission a breakdown of the status quo budget going back to 2008. The only increases has been in salaries and wages from negotiations. They were able to get the lease option to purchase the remaining Glocks and will receive them in two phases over a 13 -month period. • Commendations of Sworn and Civilian Employees: Chief Ferreira reported that they received 6 commendations involving 21 personnel since the last meeting. Other Departmental Activities: Chief Ferreira reported that they have been on a status quo budget since 2008. The County's Budget Committee gets the budget, then it goes to the Mayor, and then it goes to the Council. It is now with the Council, and changes can be made again. They go before the Council's Budget Committee on April 12. Captain Sherlock of South Hilo Patrol and Chris Loos, Public Relations Specialist retired. Promotions to captains and lieutenants were made. Police Week ceremonies to recognize fallen officers will be on May 15 and 16. The 85th recruit graduation will be on June 16. The new radio dispatch class started with 5 dispatchers. Chief Ferreira gave an open invitation to all the commissioners to tour the dispatch center and all stations. The kickoff of the new digital communications system was last week Tuesday. Scanners will no longer work with this new system. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 17, 2017 Page 3 Commissioner Schutte stated that his 5 -year term as commissioner has ended, and this is his last meeting. He thanked the Chief and the department for everything they do. Chief Ferreira thanked Commissioner Schutte for his volunteerism. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • House Bill 682 and Senate Bill 520 amends the composition of police commissions: Chair Morioka reported that both bills are dead. Commissioner Carlson suggested sending letters to Big Island representatives for future prep. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Schutte 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, 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). Vice Chair Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 9:40 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 10:42 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Correspondence No. 17-02: Request for legal counsel for former Officer Jody Buddemeyer in Cr. No. 16-1-331 K. Commissioner Schutte motioned to approve legal counsel. Commissioner Carlson seconded, and it carried unanimously Correspondence No. 17-03: Request for legal counsel for Officer Darren Cho in Civil No. 16-00684. Commissioner Schutte motioned to approve legal counsel. Vice Chair Hendricks seconded, and it carried unanimously. Consideration and Investigation of Complaints ✓ HPC 17-02: Complainant complained that officers called a tow truck to move his vehicle from blocking the roadway. Commissioner Schutte motioned to refer the complaint to the Chief for further investigation. Commissioner Hu seconded, and it carried unanimously. ✓ HPC 17-04: Complainant alleged that two officers accused him and his son of trespassing, robbing, and having stolen license plates on his truck. Commissioner Schutte motioned that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complainant's allegations of misconduct. Commissioner Hu seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Morioka announced that the Police Commission's next monthly meeting will be on Friday, April 21, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 17, 2017 Page 4 The Annual State of Hawaii Police Commissioners' Conference will be hosted by the Kauai Police Commission on May 11-12, 2017: Chair Morioka stated that they received the conference invitation which is marked as Correspondence 17-04. He discussed the conference with Chief Ferreira. They are in agreement that commissioners' attendance to this State Police Commission Conference is very important and more relevant to the police commission than the Hawaii State Law Enforcement Conference. They would like to limit attendance to the HSLEOA conference so they could send more participants to the State Police Commission Conference. • Collection of files and documents. (Done.) ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Hendricks motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Schutte seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: KEITH MORIOKA, CHAIR