HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-18 Letter to Tiffany Edwards Hunt re Police Presence in Pahoa Mev.. p '
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County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA. 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
May 18, 2018
Tiffany Edwards Hunt
PO Box 453
Pahoa, HI 96778
newswomanmac.com
Dear Ms. Hunt:
RE: Police Presence in Pahoa
This is in response to your letter dated April 23, 2018, expressing concern with
the number of police officers in the Puna district and more specifically the police
presence in Pahoa town.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) article you provided
states "it is first important to clarify IACP's position on police to population ratios and
why they should not be used as a basis for agency staffing decisions". Currently, there
are a total of 59 uniformed personnel positions assigned to the Puna district. Using a
population figure of 50,000, this equates to a ratio of 1.18, less than the Bureau of
Justice Statistics average ratio, however sufficient to adequately and effectively respond
to the "calls for service" generated.
Puna District Commander Captain Samuel Jelsma attended the April 23, 2018,
Pahoa Community Meeting hosted by Councilmember Eileen O'Hara. During that
meeting, he provided the statistical data from HPD's Records Management System
(RMS) which documented that criminal cases in Pahoa town were down by 40.3% from
the previous six months; HPD's Miscellaneous Public complaints for the town (which
make up the majority of the "calls for service") were also down by 23% in the same
period. During the last year period, the Pahoa town area accounted for 4% of all the
cases generated in the Puna District and 5% of all the Miscellaneous Public complaints
generated.
The single significant incident within the last year period in Pahoa town consisted
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May 18, 2017
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of a bank robbery which occurred on May 17, 2017. HPD's records indicate that officers
were on scene within 7 minutes and had located and arrested the suspect within the
surrounding area within 45 minutes.
Captain Jelsma assured those in attendance at the community meeting, that
resources will be allocated as necessary to promptly address emergency or high profile
incidents, with all calls being prioritized among others being received at the time.
Uniformed officers have regularly conducted foot and vehicle patrols of Pahoa town and
will continue to do so, cooperatively working together with the businesses and residents
in the future.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Captain Jelsma
directly at (808) 965-2716 or via email at samuel.lelsma(a�hawaiicounty.gov. Thank you
for your care and concern of the Puna District.
Sincerely,
Harry Kim
Mayor
c: Chief Paul Ferreira, HPD
Capt. Samuel Jelsma, HPD - Puna
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and I.mployer