2003-10-17 Police Commission Minutes

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2003 OHANA KEAUHOU BEACH RESORT CALL TO ORDER Chair Horace Hara called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Horace S. Hara, Chair Dwight K. Manago, Vice Chair John M. Bertsch, Member Paul M. de Silva, Member Betsy Mitchell, Member Walter Moe, Member Peter P. Muller, Member Absent Phoebe M. Lambeth, Member James A. Frazier, Member Also Present: Lawrence Mahuna, Police Chief Charles Chai, Assistant Chief Ronald Nakamichi, Major Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Mitchell motioned to have the Chief's report moved to the top of the agenda in order for Chief Mahuna to attend a press conference in Honolulu and to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Moe seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. CHIEF'S REPORT CHIEF MAHUNA reported that fatal accidents have increased dramatically in the past year. Ice and opiates have been the cause of some accidents. They are taking proactive approaches to decrease the number of fatal accidents. They are doing an analysis on where these accidents are happening, doing public service announcements, and placing a speed course in strategic places around the island. The police department, along with federal agencies, conducted simultaneous sweeps in East and West Hawaii, dismantling a major ice operation between the Big Island, California, and Mexico. Over 100 agents and officers from other islands participated in the operation. The SROs should be in the schools by the end of the month. Chief Mahuna stated that he spoke with Corporation Counsel with regards to information that the commission requested, and he wants to be proactive. The commission has his full support in any type of information that it wants. They just need to get procedures in place that would accommodate the police department and the police commission, and he would be would be more than happy to provide that information to the commission. Commissioner de Silva stated that the chief is very courageous and he appreciates it. STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS - Open to the public Corporation Counsel Ashida explained the difference between open and closed sessions, and that in order to speak in closed session, the officer involved must consent to it. RHONDA ROBISON read her written testimony. She asked the commission to reconsider its decision to exonerate the officers in their complaints HPC 02 -36, 3, 38, and 39. She asked for