XIV. HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
ROLE AND DUTIES
The basic role and duties of the Hawaii Police Department
are three fold:
The reduction and clearance of crimes committed.
Inhibiting the growth of drugs on our island.
Reducing traffic fatalities.
STAFF
The Hawaii Police Department, as of June 30, 1996,
had 485 full time positions with 353 sworn personnel and 132 civilian
personnel; and 32ÿpart time school crossing guards. There
were 23 Police Officer I unfunded temporary positions.
Police Commission
Role/Functions
The Police Commission consists of nine members. One
member is appointed from each of the respective nine county districts.
The members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the County
Council.
The functions of the Police Commission are to adopt
rules as it may consider necessary for the conduct of its business
and regulation of the matters committed to its charge and may
review the rules and regulations of the department; review the
department's annual budget prepared by the Police Chief and may
make recommendations thereon to the Mayor; submit an annual report
to the Mayor and the County Council; receive, consider and investigate
charges brought by the public against the conduct of the department
or any of its members and submit a written report of its findings
to the Police Chief; advise the Police Chief on police community
relations; and hire personnel necessary to carry out its functions.
Police Commission members include Chairperson Sharon
Scheele, District II South Hilo; Vice Chairperson Wray Straus,
District IX North & South Kohala; Donald Abdul, District III
South Hilo; Deborah Baker, District VII South Kona; Charles Sakamoto,
District VI Ka'u; Francis Smith, District IV South Hilo; Clarence
Souza, District I Hamakua; Clyde Williams, District VIII North
Kona; Burnalyn Yee, District V Puna.
Changes that occurred in the makeup of the Police
Commission during FYÿ1994 95 included the appointments of
Burnalyn Yee, Francis Smith and Clyde Williams.
Meetings of the Police Commission held islandwide
during FY 1995 96 included 12 regular and 12 executive sessions.
DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET
Personnel Services
Salaries & Wages, Straight Time $16,497,326
Salaries & Wages, Others 1,411,702
Other Current Expenses
Contractual Services 4,289,551
Materials & Supplies 1,038,310
Other Charges 459,028
Equipment 361,603
Miscellaneous Accounts 2,540,985
Total $26,598,505
Capital Improvement Projects
Construction of new $ 1,850,000
Ka'u District Police Station
Replacement of radio $ 315,000
communication towers
Renovations to the air conditioning $ 1,060,000
system for the Public Safety Complex
in South Hilo and Kona District Police
Station at Kealakehe, North Kona in
compliance with the United States
Environmental Protection Agency
rules and regulations .
ACTIVITIES
Vice Section
The Hawaii Police Department continued its commitment
to ridding our community of illicit drugs. Through its enforcement
efforts, substantial seizures were made during 1995.
Police eradicated 155,153 marijuana plants including
76.6 pounds of processed marijuana, 54.5 ounces of cocaine, 112.6
grams of crystal methamphetamine, 1,449.5 grams of heroin, and
59 weapons.
Real property valued at $160,000 was seized in connection
with narcotics related investigations. Further, $45,094 in currency
and $26,550 in other tangible property was confiscated.
1,628 narcotics related arrests were made ranging
from misdemeanor to Class A felonies.
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Ten of the 23 traffic fatalities on the Big Island
in 1995 were attributed to alcohol. Death claimed ten lives in
Kona, six in Hilo, four in Puna, two in South Kohala and one in
Ka'u. Islandwide D.U.I. enforcement efforts netted 591 drivers
suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Of the total 5,049 traffic and non traffic accidents,
2,658 were classified as major traffic accidents involving death,
injury, and/or property loss in excess of $1,000. Of the major
traffic accidents, 2,134ÿresulted in injuries.
Sundays were the deadliest time of the week accounting
for six fatalities, followed by Saturdays with five and Mondays
with four.
The deadliest hours on our streets and highways were
between two and sixÿo'clock in the afternoon and one and
five in the morning. Twelve drivers, five passengers, three motorcyclists
and three pedestrians accounted for the 18 males and 5 females
that lost their lives duringÿ1995.
Community Relations Section
The department's Community Relations Section hosted
over 1,930 youngsters touring the Public Safety Complex and district
stations islandwide.
Nearly 200 public speaking requests were responded
to which involved demonstrations and lectures on various topics
including KidCare, career shadowing, temporary restraining orders
and trespass laws, crimes against seniors, sexual assault, traffic
safety and regulations, home security, personal protection, drug
and gang awareness, robbery readiness, shoplifting/theft prevention,
and Halloween safety.
Seventeen new Neighborhood Watch programs were started
throughout the County during FY 1995 96.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
The Hawaii Police Department strengthened its commitment
even further to educate children and parents with regards to the
social ills of drugs and violence that continue to plague today's
society.
D.A.R.E. officers reached over 4,200 elementary and
junior high school students. A decade has past since the first
classroom lesson of the D.A.R.E. curriculum was presented.
Educating our children is no longer the only focus
of the nation's premier drug abuse and violence prevention program.
The classroom is no longer the only stage upon which D.A.R.E.
offers to broaden the awareness and develop the life skills necessary
to curbing drug abuse and violence.
It is no longer just a war on drugs. Society will
not prevail against these social ills until families get involved,
it is therefore essential that prevention programs target adults
as well. Education remains our most effective weapon in combating
drug use and violence.
The Hawaii Police Department, in partnership with
the State of Hawaii Department of Education hosted the largest
Team D.A.R.E. Summer Leadership Camp ever on the Big Island with
54 participants.
Offering workshops on peer mediation, conflict resolution
and problem solving augment the recreational activities and community
service projects during the popular three day summer program.
Lights, camera, ACTION! In another attempt to use
the media as a positive influence, D.A.R.E. officers and students
produced and directed the monthly television show "Prime
Time Kids". Too often, society concentrates on the negatives
of our youth. "Prime Time Kids" focuses on the multitude
of achievements and civic contributions of our kids and teens.
Research has long discovered that high self esteem is an important
ingredient in the development of a child.
The weekly broadcasts of "D.A.R.E. On The Air"
continues to draw listeners of all ages with its popular mix of
music, contests, prizes and special guests to further encourage
our community to refrain from drug use and avoid violence and
be better parents.
125 parents, including 19 female inmates at the Hawaii
Community Correctional Center took advantage of the six week D.A.R.E.
Parent Program presented by the department's D.A.R.E. officers.
Two D.A.R.E. officers were certified in the senior
high curriculum thus enabling the Hawaii Police Department to
offer the most comprehensive D.A.R.E. program in the 50th state.
Positive Alternative Gang Education
The objectives of the P.A.G.E. program and the commitment
of the officers involved, to rid our community of gang involvement
and related gang violence, remained unchanged. 1,800 junior high
students participated in the program offered by the department's
Juvenile Aid Section officers. The primary focus is to encourage
positive alternative behavior for those youth at risk and divert
them from the hidden dangers associated with gangs.
Gangs are often controlled by adults that attempt
to lure youths to become involved by masquerading the real life
consequences of choosing to affiliate one's self with gangs. P.A.G.E.,
through its classroom curriculum draws attention and broadens
awareness on how gang involvement destroys lives. P.A.G.E., beyond
the classroom offers positive alternatives and encourages the
youth in our community to make the right choices and through community
service projects instills community pride.
Hawaii Isle Police Activities League
Providing recreational activities as a diversion
for youths with emphasis on establishing fellowship, promoting
sportsmanship and improving and nurturing moral and civic standards
is the mission of the Hawaii Isle Police Activities League.
Over 5,000 children participated in HI PAL's various
programs which include baseball, basketball, volleyball, boxing
and tennis.
Special activities include basketball and baseball
clinics, and the Easter Egg Hunt for emotionally and physically
challenged children.
Counseling and referrals are provided when it is
deemed appropriate.
Community Oriented Policing
The Hawaii Police Department's Community Oriented
Policing efforts began in September 1995 with five officers being
assigned to various areas within Hilo, Kona and Puna.
The Community Oriented Policing philosophy and concept
is meant to create partnerships between the police department
and the community. As a result, the involvement by citizens leads
to the improvement of the quality of life on the Big Island.
Officers coordinated Neighborhood Watch Programs,
home and business security inspections, updating of the Emergency
Notification Decal System (E.N.D.S.), and initiated other projects
to proactively identify and resolve problems within their assigned
areas.
Four additional officers joined the efforts in February,
1996, broadening the scope and area assignments. The North and
South Kohala, Hamakua districts benefited from this expansion.
Police Mini Stations, similar to Japan's kobans were
established at the Mooheau Bus Terminal in downtown Hilo, Clem
Akina Park in Puueo, Richardson's Ocean Center in Keaukaha, and
at the Hale Halawai Civic Center in Kailua Kona, with plans to
include several more.
Police Recruit Class
Twelve new police officers joined the ranks of the
Big Island's police force. Following 5 1/2 months of classroom
instruction and 2 months of on the job training with a Field Training
Officer, the Hawaii Police Department graduated its 52nd Police
Recruit Class on February 15, 1996.
Drug Testing Program
The Hawaii Police Department has designed a drug
urinalysis screening program assisting in identifying police officers
with a potential drug problem by referring them for treatment
in counseling and/or rehabilitation programs which deal with these
problems.
The program deters and discourages the illegal use
of drugs in our department. Together we can maintain a safe working
environment for the protection of all police officers. The department
recognizes that drug use can have serious adverse effects on a
police officers' health, safety and job performance and the health,
safety of co workers and the general public.
The drug testing program helps to raise public trust and confidence in its police department. All sworn police officers participate in the program which started in 1995.