2015-2016 Annual Report (HTML)

Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2015–2016

Hawaiʻi Police Department
County of Hawaiʻi


Contents

Mission Statement/Vision Statement/Core Values ……………………………. 2
Letter from the Police Chief ………………………………………………………. 3
Letter from the Police Commission Chair………………………………………. 4
Hawai‘i County Police Commission …………………………………………….. 5
Special Response Team (SRT) ………………………………………………….. 6
Community Policing………………………………………………………………… 7
Organization Chart…………………………………………………………………. 10
Photos of Police Administration …………………………………………………. 11
Office of Professional Standards/Criminal Intelligence Unit ………………… 12
Administrative Bureau……………………………………………………………… 14
Operations Bureaus ………………………………………………………………. 18
Criminal Investigations Divisions………………………………………………… 19
Area I Patrol Districts ………………………………………………………………. 30
Area II Patrol Districts ……………………………………………………………… 34
Traffic Enforcement Unit…………………………………………………………… 38
Grants ……………………………………………………………………………….. 39
Budget ……………………………………………………………………………….. 43
Personnel Changes ……………………………………………………………….. 44
Statistical Tables & Charts………………………………………………………… 46

Cover Flag design by Danielle Amon-Wilkins


Mission Statement

The employees of the Hawaiʻi Police Department are committed to preserving the Spirit of Aloha. We will work cooperatively with the community to enforce the laws, preserve peace, and provide a safe environment.

Vision Statement

The Hawaiʻi Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of police service and forming partnerships with the community to achieve public satisfaction making the Big Island a safe place to live, visit, and conduct business.

Core Values

  • Integrity
  • Professionalism
  • Compassion
  • Teamwork
  • Community Satisfaction

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Police Department
County of Hawaiʻi

2015–2016 Annual Report

Hawaiʻi County Police Commission
County of Hawai‘i
Aupuni Center
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 9
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720

Dear Commissioners:

In Fiscal Year 2015–2016, as in previous years, the Hawaiʻi Police Department followed its mission to work cooperatively with the community to enforce the laws, preserve peace and provide a safe environment.

On November 21, 2015, we earned renewal of our accreditation status, maintaining the Hawaiʻi Police Department as part of an elite group of law enforcement agencies accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA®). This was our first reassessment since initial accreditation in 2012.

Our officers faced numerous challenges this year, as murders and attempted murders increased from previous years and detectives worked tirelessly to solve those crimes. Of the 10 murders and 19 attempted murders committed, detectives had already solved 26 by the end of the fiscal year.

Also this year, our officers continued providing “Active Shooter” information to the public to help individuals learn how to increase their survivability should they encounter an active shooter or other type of active violent incident. Plans moved forward for additional presentations into the 2016–2017 fiscal year. Community interactions like these, in conjunction with Community Policing operations throughout the island, help us stay in touch with the needs and concerns of our community.

On May 16, a memorial wall dedicated to Hawaiʻi Island officers killed in the line of duty was unveiled during a Police Week ceremony at the South Hilo police station. The monument honors the four Hawai‘i Police Department officers killed in the line of duty since 1918: Manuel Cadinha (1918), William “Red” Oili (1936), Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku (1990) and Kenneth Keliipio (1997). The monument was the brainchild of Jitchaku’s sister, Momi Cazimero, who said her mission to create it began with the loss of her brother on May 7, 1990.

I am honored to oversee the men and women of the Hawaiʻi Police Department as we continue to develop partnerships with the community so we can work together to keep you safe.

Sincerely,

Harry S. Kubojiri
Police Chief
Hawaiʻi Police Department


Hawai‘i County Police Commission

The Honorable Harry Kim
Mayor, County of Hawaiʻi
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720

Dear Mayor Kim:

During the year, the Hawaiʻi Police Commission held its monthly meetings in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea in order to accommodate the public.

We had the privilege of attending various community functions, including monthly police commanders meetings, recruit graduation and police week ceremonies. We attended the State of Hawaiʻi Police Commissioners’ Conference, where we learned about issues facing police departments today and were able to discuss common interests and concerns of civilian oversight. We attended the Hawaiʻi State Law Enforcement Association Conference, where we learned about current issues facing law enforcement and
honored the law enforcement officers of the year.

We are committed to our duties of civilian oversight and service to the people of Hawaiʻi County. It has been an honor to serve as Police Commissioners.

Sincerely,

Guy Schutte
Chair
Hawaiʻi County Police Commission


Hawaiʻi County Police Commission

 

Nine Big Island residents serve on the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission.

The mayor appoints one member from each district and each appointment is subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi County Council.

The commission’s most important responsibilities, as delineated in the Hawaiʻi County Charter, are to appoint and remove the police chief at its sole discretion, confirm the chief ’s appointment of a deputy chief, and consider public complaints against the department or any of its members and then submit findings to the chief.

According to the County Charter, the commission’s other functions are to:

  • Adopt rules it may consider necessary for the conduct of its business and regulation of the matters committed to its charge, and review the rules and regulations of
    the department
  • Review the department’s annual budget prepared by the police chief and make recommendations thereon to the managing director and mayor
  • Submit an annual report to the mayor and the County Council
  • Advise the police chief on police-community relations
  • Hire personnel necessary to carry out its functions
  • Evaluate at least annually the performance of the police chief and submit a report to the mayor, managing director and County
    Council

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Police Commission members were:

  • Council District 1—Peter Hendricks
  • Council District 2—Peggy Hilton
  • Council District 3—Keith Morioka
  • Council District 4—(vacant)
  • Council District 5—Arthur Buckman
  • Council District 6—Robert Gomes Sr.
  • Council District 7—Jak Hu
  • Council District 8—John M. Bertsch
  • Council District 9—Guy Schutte

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Special Response Team (SRT)

The mission of the Special Response Team is to support the Hawaiʻi Police Department and any other requesting law enforcement agencies with a response to critical incidents, such as hostage situations, barricade situations, sniper situations, high- risk warrant service and special assignments. The team also provides security for visiting dignitaries.

The Special Response Team consists of specially selected officers who train extensively throughout the year to ensure operational readiness. SRT includes a crisis negotiation team that receives special training to develop communication skills that are necessary for defusing volatile situations.

SRT’s incident commander, tactical team, crisis negotiation team and support personnel conduct scenario training multiple times a year at different locations throughout Hawaiʻi Island to ensure operational readiness.

From July 2015 through June 2016, the Special Response Team responded to five special assignments, two barricaded situations, and one hostage situation and provided three security details.

The Special Response Team is also tasked with managing the department’s conducted electrical weapon program, firearms instructor program, patrol rifle program, all hazards training, rapid response to active threats training, and annual use-of-force review. In addition, SRT provides training to recruit officers in basic tactics and active shooter response along with participating in community outreach programs on various topics.

From its inception through June 2016, SRT responded to 157 incidents.

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Community Policing

Commanders: Area I, Lieutenant Robert Fujitake/ Area II, Sergeant Roylen Valera

The Hawaiʻi Police Department continues to expand and improve its Community Policing partnerships with community, neighborhood and business organizations. These partnerships help the police department with preventing crime, reducing the fear of crime, arresting those who commit crimes and providing a safe environment through the use of proactive problem-solving techniques, enhanced community awareness and increased community and neighborhood involvement.

At the end of Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Community Policing Unit had 36 authorized positions island wide, including a supervising sergeant in Area II and a lieutenant in Area I. Of those, 27 positions were allocated for community police officers, six for school resource officers and one for a civilian clerk.

The Community Policing Section falls under the Patrol commander and is tasked with supporting Patrol as well as the other investigative units in the Police Department. Among other responsibilities, community police officers monitor and track crime trends and participate in “details” or units, formed for specific types of investigations, such as
arsons, burglaries, abandoned vehicles and special enforcement.

Community Policing officers maintain regular communication with community, neighborhood and business leaders and organizations to address not only criminal and traffic issues, but also social issues, such as homelessness and parks and recreation safety. These officers offer communities a variety of crime prevention methods and presentations,
community and youth beneficial events, and traffic safety and enforcement. Besides the continual establishment of Neighborhood Watches, community police officers continue
to coordinate other government and private agencies together with community and business groups to pursue the mission of safe neighborhoods and communities.

Community Policing bike patrols in downtown Hilo, Banyan Drive, Pahoa Town, Kailua Village and Aliʻi Drive have proven very effective in addressing street-level crimes,
public nuisance complaints, special community events, recurring problems and property crimes. Bike patrols provide officers with the advantage of speed, stealth and  surveillance for liquor violations, drug use and traffic enforcement. The improved presence further increases safety for our island’s visitors and residents.

School resource officers assigned to intermediate schools build positive relationships with students while providing law-related counseling, law-related education and law enforcement. As one of their education components, school resource officers provide Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes during the year, ending with a D. A.R.E. Day Celebration for all D.A.R.E. graduates in Kona and Hilo filled with local celebrities, food and fellowship. The main message of the day is to “continue to make good choices.” In Fiscal Year 2015–2016, school resource officers provided D.A.R.E. information to approximately 2,500 students in grades 5–8 through 16 elementary and intermediate schools in Hawaiʻi County.

The Community Policing Section provides a variety of activities for youth throughout

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the year with the Hawaiʻi Isle Police Activities League program, targeting children and families who may be “at risk” because of their family status or because of legal involvement. These HI-PAL activities are provided and designed to teach and steer youth toward healthy and legal choices. Officers schedule activities during periods when school is not in session.

Through events such a s the HI-PAL East Hawaiʻi Elementary and Intermediate Basketball League, HI-PAL Winter Classic, “Click It or Ticket” basketball clinics and tournaments, and Girls Volleyball League, HI-PAL in East Hawaiʻi has attracted more than 800 student athletes, 453 of them identified as “at risk” youth, to their events.

Other notable Community Policing/HI-PAL activities included:

  • Merrie Monarch Festival
  • Downtown Hilo Hoʻolaulea
  • July 4th festivities
  • Big Island triathlon
  • Hawaiʻi National Guard Youth Challenge—presentations and beautification projects
  • Boy Scouts of America—Aloha Council
  • Kokua Pāhoa
  • Project IMPACT
  • Kurtistown Family Fun Day
  • Mountain View Family Fun Day
  • Keaʻau Family Fun Day
  • Chronic Homeless Intervention and Rehabilitation program
  • Hope Services
  • Laupāhoehoe music festival
  • Kona Independence Day parade
  • Kona Christmas Day parade
  • Graffiti paint-over projects and beautification projects
  • Sign-waving projects
  • Child passenger safety seat checks and clinics
  • VASH meetings and activities
  • Halloween safety presentations
  • Police station tours for schools
  • Beach sweeps Aliʻi Drive / county parks
  • Abandoned vehicle beautification projects
  • “Shop with a Cop” project
  • Kona “Adopt-a-Highway” project
  • Hope Services backpack and school supplies drive
  • Thanksgiving feeding the homeless event
  • Big Island Substance Abuse Counseling cooperative efforts events
  • CTAP—Community Traffic Awareness Program
  • CPTED—Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
  • Keiki Health Festival
  • Freedom Hawaiʻi summer program
  • Homeless outreach partnership
  • Community organization meetings
  • Fall recess activity programs
  • Winter recess activity programs
  • Holiday crafts
  • Back to School Pool Bash
  • Spring Break activity programs
  • Food and nutrition activities
  • Summer activity programs

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During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, Community Policing officers worked in partnership with the following groups, resulting in the following outcomes:

Groups  Outcomes
16 Department of Education elementary and intermediate schools DARE classes provided by SROs to about 2,500 students in grades 5–8
Kokua Pahoa, Puna Action Team, Neighborhood Place of Puna, QLCC, Prosecutor’s Office Continued participation (started by the Weed and Seed project) by stepped-up police enforcement, bike patrol and joining with various neighborhood groups in activities such as Springtime Jam and a wrestling clinic/drug presentation for 100+ kids
Hawaiʻi National Guard  Youth Challenge—career presentation/mentor
 HI-PAL, Department of Parks and Recreation  Click It or Ticket Basketball Tournaments, Elementary and Intermediate Basketball League, Winter Basketball Classic
Downtown Improvement Association, Hawaiʻi County Planning Department, Friends of Downtown Hilo  Continued work with “Envision Downtown Hilo 2025”
Boy Scouts of America—Aloha Council  Safety and fingerprinting merit badges, training of more than 100 scouts
Public and private schools  Anti-bullying presentations
Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Veterans Court Police Department liaison
NFL Pro Bowl  Football clinic at Keaʻau High School
HI-PAL, Hope Chapel Annual HI-PAL/Hope Chapel 3 -on-3 Basketball Tournament in Kona
Neighborhood Place of Puna School supply giveaway
Kailua Village—Business Improvement District Continued partnership to step up police projects of downtown business areas of Kailua-Kona
HELCO Toys for Tots
Kona Traffic Safety Meeting Opportunity for concerned community members to meet with county and state officials about traffic safety concerns
Multi-Disciplinary Team Focus on continued problems in the downtown area of Kailua-Kona and in East Hawaiʻi
Chronic Homelessness Intervention and Rehabilitation Project Mayor’s appointed team to focus on chronic homelessness island wide
Kupuna Awareness Program Educate senior citizens/crime prevention

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Hawaiʻi Police Department Organization Chart

Police Commission

Police Chief

Headquarters

Office of Professional Standards/ Criminal Intelligence Unit

Deputy Police Chief

Administrative Bureau

Administrative Services

Finance

Word Processing

Public Relations

Special Response Team

Accreditation

Human Resources

Safety/Workers’ Comp

Personnel

Training

Community Relations/R&D

Technical Services

Communications Maintenance

Computer Center

Communications Dispatch

Records & Identification

Traffic Services

Area I Operations Bureau

Criminal Investigations Div.

Criminal Investigations Sec.

Vice Section

Juvenile Aid Section

Crime Lab

South Hilo Patrol

North Hilo District

Hāmākua District

Puna District

Traffic Enforcement Unit

Community Policing

Community Policing Officers

School Resource Officers

D.A.R.E.

HI-PAL

Area II Operations Bureau

Criminal Investigations Div.

Criminal Investigations Sec.

Vice Section

Juvenile Aid Section

Kona Patrol

South Kohala District

North Kohala District

Kaʻū District

Traffic Enforcement Unit

Community Policing

Community Policing Officers

School Resource Officers

D.A.R.E.

HI-PAL


Commanders

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Office of Professional Standards/Criminal Intelligence Unit

Commander: Captain Kenneth Bugado

The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) report directly to the police chief.

Office of Professional Standards (OPS)

Office of Professional Standards Mission Statement
The mission of The Office of Professional Standards is to protect and serve the public, the employee and the department through fair, thorough and proactive investigations of alleged misconduct, while preserving the spirit of aloha.

The primary responsibility of the Office of Professional Standards, formerly known as the Internl Affairs Unit, is to ensure the integrity of the Hawaiʻi Police Department by performing fair and thorough investigations of alleged misconduct by its employees. The Office of Professional Standards conducts investigations of complaints brought directly to the attention of the department or through the Hawaiʻi Police Commission.

The Office of Professional Standard s conducts quality control and compliance inspections of department areas, property, vehicles, personnel and issued equipment. The unit also assists administration personnel in conducting the department’s drug testing program.

The Office of Professional Standards includes two selected detectives assigned to Police Headquarters. The unit falls under the command of a captain, who reports to the Office of the Chief.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016 , the Office of Professional Standards conducted 17 administrative investigations, 55 internal inquiries into actions by Police Department personnel and provided 36 in-service training sessions to employees. The Office of Professional Standards also conducted 31 quality control and compliance inspections of various elements of the department to prevent abuse, misuse, fraud and waste of department resources.

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Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU)

The mission of the Criminal Intelligence Unit is to collect, evaluate, analyze, and disseminate intelligence data regarding criminal and terrorist activity to aid the Hawaiʻi Police Department in a proactive approach of enforcing laws, preserving peace and providing a safe environment.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit consists of two detectives and four officers assigned to Police Headquarters, equally divided among the Hilo and Kona stations. The unit is commanded by a captain, who reports directly to the Office of the Chief.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit gathers information from all sources in a manner consistent with the law in support of efforts to provide intelligence on t he existence, identities and capabilities of criminal suspects and enterprises. The unit also conducts back ground investigations on applicant s seeking employment with the Hawaiʻi Police Department and criminal history checks of other county, state and federal agencies.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is part of the Inter-County Criminal Intelligence Unit, which includes the intelligence units of the Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department and Kauai Police Department.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is a member of the Law Enforcement Intelligence

Unit, which is composed of law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada and Australia.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is also part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, whose mission is to partner with the FBI to maximize cooperation and to create a cohesive unit capable of addressing the most complex terrorism investigations.

In addition, the Criminal Intelligence Unit is part of the U.S. Marshal’s Service Hawaiʻi Fugitive Task Force, whose mission is to investigate and arrest—as part of a joint law enforcement operation—persons who have active state and federal felony warrants for their arrest.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016 , the Criminal Intelligence Unit submitted 361 intelligence reports, conducted 327 criminal history checks, provided 144 inservice training sessions and provided intelligence information, which, in whole or in part, led to the initiation of 124 criminal investigations.

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Administrative Bureau

Commander—Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua

The Administrative Bureau is divided into two divisions: Administrative Services and Technical Services. A police major heads each one.

Administrative Services Division

Commander: Major Samuel Thomas

The Administrative Services Division includes the Accreditation Section, the Finance Section, the Word Precessing Center, the Human Resources Section, the Training Section, the Community Relations Section, the Public Relations Section and the Special Response Team.

The Accreditation Section is responsible for maintaining accreditation for the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The staff consists of one lieutenant, who is the accreditation manager, two sergeants and a clerk. In November 2015 the Hawaiʻi Police Department received its second accreditation award. The award indicates that the department has been abiding by the established 469 accreditation standards, which are nationally and internationally recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®).

The department continues to establish policies and practices that better serve the community, allow for cooperative efforts with other resources, and provide professional guidance for law enforcement personnel, taking public service to a higher standard. The next assessment will take place in July 2019.

The Finance Section is responsible for payroll, accounts payable, officers’ gas and oil accounts, special duty work, inventory and other finance-related tasks.

The Word Processing Center is responsible for transcribing all narrative police reports that sworn personnel dictate into an internet/web-based Dictation Enterprise Platform system.The system was implemented in September 2010, replacing an aged and outdated on-site digital recording system.

Throughout the 2015—2016 fiscal year, the Word Processing Center managed to keep up with the high workload through hard work and perseverance even with staff shortages due to separations of service, promotions and/or transfers. The dictated reports transcribed by the Word Processing Center are routed via the Records Management System for officers’ approval and timely prosecution.

The transcribed reports become the official documents that detail the Police Department’s criminal investigations. The Word Processing Center consists of one clerical services supervisor, one assistant clerical supervisor and 13 clerks. In Fiscal Year 2015—2016, nearly 30,000 reports were transcribed, tota ling more than 265,000 minutes and 2,205,394 completed lines of dictation.

The Human Resources Section, in cooperation with the Hawaiʻi County Department of Human Resources, conducted various open and internal recruitments for sworn and civilian vacancies, resulting in the hiring of 22

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police officer recruits, five clerk III positions, five school crossing guards, four police radio dispatchers, two custodian/groundskeepers, one storeroom clerk, one police evidence custodian, one radio technician I and one police operations clerk. Internally, there were 18 temporary promotions to police officer III, one temporary promotion to police investigative operations clerk, 12 promotions to police sergeant/detective, two promotions to supervising police radio dispatcher, and one promotion each to police lieutenant, firearms registration clerk, senior clerk-stenographer, senior account clerk, senior police records clerk and traffic safety coordinator.

Additionally, there was one inter-governmental movement in of a police officer II and one inter-departmental promotion of an information systems analyst IV.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016 , the Training Section conducted training for the 83rd Police Recruit Class, which began with 19 police officers. The department also began the 84th Police Recruit Class, which began with 22 police officers. The department continues to provide training that will provide a foundation for officers to address various situations effectively and professionally.

Some of the training classes include dealing with mental health issues, “Aloha in Difficult Times” and “Cultural Diversity.” Recruit officers receive a wide variety of field training while riding along with and being evaluated by field training officers. Field training includes the practical application of criminal investigations, principles of police patrol, inter view and interrogation, constitutional and citizens’ rights, federal, state and county statutes, and other topics pertinent to law enforcement. During the 2015 – 2016 fiscal year, the Police Department provided 60,660 hours of instruction and training to its sworn police officers and civilian employees.

The Community Relations Section is responsible for maintaining programs to help the community and increase its awareness of police operations, including station tours for civic groups, students, parents and out-of-town visitors as well as managing requests for speakers on police-related subjects for community groups, scouts and schools.

The Public Relations Section is responsible for maintaining the department’s website, responding to inquiries from the news media, producing the cable access television program “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted ” and publishing the department’s annual report and employee newsletter. In Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the department published 667 media releases to the department’s website and through the Nixle service that allows the public to receive text messages, emails or both directly from the Police Department.

Technical Services Division

Commander: Major James O’Connor

The Technical Services Division is in charge of the Communications Dispatch Center, Communications Maintenance Section, Computer Center, Records and Identification Section and Traffic Services Section.

During the 2015–2016 fiscal year, the Communications/Dispatch Center received 214,566 9-1-1 calls, a 6.8 percent decrease over the previous fiscal year (230,113 calls), with 12.6 percent of them transferred to the Hawai‘i Fire Department. All requests

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for police service are recorded, logged and a s signed by Dispatch personnel using a computer-aided dispatch system with six to seven dispatchers on shift at any given time.

The Dispatch Center documented 233,793 calls for service during this fiscal year, a 4.2 percent increase over the previous year. On the average, about 68 percent of the calls received were from wireless phones.

The Dispatch Center fulfills requests for 9-1-1 and other audio recordings and information for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, officer and internal investigations, as well as the general public. During this fiscal year, the Center completed 656 requests for such information compared with 534 the prior year, a 23 percent increase.

The implementation of the new upgraded and modern CAD/RMS/Mobile system from Spillman Technologies took place this past year with a target to “go live” in October 2016. Upgrades and implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 ha s a lso been ongoing, which includes the addition of “Text to 9-1-1” capabilities. The trial of “Text to 9-1-1” was almost complete at the end of the fiscal year and was expected to be launched statewide officially in the second half of 2016.

The Communications Maintenance Section is responsible for maintenance and repair of all county-owned radio sites. This includes towers, shelters, microwave radios, repeaters, base radios, mobile radios and handheld portable radios.

The Communications Maintenance Section installs and maintains all radio and emergency warning equipment in the Police Department’s fleet and subsidized vehicles. During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Communications Maintenance Section completed 88 installations of radio, siren and warning lights in Police Department vehicles. The Radio Shop crew has installed 214 radios in department vehicles to accommodate the radio system upgrade. The Radio Shop crew assisted the Public Works Department by responding to repeater outage at Iolehaehae and installing radios in four Highway Maintenance Division vehicles.

The Communications Maintenance Section repaired 38 Civil Defense sirens and performed preventive maintenance on an additional 25 sirens. The Radio Shop repaired
and remounted emergency warning lights on a Civil Defense vehicle.

The Communications Maintenance Section conducted 57 preventive maintenance inspections of district stations and 65 radio sites inspections/preventive maintenance visits during Fiscal Year 2015–2016.

The Computer Center is responsible for interconnectivity between all police stations and substations, installing and maintaining computer equipment, installing and troubleshooting software systems and providing technical assistance for varying computer issues. During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Computer Center deployed new mobile data terminals, completed t he deployment of desktop computer systems, and began work on replacing the electronic record management system, computer-aided dispatch and
field-based reporting systems. The Computer Center responded to approximately 3,100 calls, a reduced number from the previous fiscal year, thanks to the initiation of e-mail response.

The Records and Identification Section has several internal subsections (Records, Identification, Firearms and Evidence) with a variety of responsibilities. The overall responsibilities of the entire section are maintaining police records, conducting evidence fingerprint examinations, processing

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subpoenas and court documents, compiling and disseminating statistical information, and processing firearm permit applications and registrations—including thorough background checks on each individual applying for a long gun or handgun permit.

In Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Records Section processed requests for 5,194 copies of criminal reports and 5,100 copies of accident reports. The Firearms Section issued 4,096 firearms permits and registered 9,798 firearms. The Identification Section processed 17,669 court documents and 6,307 fingerprints. The Evidence Section processed 6,123 photo receipts and 9,883 property receipts.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Hawaiʻi Police Department requested reimbursement of $407,632 in federal grant funds—which the Traffic Services Section oversees—for traffic enforcement and equipment purchases to improve traffic safety.

Police continued efforts to make Hawaiʻi Island roadways safer by using the grant funds to pay for overtime for checkpoints and other enforcement projects aimed at reducing injuries and deaths in motor vehicle crashes by increasing seat belt use rates, apprehending impaired drivers, and enforcing laws pertaining to distracted drivers, speed regulations and “outlaw” road racing.

Other Traffic Services Section highlights include:

  • 91 road closure permits issued
  • 202 violation letters sent out to motorists 444 school crossing guard checks conducted
  • 719 abandoned vehicle cases were routed to the Department of Environmental Management.

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Operations Bureaus

Area I—East Hawaiʻi

Commanders: Assistant Chief Henry Tavares • Maj. Randy Apele

The Area I Operations Bureau includes investigative and patrol operations in East Hawaiʻi. Its districts include Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo and Puna—an area encompassing 1,685 square miles. A captain heads each of the four patrol districts.

Area II—West Hawaiʻi

Commanders: Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha • Maj. Mitchell Kanehailua

The Area II Operations Bureau includes investigative and patrol operations in West Hawaiʻi. The 2,345 square-mile area includes the districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, Kona and Kaʻū, each headed by a captain.

 

 


Criminal Investigations Divisions

Commanders: Area I — Captain Robert Wagner • Area II — Captain Chad Basque

The Police Department’s investigative operations fall under the Criminal the Criminal Investigations Divisions—one in Area I and one in Area II

CID commanders oversee the operations of the Criminal Investigations Section, Juvenile Aid Section and Vice Section with operations in both Area I and Area II.

Area I also includes the Crime Lab in Hilo.

Criminal Investigations Sections (CIS)

Commanders: Area I —Lieutenant Gregory Esteban • Area II — Lieutenant Gerald Wike

Criminal Investigations Section detectives investigate felony cases in the South Hilo, Puna, North Hilo and Hamakua Districts. During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, Area I CIS investigated 1,777 crimes. Of those, 544 were burglaries, 259 were thefts and 415 were financial crimes. In comparison with the previous fiscal year, this represents a 26.0 percent decrease in the number of burglaries investigated, a 16.2 percent decrease in thefts and a 26.1 percent increase in financial crimes. The overall solution rate in Area I was 66.9 percent.

Area I detectives investigated eight murder cases and 14 attempted murder cases. At the close of the fiscal year, 12 of those had been solved.

Area II Criminal Investigations Section detectives investigate felony cases in the South Kohala, North Kohala, Kona and Kaʻū districts. During the Fiscal Year 2015–2016, Area II CIS investigated 970 crimes. Of those, 285 were burglaries, 88 were thefts, and 331 were financial crimes. In comparison with the previous fiscal year, this represents a 20 percent increase in burglaries, a .005 percent decrease in thefts, and a 14.9 percent increase in financial crimes. The overall clearance rate in Area II was 67 percent.

During this fiscal year, Area II detectives investigated two murders, and five attempted murder cases. Six of these cases were solved by the end of the fiscal year and one remained under investigation.

Among the many cases investigated in 2016 by the Criminal Investigations Section, the following were particularly noteworthy:

  • On the night of July 13, 2015, police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a home in Halaula, North Kohala.
    As officers approached the house, a gunshot was fired striking one of the officers in the forearm. A woman who ran from the house had been shot in her thigh by her boyfriend, who barricaded himself in the house. The Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team responded and encountered gunshots fired at them from the house. Following a lengthy standoff, officers arrested the 37-year-old man the following day. Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigations Section executed a search warrant at the home and recovered a rifle. Detectives later charged the man with 22 offenses, including three counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.

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  • In August 2015, a 49-year-old woman was found dead in a driveway of a Downtown Hilo business with apparent stab wounds. In addition to witnesses’ accounts, video footage was recovered. A 35-year-old man who had recently moved to Hawaiʻi Island was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
  • In August 2015, police responded to a call of screaming from a home in lower Puna. Officers discovered the body of a 63-yearold woman outside her house with stab
    wounds. Investigation led to the victim’s 40-year-old son being identified as her assailant. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
  • In November 2015, officers responded to a neighborhood in the Hilo area to a reported unresponsive man. A 49-year-old Hilo man was found with an apparent head injury. The victim was transferred to an Oahu hospital, where he died from his injuries. Witnesses identified a 31-yearold Puna man as having been involved in a confrontation with the victim. He was charged with second-degree murder.
  • In November 2015, police responded to a weapons incident in Hilo and discovered a 39-year-old Hilo man with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. The investigation led to the arrest of a 34-year-old Hilo man who was charged with second-degree murder and firearms offenses.
  • Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigations Section initiated a criminal conspiracy investigation as a result of a rash of burglaries and unlawful entries into motor vehicles occurring in the Kona District between September 2015 and March 2016. The investigation involved the theft of personal confidential information and production of fraudulent documents that were used to commit financial crimes. Detectives working with special agents from the U.S. Secret Service arrested seven men and two women during the investigation. Three of the men were referred for federal prosecution, while the remaining four men and two women were referred for state prosecution of more than 60 felonies.
  • In December 2015, police responded to a call from a 38-year-old Puna man who, a long with t wo of his co-workers, had been driving on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway when their vehicle was shot at by the occupants of a vehicle following them. The victims were not injured but their vehicle was disabled by the gunfire. As the fiscal year concluded, no one had been arrested in that case, which remained under investigation.
  • In January of 2016, police responded to a shooting in the upper Waiākea Uka area. Police learned that during a confrontation, a firearm had been discharged but no one at the home was injured and a vehicle was seen fleeing the area. A short while later, police responded to a report of a shooting victim in an abandoned vehicle on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway. Police discovered the body a 25-year-old man with apparent gunshot wounds. A 42-year-old Kona man, identified as the victim’s uncle, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and firearms offenses.
  • In January 2016, while investigating a missing person case, police learned that the missing man had been murdered after they located his decomposing remains, and his death was ruled a homicide. A 34-year-old Hilo man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder but was released on that charge after witnesses declined to
    testify. The same suspect was sentenced to prison for an unrelated crime.

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  • In January 2016, police responded to a popular surfing spot in Hilo to reports of gunfire. At the same time, police at the hospital overheard a call about a shooting victim who had been dropped off by a motorist. Officers followed and stopped a 29-year-old Hilo man whose vehicle had damage from gunfire, and he disclosed that he had dropped off a 31-year-old Oahu man at the hospital after the man had been shot during a confrontation at the surfing spot. A 43-year-old Hilo man was one of the suspects identified, and he was charged with attempted second-degree murder and firearms offenses.
  • In February 2016, while police were searching for a 39-year-old Kona man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant, they spotted the suspect in a drive-through line at a fast food restaurant in Hilo. When approached, the wanted man attempted to run over a police officer and was shot and killed by another officer. A female passenger also was shot but she survived.
  • In Februar y 2016, police were conducting a search for an escapee and learned that he was in a vehicle that was being operated by a female acquaintance in the parking lot of a shopping center in Hilo. When police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, the wanted man emerged from the vehicle and fired at officers, who returned fire. The fugitive was ta ken to a hospital, where he died. The woman, who was not injured, was arrested and charged with hindering prosecution.
  • On March 31, police responded to a home in Kalaoa, North Kona, for a report of a woman with a gunshot wound. Officers found the woman unresponsive with a fatal gunshot wound to her head. A 70-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section, assisted by evidence specialists from the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Crime Lab, continued the investigation. Following the evaluation of evidence recovered at the scene, the man was released from custody pending further investigation. As a result of evidence obtained during the investigation and during an autopsy, and after conferring with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the case was reclassified from murder to suicide on May 20 and then closed.
  • In March 2016, police responded to a call of a shooting in Lower Puna, where officers discovered the body of a 56-year-old Puna man outside a house with gunshot wounds. Investigation determined that the gunshot victim had gone to the house with a bat to confront the homeowner. The homeowner, a 72-year-old Puna man, was arrested for second-degree murder. After detectives conferred with prosecutors, he was released from custody.
  • In March 2016, police responded to Waipio Valley to a report of a body in a valley river. The body of a 49-year-old valley resident was examined and his death was ruled a homicide. At the end of the fiscal year, no one had been arrested in that case, which remained active.

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  • In April 2016, a grand jury indicted a Hilo couple for second-degree murder in the death of their son. The nearly 20-year-old case had initially been investigated as a missing person case. Both parents, a 45 -year-old man and his 46 -year-old wife, were taken into custody pending their trial.
  • In May 2016, police responded to a call from a man who reported that intruders had entered his Pāhoa house and shot his wife. Responding officers observed a vehicle leaving the drive way. When stopping it, t hey identified a 49-yea r-old Pāhoa man as the driver. He was arrested after a firearm was observed in his vehicle. Police noticed blood on the rear bumper of the vehicle and, when they looked further, discovered the body of a woman with head wounds. Officers checked the man’s house, where they discovered the bodies of a 5-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl with apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as the wife and children of the suspect. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder and firearms  offenses.
  • In June 2016, a police officer responded to a Hilo home and encountered a 25 year-old man armed with a knife and an  unleashed vicious dog. After numerous
    orders to relinquish the knife and restrain his dog failed, the man charged toward the officer, resulting in the officer  discharging his service weapon, killing both the man and the dog.

Juvenile Aid Sections (JAS)

Commanders: Area I—Lieutenant Lucille Melemai /Area II—Lieutenant Gilbert Gaspar

The Juvenile Aid Sections (JAS) are primarily responsible for the investigation of sexual assaults of adults and minors, domestic violence and other family-related crimes, and internet crimes involving child exploitation. They also investigate runaways, truants, curfew violators and juveniles involved in serious crimes.

The Juvenile Aid Sections in Area I and Area II are each divided into three specialized units: the Sex Crimes Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit and the General Detail Unit.

JAS personnel receive training in domestic violence and sexual assaults, including sexual assaults involving children. Sexual assault nurse examiners are available to assist detectives in conducting forensic examinations on victims of sexual assault.

JAS collaborated with the Missing Child Center of Hawaiʻi to obtain a replacement canine named “Falcon” due to the retirement of “Katie.” The collaboration included training an officer in Area I, assisted by a sergeant, to become a canine handler. The Area II Juvenile Aid Section General Detail Unit also has an officer trained as a canine handler. Their primary duties are to assist in locating missing children and Alzheimer’s patients, although they also may be called upon to trail criminal suspects.

During the 2015–2016 fiscal year, Area I JAS investigated 634 cases—of which 290 were reports of sexual assaults and 90 were reports of domestic violence. This is in addition to 229 investigations of juveniles involved in serious crimes and status offenses (such as runaway, truancy, protective and placement services, and curfew violations), 25 other offenses related to sexual assault, domestic violence, juvenile offenses or personal-assist type of investigations, and 61 miscellaneous public bulletin reports investigated by the

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Area I Juvenile Aid Section.

In May 2016, three new detectives were assigned to the Area II Juvenile Aid Section to replace recently promoted and transferred detectives. They were to receive training in sex assault investigations, domestic violence and crimes against children.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Area II Juvenile Aid Section investigated 530 cases and 266 miscellaneous public incidents, including sexual assaults, domestic violence and other crimes against women, child pornography and other juvenile related crimes, such as burglaries, thefts, child abuse and neglect, and other status offenses.

Among the many cases the Juvenile Aid Sections investigated this fiscal year, the following were particularly noteworthy:

  • In July 2015, detectives from the Area II Juvenile A id Sect ion investigated a burglary of a home in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision. Surveillance video at the house revealed two juvenile male suspects who were later identified. Further investigation linked the suspects to two more burglaries involving three other juvenile suspects. Items that were taken in those burglaries included a pellet rifle, a BB gun, a laptop computer, a smart phone, money, an oriental rug and miscellaneous household items. After completion of the investigation, all three cases were routed to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for final disposition.
  • In September 2015, Area I JAS detectives conducted an abuse investigation in connection with a domestic violence incident in the Puna District involving a husband and wife at a home in Volcano. The incident escalated due to the husband possessing a firearm. The Special Response Team responded, while members of the Crisis Negotiation Team communicated with the occupants of the house throughout t he night, and the following morning de-escalated the situation. The husband was arrested and later charged with several felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses.
  • In September 2015, detectives from the Area II Juvenile A id Section conducted an intricate investigation concerning an adult male suspect involved in sexual contact of a female juvenile and child, which he recorded on camera. During the investigation, additional cases were initiated, including sexual assault, protective custody, child abuse, abuse of a family/ household member, promoting dangerous drugs, promoting detrimental drugs, drug paraphernalia, kidnapping , terroristic threatening, reckless endangering, meth trafficking, promoting prostitution, and use of a computer in commission of a separate crime. After concluding the investigation, which included the execution of numerous search warrants, in March 2016 , the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement adopted the investigation for federal prosecution.
  • In December 2015, Area I Juvenile Aid Section detectives conducted a double sexual assault investigation in the South Hilo District, involving a female adult and a female minor victim. A man was arrested and later charged for the double sexual assault and related felony offenses. He was also arrested on a warrant for a 2011 felony marijuana case and on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault for a 2011 case. The 2011 sexual assault investigation was forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for disposition.

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  • In February 2016, detectives from t he Area II Juvenile Aid Section investigated an abuse complaint involving a woman who made arrangements to live with an adult male homeowner in exchange for  house duties. After about two weeks, an argument ensued between the female  victim and the homeowner suspect over the electronic transferring of photos. During the argument, which escalated, the man pointed a handgun at the woman and threatened her. To prevent the victim from leaving, the man tied her up using a vacuum cleaner electric cord. Prior to police arriving at the scene, the suspect untied the victim. He was subsequently arrested and the following cases were added to the initial abuse case: kidnapping, terroristic threatening, promoting a harmful drug ,promoting a detrimental drug and drug  paraphernalia. At the conclusion of the investigation, those cases were forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for disposition.

Vice Sections

Commanders: Area I—Lieutenant Mark Farias • Area II—Lieutenant Sherry Bird

The Vice Sections are primarily responsible for preventing and suppressing all forms of commercialized vice activity, including prostitution, gambling, cruelty to animals and the importation and distribution of illegal narcotics such as crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, designer drugs and diverted prescription pills.

The Area I and Area II Vice Sections each have three narcotics detection canine teams with one being a dedicated canine team that focuses its investigative efforts on the importation and exportation of illegal narcotics and/or proceeds from narcotics distribution by focusing on parcel interdiction at the various mailing services at the two main shipping ports of entry and by conducting passenger screenings at the various airports.

Crystal methamphetamine (also known as “ice”) continues to be the greatest drug threat to the community, as the drug is continually being imported into the island from Honolulu and the West Coast by way of body carriers and parcel services.

The abuse of pharmaceutical prescription d rugs (known a s “pharmaceutical diversion”) continues to remain an alarming drug threat in the United States, including in Hawaiʻi County. It has been reported that pharmaceutical drugs—legally prescribed or diverted—were present in approximately 90 percent of the search warrants executed for illegal narcotics. The most commonly recovered pharmaceutical drugs during these investigations were oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and illegal steroids.

In November 2008, Hawaiʻi County voters passed a bill for an ordinance making the adult personal use of marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority of the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The ordinance prohibited the Hawaiʻi County Council from accepting any federal funding for marijuana eradication. A week before the end of Fiscal Year 2015–2016, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court invalidated the ordinance, saying it is unenforceable because it conflicts with state law. During the seventh and final year of this bill, the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Vice Sections recovered 8,996 marijuana plants and more than 148 pounds

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of dried processed marijuana despite the absence of eradication missions.

Abuse of medical marijuana laws, which were enacted in Hawaiʻi in 2000, also is common.

Vice officers belong to the statewide Hawaiʻi Narcotics Task Force and are involved in joint operations with the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Vice Sections are also a part of the Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. They continue to strive to identify, infiltrate, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Hawaiʻi County from the street to the highest level.

In 2015–2016, Area I Vice Section officers conducted 1,633 drug investigations, resulting in 367 arrests and 1,125 charges. In addition, Area I Vice officers recovered the following illegal drugs:

    • 5.7 pounds of crystal meth
    • 8,211 marijuana plants
    • 142 pounds of dried marijuana
    • 248.7 grams of heroin
    • 72.7 grams of cocaine
    • 1,308 assorted prescription pills

In 2015–2016, Area II Vice Section officers conducted 566 drug-related investigations, which resulted in 132 arrests for 406 charges. In addition, Area II Vice officers recovered the following illegal drugs:

  • 2,561.26 grams (5.6 pounds) of crystal meth
  • 785 marijuana plants
  • 6.12 pound s (2,774.6 grams) of dried marijuana
  • 909.6 grams of hashish
  • 342.9 grams of heroin
  • 36.74 grams of cocaine
  • 422 assorted prescription pills

Among the many cases investigated, the following were particularly noteworthy:

  • In July 2015, vice officers observed a possible marijuana distribution operation advertised on a YouTube video titled “Alternative Pain Management Puuhonua Collective Hawaii Big Island Cannabis” that had been posted the previous month on the channel of a man with a Puna address. In August 2015, an undercover officer was sent to the address. The officer met with a 58-year-old man confirmed to be the person on the video and observed what appeared to be a marijuana dispensary/storefront. In September 2015, a search warrant was executed on the address, leading to the recovery of 150 marijuana plants, 13,417.4 grams (29.58 pounds) of dried processed marijuana 2,498.9 grams (5.5 pounds) of marijuana infused food, 357.0 grams of marijuana concentrate, paraphernalia associated with the packaging, distribution and consumption of narcotics, and $1,827 in cash. The man was arrested and charged with 32 counts of drug-related offenses.
  • In August 2015, officers of the Area I Vice Section made an aerial observation of approximately 60 potted marijuana plants on an undeveloped piece of property in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Kurtistown. Officers were also able to obser ve trails leading from the plants to an adjoining property with a house on it. The owner of the parcel was a 55-year-old man with a Hilo address. After conducting a check for medical marijuana permits, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, confirmed that the property located on Pulelehua Road was registered as an authorized grow site and had multiple valid cards or permits, which the number of plants exceeded. Search warrants for the three adjoining properties were executed, which led to the recover y of 41 growing ma rijua na plants outdoors, 268 growing marijuana plants indoors, 68.12 pounds of dried processed marijuana and $19,500 in cash. The Hilo man was arrested on 14 counts of marijuana and paraphernalia offenses.

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  • In February 2016, officers of the Area I Vice Section recovered a parcel from a parcel service following a canine screen. During the execution of a search warrant on the parcel, police recovered 276.4 grams of “ ice” or crystal methamphetamine. A “controlled delivery” of the parcel was made at a Puna address and accepted by a 36-year-old Los Angeles woman. Two separate parcels recovered the next day from the same parcel service were destined for the same address and contained 187.2 grams and 190.6 grams of “ice” or crystal methamphetamine. The woman was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree meth trafficking and three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.
  • In September 2015, Area II Vice Officers took over a narcotics investigation after Kona Patrol officers responded to a request to check on the well-being of a man who was seen in a parked sports-utility vehicle at a business establishment with the engine running for two hours. Arriving officers found a 39-year-old man slumped over the driver’s seat of the SUV with the engine still running. When they woke him, he appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant, and officers observed paraphernalia associated with intravenous drug use inside the vehicle. The man, who was the sole occupant, was arrested and taken to the Kona police cellblock. Vice officers executed a search warrant on the SUV and recovered 40.7 grams of heroin, 2.8 grams of methamphetamine, 26 diverted pharmaceutical pills, a switchblade and $4,457 in cash for forfeiture. The man was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and one count each of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possessing a prohibited switchblade.
  • In September 2015, Area II Vice Officers executed a search warrant on a vehicle owned and operated by a 41-year-old man, after he was stopped for a traffic violation in Kailua-Kona. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a box of live 9mm ammunition, two zip packets containing crystal methamphetamine with a combined weight of 2.1 grams, a plastic bag containing 156.4 grams of marijuana, a plastic bag containing 29.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 24 zip packets of heroin with a combined weight of 29.4 grams, a jar with 4 grams of marijuana and various items of drug paraphernalia and a box of live 30.06 rifle ammunition. The man was charged with methamphetamine trafficking, promoting dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia and several firearms offenses.
  • In November 2015, Airport Task Force officers , while conducting checks at a parcel shipping business, located a suspicious parcel sent from Ontario, California, and destined for an address in South Kona. A narcotics canine screening resulted in a positive alert and officers prepared a search warrant to open the parcel. Officers executed the warrant and recovered two containers, each containing 19.87 ounces of crystal methamphetamine. Working in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration, a controlled delivery was attempted. However, no one claimed the parcel and no suspects were identified. The DEA is continuing this investigation.

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  • In December 2015, Area II Vice Officers, working with the FBI, received information that a 32-year-old man, a known heroin importer and resident of Kailua-Kona, had traveled from Kona to California and was scheduled to return to Kona within two days. Officers observed as the man deplaned the flight from California and then met with a 28-year-old Oceanside, California, man. Both men were eventually picked up by a 21-year-old Kailua-Kona woman. After police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, a narcotics canine screening resulted in a positive alert. The three persons were arrested for promoting dangerous drugs and taken to the Kona police station. Officers had knowledge that this organization’s method of operation is to internally “body-carry” the narcotics to avoid law enforcement detection. Police obtained search warrants to X-ray both men’s bodies at the hospital. Upon serving the X-ray warrant on the Kona man, no anomalies were noted. After serving the X-ray warrant on the California man, approximately 3 ounces of heroin and 12.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine were recovered. The Kona man was released pending further investigation.
    The Kona woman was arrested and charged with promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia. The California man was arrested and charged with methamphetamine trafficking , promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia.
  • In May 2016, South Kohala Patrol Officers responded to reports of a reckless driver on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway at the 16-mile marker headed in the Kona direction. Officers located the vehicle traveling westbound near the Route 190 intersection. Upon contacting the operator and sole occupant, a 39-year-old man, officers determined that he was wanted in connection with a narcotics investigation previously initiated by Area I Vice. After arresting him, officers conducted a cursory search of his person and located two plastic packets containing 0.2 grams of methamphetamine and $4,425 in cash. The man was taken to the Kona police station and his vehicle was towed to the South Kohala police station. Police executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 29 unspent rounds of ammunition, 189.4 grams of methamphetamine packaged in distributable amounts, 0.6 grams of cocaine, 18 hydrocodone pills, four morphine pills, 202.2 grams of marijuana packaged in distributable amounts, and paraphernalia associated with the use and distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana. The man, who was a convicted felon, was charged with first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, four counts of third-degree promoting dangerous drugs, first-degree promoting detrimental drugs, second-degree promoting detrimental drugs, two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving without insurance and eight weapons offenses. In addition, for the previous narcotics offenses initiated by Area I Vice, the man was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree
    promoting detrimental drugs and three counts each of third-degree promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia.

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  • In June 2016, Vice officers executed a search warrant on Kinoʻole Street following a narcotics investigation into a 35-year-old man, known to be a mid-level drug dealer. Officers recovered 113. 2 grams or 4 ounces of crystal methamphetamine and paraphernalia associated with its packaging and distribution. The man was arrested for first-degree drug trafficking, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. Also recovered was $1,295 in cash for asset forfeiture.
  • In June 2016, officers of the Area I Vice Section executed a search warrant on a vehicle at a Banyan Drive address following a narcotics investigation into a 52 -year-old man who was known to be a high-level drug dealer. Officers recovered 338 grams, or 12 ounces, of crystal methamphetamine and paraphernalia associated with its packaging and distribution. The man was arrested for first-degree drug trafficking, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. Also recovered was $556 in ca sh for asset forfeiture.

Crime Lab

Supervisor: Criminalist III Kathy Pung

In Fiscal Year 2015–2016, after training and on-the-job work experience, the department’s evidence specialist I was reallocated to evidence specialist II, and the criminalist I was reallocated to criminalist II. Within this time period, the Crime Lab acquired and put into service updated analytical and precision balances with printers for drug analysis casework. The balances were purchased with Coverdell grant funds.

Within this time period, the Crime Lab completed 1,324 cases, compared with 1,363 i n Fiscal Year 2015, 1,630 in Fiscal Year 2014, and 1,583 in Fiscal Year 2013. Crime Lab casework consisted of 882 drug, 361 latent print, 36 firearm, 26 biological, and two forensic computer cases.

Crime Lab personnel conducted 48 in-service training sessions for Area I and Area II Operations, with 464 personnel receiving forensic services-related training. The evidence specialists assisted in 113 call-outs that included major crime scenes, traffic fatalities, autopsies and requests for specialized evidence processing. A criminalist assisted in six of the 113 call-outs, and responded to 17 call-outs when an evidence specialist was not available. Crime Lab personnel provided community service through public speaking engagements such as the Onizuka Science Day Program.

In Fiscal Year 2015–2016 , the Crime Lab received a Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement grant of $23,151 for Crime Lab accreditation and training. The Crime Lab accreditation application process was initiated, with the goal of

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attaining accreditation in Fiscal Year 2016–2017. Crime Lab personnel were able to attend various training events, including the International Association for Identification Annual Educational Conference, American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Scientific Meeting, Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Annual Technical Training seminar, a Balance Uncertainty Part II training session hosted by the HPD-SIS laboratory, a Latent Print Processing class hosted by NED, and a DEA Forensic Chemist seminar.

Crime Lab personnel received additional training through the U.S. Secret Service, and National Institute of Justice. The U.S. Secret Service provided training and equipment to conduct digital evidence recovery from electronic mobile devices, such as cell phones and tablets, increasing the forensic services’ capabilities of HPD Crime Lab. The National Institute of Justice provided a grant-funded workshop on statistics and probability in forensic science. The work shop facilitated a better understanding of the application of statistics and probabilities in the forensic sciences.

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Area I Patrol Districts

Hāmākua District

Commander: Captain Andrew Burian
Area: 223 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 18

For the 2015 –2016 fiscal year, property crimes in the Hāmākua District remained relatively stable with the previous fiscal year. There were 22 reported burglaries compared with 18 the previous fiscal year. Nine of the burglaries were solved, for a clearance rate of more than 40 percent, which is far above the national average.

Theft reports also remained relatively stable with 70 reported this year compared with 78 the previous year. Twenty-four percent of the thefts were cleared.

Traffic enforcement remains a priority as officers issued more than 2,000 citations. Of those, 629 were for speeding, 149 for seat belt or child restraint violations and 70 for using a cell phone or other electronic device while driving. Emphasis on traffic enforcement remains an important motivator for reducing major traffic accidents. There were 37 major traffic accidents this fiscal year, a slight decrease from the 38 accidents during the previous fiscal year.

Officers assisted Civil Defense during the Dengue Fever outbreak this past year by providing assistance at the Waipio Valley lookout in restricting traffic into the valley to residents only.

The school resource officer assigned to Honokaʻa schools actively worked with school administrators and provided a visible presence at the Honokaʻa and Paʻauilo schools to limit incidents of bullying, truancy, thefts and drug activity.

Throughout the year, the community policing and school resource officers worked in partnership with Neighborhood Watch organizations, schools and other community organizations, such as the Honokaʻa Traffic Safety Council and Honokaʻa Business Association to address various community concerns. Some of the major community events in which they were involved included the annual Western Week parade and block party, Honokaʻa Peace Day Fair, and the popular First Friday events in Honokaʻa.

The North Hilo District at Kaʻala Gulch and the South Kohala District at Lakeland form the boundaries of the Hāmākua District. Its police station is located at 45-3400 Māmane Street in Honokaʻa Town.

North Hilo District

Commander: Captain Andrew Burian
Area: 144 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 13

The North Hilo District experienced a significant decrease with four reported burglaries compared with 17 the previous fiscal year. Two of the reported burglaries were closed, for a clearance rate of 50 percent.

Thefts also decreased to 29 cases compared with 33 the previous fiscal year. Eight of the

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thefts were cleared, for a clearance rate of 28 percent.

During this fiscal year, there were no traffic fatalities, and major traffic collisions decreased to 25 compared with 33 the previous fiscal year.

North Hilo officers issued more than 1,600 citations for the fiscal year. Of those, 552 were for speeding and 96 for seat belt or child restraint violations.

The North Hilo and Hāmākua community police officers and Hāmākua school resource officer work together in North Hilo and assisted with two Drug-Free Bash celebrations with the Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Center, the Big Island Biker Fest at Laupāhoehoe Point, and the Laupāhoehoe Music Festival. They also partnered with the Department of Parks and Recreation by conducting HI-PA L presentations dealing with safety during summer fun programs at the Papaʻaloa Gym.

The Hāmākua District at Kaʻala Gulch and the South Hilo District at Hakalau Gulch form the boundaries of the North Hilo District. Its police station is located at 36-2285 Puʻualaea Homestead Road in Laupāhoehoe just west of the 25-mile marker off Old Māmālahoa Highway.

South Hilo Patrol

Commander: Captain Richard Sherlock
Area: 635 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 88

The South Hilo District is the department’s largest staffed patrol division and is situated on the ground floor of Building B at the Public Safety Complex, 349 K apiʻolani Street. Patrol officers also operate out of the Moʻoheau Bus Terminal mini-station.

The district provides 24-hour police services and consists of the Patrol Division—which also operates the East Hawaiʻi Detention Center, which houses pre-trial detainees for the four police districts that comprise Area I Operations—the Communit y Policing Section, which includes community policing and school resources officers, and the reserve officer program.

Burglaries decreased by 55 percent this fiscal year as police investigated 161 burglaries this year compared with 354 reported the previous fiscal year. This was also a 59 percent decrease from the 390 reported burglaries two fiscal years ago. Decreases in burglary rates can be attributed to crime trend analysis, intelligence, objective-based task forces, and the cooperation of Neighborhood Watches in raising community awareness and sharing information with friends and neighbors. The rise of social media has also assisted not only in identifying suspects and sharing information but also in stigmatizing criminal activity in the East Hawaiʻi community.

Thefts also decreased to 2,215 from 2,536 reported during the previous fiscal year.

Theft of motor vehicles decreased by 55 percent this fiscal year to 212 compared with 333 in the previous fiscal year. Although there was a reduction in auto thefts, this crime trend remains a concern of the South Hilo District, as well as throughout Hawaiʻi County.

Robberies in South Hilo remained consistent for the year with 25 reported cases. The majority of robberies occur in commerce areas, where shoplifting attempts sometimes turn physical during the

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suspects’ attempts to flee.

Officers saw an increase of reported sexual assault cases. This fiscal year, 169 sex assaults were reported compared with 108 the previous fiscal year.

Officers responded to 470 major traffic accidents compared with 454 the previous fiscal year. In the area of traffic enforcement, officers arrested 280 impaired drivers and issued 2,296 speeding and 1,146 seat belt citations. Overall, officers issued 14,903 traffic citations.

Officers also served 3,561 court documents, including bench warrants, penal summonses, subpoenas and restraining orders.

Police investigated six murder cases in South Hilo this fiscal year compared with two the previous fiscal year.

In November 2015, a 39-year-old man was shot and killed out side a house in Waiākea.

In December 2015, a vehicle traveling on the Saddle Road just above Kaumana was shot at by a trailing vehicle numerous times, with several stray bullets striking a nearby house.

In January 2016, a shooting occurred at the Honoliʻi lookout during the early morning hours.

These events culminated during a one week period in February 2016, with two officer-involved shootings in shopping areas off Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo.
The South Hilo District occupies the area between the North Hilo District at Hakalau Gulch and the Puna District at Papa‘i. Its police station is located at 349 Kapiʻolani Street.

Puna District

Commander: Captain Samuel Jelsma
Area: 683 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 59

The district of Puna is larger in land mass than the entire island of Oahu or the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, combined. It has been described as the fastest-growing district on the island, with a projected population of more than 58,000 people by 2020.

Fifty-one police officers, six sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain position are designated for the Puna District. Additionally, the district has four volunteer reserve officers and three civilian staff members.

The Puna District station is located just outside Pāhoa Village on Highway 130. The Keaʻau substation is located in Keaʻau town off Old Volcano Road.

Community Policing officers in Puna work with 10 Neighborhood Watch groups in crime prevention, community awareness and problem solving. Command staff from the Puna District attend several of these community meetings including the monthly Puna Watch meeting, which bring together most of the Neighborhood Watch groups from the district to one forum to discuss concerns and share information.

Improving the quality of life is a police and community priority in Pāhoa town.

The Community Policing and Patrol officers conduct crime reduction details and walking patrols to increase police presence in town.

Community police officers attend Pāhoa Main Street Association meetings monthly to discuss and address issues with the major business owners in Pāhoa Town.

During this fiscal year, police investigated

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a triple murder in Leilani Estates. Patrol officers responded to a report of a woman shot at a home. When they arrived at the scene, they observed a vehicle driving away from the property. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the male driver of the vehicle.

During the traffic stop, officers observed blood on the rear bumper. When they investigated, they discovered the body of a woman with head wounds. Officers then discovered two more deceased persons at the house. The investigation later revealed that the male driver had murdered all three persons. Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives later charged the suspect for the triple homicide.

Also during this fiscal year, Officer Brian Souki was honored by his peers and supervisors as “2015 Puna Patrol Officer of the Year” for his outstanding dedication, efforts and work ethic. Officer Souki had previously been named Aloha Exchange Club’s Officer of the Month for both March and August of 2015.

Overall, criminal cases initiated in the Puna District follow a three-year trend of remaining largely unchanged with 6,392 cases initiated in Fiscal Year 2015–2016.

Burglaries decreased by nearly 44 percent, with 229 reported cases compared with 403 the previous fiscal year. Thefts decreased by nearly 16 percent to 993 compared with 1,156 the previous fiscal year.

The Puna District served 2,843 court documents, an increase of nearly 15 percent from the 2,434 served the previous fiscal year.

The Puna District is situated between the South Hilo District at Pāpaʻi and the Kaʻū District at Keauhou Landing. Its police station is located in Pāhoa at 15-2615 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road.

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Area II Patrol Districts

North Kohala District

Commander: Captain Albert Jason Cortez
Area: 123 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 16

During Fiscal Year 2015 – 2016, the North Kohala District experienced a slight decrease in the number of reported burglaries (17 cases compared with 19 cases the previous fiscal year). Reported assaults were up (25 cases compared with 18 cases the previous fiscal year), and thefts were up (72 cases compared with 62 cases the previous fiscal year).

A police-community meeting was held at the Kohala High School cafeteria, where members of t he community voiced their concerns to the police captain and his Community Policing officer.

North Kohala patrol officers issued 524 speeding citations this fiscal year (compared with 639 the previous fiscal year).

The number of major traffic accidents increased (from 25 to 40) with no fatalities.

Among the incidents that occurred in North Kohala, one was particularly noteworthy: In July 2015, police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a home in Halaula. Officers learned that gunshots had been fired prior to their arrival. When they approached the house, a 38-year-old man shot and wounded a 13-year veteran of the Police Department and barricaded himself inside the house. The wounded officer was given first aid at the scene and continued to secure the perimeter. Officers later made contact with a 34-year-old woman, who reported that the suspect had shot her in the leg during the dispute. The Police Department’s special response team responded, and a lengthy standoff ensued. Through the efforts of the crisis negotiation team, the suspect surrendered and was arrested for multiple offenses, including attempted murder.

The North Kohala community police officer participated with the community in annual events, including the Kamehameha Day parade, Skate Day, and Toys for Tots.

HI-PAL activities at Kohala Elementary and Middle School also continued wit h t he community police officer, including kickball and dodge ball. The district’s first annual SPLASH! pool event was held at the Kohala community pool. Approximately 70 kids of all ages participated in games, food and fun. Monthly articles in the Kohala Mountain News are contributed by the Community Policing officer to address police and community concerns. Inter views of our Community Policing officer have been conducted on a local radio station to address current issues and have been met with positive feedback from the community.

The North Kohala District is bounded by South Kohala at Kaiʻōpae and Hāmākua at Honopue. Its police station is located behind the Kamehameha statue in Kapaʻau at 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway.

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South Kohala District

Commander: Captain Randall Medeiros
Area: 688 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 34

The South Kohala District experienced a decrease in property crimes during Fiscal Year 2015–2016. Although burglaries increased by 1.8 percent to 54 reported burglaries (up one from 53), thefts (including vehicle break-ins) decreased by 31.8 percent to 240, and auto thefts decreased by 20 percent to 24 reported stolen vehicles.

Patrol officers cleared 30 percent of burglaries and 62 percent of theft cases (including vehicle break-ins).

South Kohala officers conducted 35 drug investigations to interdict criminal activity associated with drug use and distribution within the South Kohala community.

Throughout the year, Community Policing and Patrol officers conducted search warrants and traffic stops that led to the recovery of drugs and numerous illegal firearms.

South Kohala patrol officers’ traffic enforcement increased to 6,146 citations compared with 5,967 citations during the previous fiscal year. DUI arrests also increased to 111 compared with 107 the previous fiscal year.

Officers conducted 149 major traffic investigations and 438 minor traffic investigations for a total of 587 collisions, which reflect a 1.7 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. The district experienced two fatal traffic crashes.

The South Kohala District covers the area between the North Kohala District at Kiowa and the Kona District at Kauaʻi Point. Its police station is located at 67-5185 Kamāmalu Street in Waimea.

Kona Patrol

Commander: Captain Randal Ishii
Area: 834 square miles / Authorized sworn positions: 83

The Kealakehe police station serves as the main station for the Kona Patrol Division and also houses a cellblock detention section, a firearms registration section and an evidence section.

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, Kona Patrol clerks processed 3,469 firearms registrations, including handguns, rifles and shotguns. Of these registered firearms, 1,927 were imported from outside the state.

The evidence section, which is staffed by two evidence custodians, is responsible for the storage and preservation of several thousand pieces of evidence recovered in criminal investigations as well as noncriminal incidents. The preservation of these pieces of evidence is critical to the successful prosecution of criminal cases. Evidence is stored at the main Kealakehe police evidence room as well as in a newly acquired warehouse owned by Hawaiʻi County in the Kaloko area.

The installation of a new vehicle evidence lot in the main station rear parking lot began at the end of the previous fiscal year and was completed so vehicles can be stored in Kona rather than being transported across the island to a warehouse in Puna.

At the end of the 2015-2016 fiscal year,

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the Kona Patrol District was short seven officers of the 83 positions authorized. It was anticipated that new officers and veteran officers would be assigned to the Kona District once the officers in the police recruit class completed their field training and officer transfers were made.

Kona Patrol officers responded to more than 9,252 criminal complaints and more than 17,500 calls for service related to noncriminal complaints, such as minor nuisances
or persons needing assistance. They also issued 20,838 citations, of which 2,658 were for speeding violations. In a department-wide effort to combat distracted driving, Kona Patrol officers issued 1,001 citations for using an electronic device while driving. In addition, 1,462 citations were issued for mandatory seat belt use, 1,512 for driving an unsafe vehicle, and 449 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Kona District received 5,408 court documents and served 3,078 court documents.

The Kona Community Policing Unit is headed by a police sergeant and consists of seven community police officers and two school resource officers.

The community police officers focus on addressing community-related issues in the North and South Kona areas. Their responsibilities also include bicycle patrol in the Aliʻi Drive area and beach sweeps to ensure the safety of the tourist community and businesses and to address the growing number of transient homeless persons attracted to the warm climate. Their problem-solving efforts include crime reduction details and spearheading Neighborhood Watch groups.

The school resource officers are assigned to Konawaena Middle School and Kealakehe Intermediate School. In addition to teaching DARE classes, they provide students with information on anti-bullying, internet safety, laws and ordinances, and a variety of other topics. The school resource officers establish a rapport with the students so that they perceive police officers as more approachable. They provide a liaison between the school and the Police Department.

The Kona district occupies the area between the South Kohala District at Waikoloa and the Kaʻū District at Kaulanamauna. Its main police station is in Kealakehe at 74-611 Hale Makaʻi Place. In addition to the main station, the Kona district has two sub-stations. One is located at Hale Halawai in downtown Kailua-Kona and the other is in Captain Cook.

Kaʻū District

Commander: Captain Burt Shimabukuro
Area: 700 square miles / Authorized sworn position: 24

During Fiscal Year 2015–2016, Kaʻū Patrol officers investigated 83 major traffic accidents, an increase of 75 from Fiscal Year 2014–2015. A total of 3,010 citations were issued. Of those, 636 were for speeding and 156 were for seat belt or child restraint violations.

Kaʻū Patrol officers investigated more than 1,311 incidents and responded to 3,390 calls for services of non-criminal complaints.

Officers investigated 69 burglaries, an increase from the 56 cases initiated in the previous fiscal year. Theft and unauthorized entry into motor vehicle cases increased to 168 from

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141 the previous fiscal year.

The district received 536 court documents and served 412 of them.

Community police officers continue to work with Neighborhood Watch groups in Discovery Harbor, the Green Sands subdivision and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates to maintain community support and awareness.

They were also involved in the teaching of DARE classes, school presentations on anti-bullying, and Kaʻū Christmas Keiki ID. In addition, they coordinated HI-PAL youth   activities, such as three-on-three basketball tournaments in Nāʻālehu and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and a T-ball tournament in Nāʻālehu.

The Kaʻū District is bounded by the Kona District at Kaulanamaua and the Puna District at Keauhou Landing. Its police station is located at 95-5353 Mamalahoa Highway in Nāʻālehu.

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Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU)

Commanders: Area I—Sergeant Christopher Gali • Area II—Sergeant Bradley Freitas

The Traffic Enforcement Units are charged with investigating traffic crashes involving death or serious  injur y while also conducting traffic enforcement and training related to traffic enforcement and investigation.

During the 2015–2016 fiscal year, Area I TEU officers, whose offices are in Hilo, investigated eight fata l crashes that k illed nine people. A rea II TEU officers, whose offices are in Kona, investigated eight fata l crashes that killed nine people.

Of the Area I fatalities, three were related to drugs, one was related to a lcohol, and t wo were related to both drugs and alcohol. Three Area I fatalities were pending toxicolog y results at the end of the fi scal year. In Area II, one of the fatalities involved both drugs and alcohol. Alcohol was a factor in two of the fatal crashes and drugs alone were a factor in two.

Area I TEU officers conducted 84 DUI sobriety checkpoints and 81 seat belt and distracted driver checkpoints. They arrested 162 drivers who were under the influence of intoxicants and made 136 other arrests while a lso issuing 4,109 moving citations, of which 2,084 were for speeding and 1,793 for regulator y citations.

Area II Traffic Enforcement units conducted 89 DUI sobriet y checkpoints and  arrested 79 drivers who were under the influence of an intoxicant. They also conducted 97 seat belt and distracted driver checkpoints and issued 556 seat belt citations, 87 child restraint citations and 199 mobile electronic device citations. They issued 8,198 citations, of which 2,600 were moving citations, 3,094 were speeding citations, 1,353 were regulatory citations, 13 were loud muffler citations, four were littering citations, three were parking citations, and 289 were for unsafe motor vehicles. Area II TEU Officers also made 88 other arrests.

Fatal Traffic Crashes
Alcohol related 3
Drug related 5
Drug and alcohol related 3
Not impaired 5
Total 16

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Grants

The following grants were funded by state or federa l agencies during Fiscal Year 2015–2016:

‘Click It or Ticket’ Basketball

To increase the number of youths and adults being informed or educated regarding the importance of wearing a seat belt and restraining young children in a child safety seat during “Click It or Ticket” events. To reduce fatalities and injuries to occupants aged 17 and under during motor vehicle collisions. This was accomplished by improving awareness of state laws to increase the seat belt usage rate of youths and teens ages 4–17.

Traffic Records/DATA Grant

To establish a statewide traffic data system and ensure compliance with national standards.

Hawaiʻi Impact

To combat the methamphetamine (“ice”) drug problem in the County of Hawaiʻi by conducting various “sting” operations.

Hawaiʻi Narcotics Task Force

To assist with the interdiction of drugs within the County of Hawaiʻi via the apprehension/ arrest/conviction of individuals smuggling narcotics into, out of and within the County of Hawaiʻi.

Roadblock Grant

To reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries, increase public awareness and provide a constant deterrence against impaired driving.

Seat Belt Enforcement Grant

To reduce fatalities and injuries to front-seat occupants and rear-seat occupants by increasing the usage rate of seat belts.

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Speed Enforcement Grant

To reduce the number of motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities caused by speeding drivers by issuing speeding citations and launching an aggressive islandwide speeding campaign.

Traffic Investigations

To increase the number of officers trained in advanced traffic accident reconstruction and other traffic crash related courses.

Aggressive Driving

To reduce fatalities and injuries, increase public awareness and provide a constant deterrence against aggressive driving.

SANE/SART Training

To provide SANE personnel training, technical assistance and information to respond to violent crimes, physical abuse and crimes of violence against women.

Distracted Driving

To reduce the number of drivers using an electronic mobile device while operating a motor vehicle.

Crime Lab Improved Forensic Services in Hawaiʻi County

To improve and enhance the quality of Hawaiʻi County forensic services.

Tobacco Sales to Minors

To provide continued enforcement of the state law prohibiting tobacco sales to minors in the County of Hawaiʻi.

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Wrongful Conviction Project

To improve Hawaiʻi County’s response to wrongful conviction allegations by purchasing recording equipment and using related technology for recording custodial interrogations of individuals by law enforcement.

2011 Justice Assistance Grant

To purchase a trailer to transport training materials and mats to outer districts and purchase audio and video equipment for training which will allow the department to produce in-house training videos.

2015 Justice Assistance Grant Program

To purchase equipment and related technology to assist in tracking and managing accreditation files, implement microfilm conversion project and install a security door system for Area I CID.

FBI Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force

To assist with overtime incurred by officers working with the FBI Organized Crime Enforcement Task Force on specified investigations and/or strategic initiative.

US Marshals Service—Hawaiʻi Fugitive Task Force

To assist with overtime incurred to Hawaiʻi County police officers working with the United States Marshals Service on the enforcement and capture of fugitives wanted under the Hawaiʻi Fugitive Task Force Initiative.

COPS

To provide additional support to the Police Department and various communities to assist in the prevention of crimes. This shall be accomplished by providing Neighborhood Watch programs, Business Watch programs, home security inspections and by working with the schools on programs such as anti-bullying campaigns.

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United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration—Hawaiʻi Airport Task Force

To assist with overtime incurred by Hawaiʻi Police Department officers working with United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, under the Hawaiʻi Airport Task Force, for the purpose of disrupting the flow of illicit drug trafficking into Hawaiʻi.

Leica ScanStation Training

To purchase a Leica ScanStation and to host ACTAR MapScenes and ScanStation training classes. This equipment will reduce the time it takes to reopen roadways after fatality investigation and improve the completeness, consistency, and accuracy of the motor vehicle accident report diagram in fatal motor vehicle collision.

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Budget

The following are the budget figures for Fiscal Year 2015–2016:

Personnel Services

Salaries and wages, straight time—$42,012,214
Salaries and wages, other—$3,592,734

Other current expenses

Contractual services—$9,091,489
Materials and supplies—$2,259,147
Other charges—$413,700
Equipment—$437,849
Miscellaneous accounts—$1,203,651
Grants funded—$1,351,354

Total—$60,362,138

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Personnel Changes

New Hires

Kamuela A. Akana, Police Officer
Chad K. Apigo, Custodian/Groundskeeper
Gerald D. Arguello, Evidence Custodian
Kaipokoka D. Aurello, Police Officer
Conrad C. Bidal, Police Officer
Suzanne K. S. Braley, Clerk III
Jessie W. Brogdon, Police Officer
Micah R. Cockett, Information Systems Analyst IV
Laurence S. Davis, Police Officer
NatalieLouise C. K Delaries-Daog, Storeroom Clerk
Robert G. Dexter, Radio Technician I
Steven T. Dukich, Custodian/Groundskeeper
Lisa A. Ebesugawa, Police Officer
Isabell H. Feki, Police Officer
Ravani T. Flood, Clerk III
Jayne M. Frey, School Crossing Guard
Noelani A. K. Gomes, Clerk III
Diana M. Greef, Clerk III
Christopher J. Huff, Police Officer
Karol A. M. Ikeda, Clerk III
Robert K. Kamau Jr., Police Officer
Aissa B. McCorkle, Police Radio Dispatcher
Isaac Michaels, Police Officer
Ann Y. Nakamura-Jones, School Crossing Guard
Paul C. Oshiro, Police Officer
Lauren K. K. Pacheco, Police Officer
Kaori K. Picadura, Police Radio Dispatcher
Joshua K. Rodby-Tomas, Police Officer
Rebecca A . Romero, School Crossing Guard
Guy Edward J. Silva Jr., Police Radio Dispatcher
Andreana K. Soares, Police Radio Dispatcher
Brian Y. Tada, Police Officer
Desiree E. N. Vierra, School Crossing Guard
Elik Vodovoz, Police Officer
Joshua A. Willing, Police Officer
Brian J. Young, Police Officer
Kyung H. Yu, Police Officer

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Promotions

Nelson M. Acob, Sergeant
Andrea K. Akau, Senior Account Clerk
Carrie K. Akina, Detective
William C. Brown, Detective
Charisse A. Correa, Supervising Police Radio Dispatcher
Lori K. E. Hara, Firearms Registration Clerk
Kayne K. M. Kelii, Detective
Torey D. Keltner, Traffic Safety Coordinator
Michelle L. Kualii, Senior Clerk-Stenographer
Scott J. Kurashige, Lieutenant
Jenny K. L. Lee, Sergeant
David T. Matsushima, Detective
Jason S. O’Brien, Supervising Police Radio Dispatcher
John T. Talich, Sergeant
Arlene S. Young , Senior Police Records Clerk

Retirements

Charles M. Adams, Sergeant
Jonathan P. Bartsch, Police Officer
Raymond E. Childers, Sergeant
Julie B. Ebanez, Firearms Registration Clerk
Caroldeen N. Freitas, Police Officer
Herbert P. Hamersma, Evidence Custodian
Robert E. Hatton, Detective
Gregory A. Ikeda, Police Officer
Jeness J. Jonas, Clerk III
Cory L. Koi, Sergeant
Nancy A. Martinez, Senior Clerk-Stenographer
Linda Y. Revell, Supervising Police Radio Dispatcher
Debra T. Yamashiro, Investigative Operations Clerk

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Murder Rate, Hawaii County, 2006–2015

2006—2.3
2007—2.9
2008—2.3
2009— 2.8
2010— 1.6
2011— 1.6
2012— 2.6
2013— 4.7
2014— 1.6
2015—4.1
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of Murders Cleared since 2006

2006—100.0
2007—80.0
2008—100.0
2009—60.0
2010—100.0
2011—66.7
2012—100.0
2013—77.8
2014—100.0
2015—75.0

Murder—The willful killing of one human being by another.
From 2014 to 2015:

  • The rate of reported murders increased 162.3%, with 3 murders reported in 2014, versus 8 murders reported in 2015.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The murder rate increased 74.5%, with 4 murders were reported in 2006, as compared to 8 murders reported in 2015.

In 2015, of the 8 murders reported:

  • Knives or cutting instruments were involved in 37.5% (3).
  • Other dangerous weapons were involved in 37.5% (3).
  • A strongarm weapon (hands, fists, feet, etc.) was involved in 12.5% (1).
  • A firearm was involved in 12.5% (1).

Hawaii County’s murder rate in 2015 was the highest in the State of Hawaii.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Rape Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—38.0
2007—44.5
2008—44.4
2009—37.6
2010—45.0
2011—33.7
2012—21.7
2013—28.8
2014—53.4 [32.7 Rape (legacy)* cases plus 20.7 additional cases due to Rape (revised)*]
2015—48.4 [36.2 Rape (legacy)* cases plus 12.2 additional cases due to Rape (revised)*]
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of Rapes Cleared since 2006

2006—46.2
2007—42.9
2008—43.6
2009—21.2
2010—31.8
2011—23.8
2012—24.4
2013—23.6
2014—53.4
2015—58.9

Rape (legacy)*The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Assaults or attempts to commit rape by force or threat of force are included.
Rape (revised)*Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.

From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported rapes decreased 9.3% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The rape rate based on the legacy definition decreased 4.7%.

*Note: On January 1, 2014, the State of Hawaii began collecting rape data under the FBI’s revised definition. The State of Hawaii will continue to also collect rape data under the old, or legacy, definition so that comparative trends can be established.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Robbery Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—51.4
2007—58.9
2008—41.5
2009—38.1
2010—41.8
2011—33.1
2012—39.1
2013—46.7
2014—40.4
2015—27.5
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of Robberies Cleared since 2006

2006—29.5
2007—39.2
2008—34.2
2009—41.8
2010—50.6
2011—48.4
2012—54.1
2013—51.7
2014—41.0
2015—51.9

Robbery—The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.

From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported robberies decreased 31.9% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The robbery rate decreased 46.4%.

In 2015, of the 54 robberies reported:

  • Strongarm weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) were involved in 51.9% (28).
  • Other dangerous weapons were involved in 24.1% (13).
  • Knives or cutting instruments were involved in 13.0% (7).
  • Firearms were involved in 11.1% (6).

Hawaii County’s robbery rate in 2015 was the lowest in the State of Hawaii.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Aggravated Assault Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—161
2007—154
2008—163
2009—188
2010—184
2011—194
2012—159
2013—207
2014—141
2015—124
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of Aggravated Assaults Cleared since 2006

2006—59.4
2007—60.9
2008—57.0
2009—61.8
2010—62.0
2011—62.5
2012—63.5
2013—66.2
2014—75.1
2015—64.3

Aggravated AssaultThe unlawful attack or attempted attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported aggravated assaults decreased 12.1% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The aggravated assault rate decreased 22.9%.

In 2015, of the 244 reported aggravated assaults:

  • Strongarm weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) were involved in 38.5% (94).
  • Other dangerous weapons were involved in 29.9% (73).
  • Knives or other cutting instruments were involved in 17.2% (42).
  • Firearms were involved in 14.3% (35).

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Burglary Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—833
2007—798
2008—687
2009—805
2010—604
2011—506
2012—626
2013—597
2014—621
2015—541
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of Burglaries Cleared since 2006

2006—12.6
2007—12.3
2008—11.4
2009—11.6
2010—12.9
2011—9.9
2012—11.3
2013—10.2
2014—11.5
2015—14.3

Burglary —The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. Attempted burglary is included.

From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported burglaries decreased 12.9% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The burglary rate decreased 35.1%.

In 2015, of the 1,061 burglaries and attempted burglaries reported:

  • Burglary accounted for 99.2% (1,052).
  • Attempted burglary accounted for 0.8% (9).

In 2015, of the 1,052 burglaries that were reported:

  • Structures entered by force accounted for 57.5% (605).
  • Structures entered without force accounted for 42.5% (447).

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Motor Vehicle Theft Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—355
2007—313
2008—279
2009—269
2010—258
2011—216
2012—234
2013—221
2014—379
2015—463
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of  Motor Vehicle Thefts Cleared since 2006

2006—21.1
2007—21.4
2008—17.3
2009—19.7
2010—21.8
2011—21.8
2012—19.2
2013—19.2
2014—22.8
2015—26.1

Motor Vehicle Theft—The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported motor vehicle thefts increased 22.1% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The motor vehicle theft rate increased 30.5%.

In 2015, of the 909 motor vehicle thefts reported:

  • Autos accounted for 45.7% (415).
  • Trucks and buses accounted for 33.4% (304). Included in this category are pickup trucks and vans.
  • Other vehicles accounted for 20.9% (190). Included in this category are motorcycles, mopeds, and golf carts.

Hawaii County’s motor vehicle theft rate in 2015 was the highest in the State of Hawaii.

Hawaii County’s motor vehicle theft rate in 2015 was the highest on record since the state of statewide data collection in 1975.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

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Arson Rate, Hawaii County, 2006-2015

2006—29.2
2007—45.6
2008—38.1
2009—15.9
2010—11.1
2011—20.8
2012—10.0
2013—16.8
2014—9.3
2015—15.8
Rate per 100,000 Population

Percent of  Arsons Cleared since 2006

2006—24.0
2007—20.3
2008—17.9
2009—21.4
2010—14.3
2011—15.4
2012—26.3
2013—12.5
2014—33.3
2015—32.3

Arson —Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.

From 2014 to 2015:

  • Reported arsons increased 69.4% in rate.

Comparing 2015 to 2006:

  • The arson rate decreased 45.9%.

Hawaii County’s arson rate in 2015 was the lowest in the State of Hawaii.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2016). Crime in Hawaiʻi , 2 15: A Review of Uniform  Crime Reports.
State of Hawaiʻi: Department of the Attorney General.

52—2015–2016 ANNUAL REPORT