10-02-2009, 09:02 AM
While it is good that Emily Naeole is proposing to do something about the problems, it won't matter if the police do not enforce any new regulations. They already seem to have difficulty enforcing existing laws concerning ATV use, speeding, and racing at that location.
Ratcheting up the demands for more police resources throughout Puna might be a better expenditure of effort. I attended a meeting in Volcano recently where the Chief of Police openly admitted that Puna was getting less than its share of police personnel. He did not, however, propose any permanent solution for this inequity although he had temporarily reassigned some Hilo detectives to Puna. My question is this: If we know there is a problem and we know Puna continues to be the population growth focus of the Island, why are we dealing in temporary measures? Sorry if my cynicism is showing once again, but politics is the only answer that comes to mind.
Ratcheting up the demands for more police resources throughout Puna might be a better expenditure of effort. I attended a meeting in Volcano recently where the Chief of Police openly admitted that Puna was getting less than its share of police personnel. He did not, however, propose any permanent solution for this inequity although he had temporarily reassigned some Hilo detectives to Puna. My question is this: If we know there is a problem and we know Puna continues to be the population growth focus of the Island, why are we dealing in temporary measures? Sorry if my cynicism is showing once again, but politics is the only answer that comes to mind.