Highest Law Enforcement Priority

[james weatherford]

The majority of voters of Hawaii County recently approved an ordinance regarding certain circumstances being designated the ‘lowest priority’ for law enforcement.

How does the County Government – Council, Mayor, Police Department, and Prosecuting Attorney – implement a policy that focuses on certain circumstances being the ‘lowest priority’ for law enforcement?
This is a very real challenge that, when mandated by the citizenry in a democratic society, is the sworn duty of those in public service to take on with total commitment and sincerity.
To meet this challenge and fulfill this duty, a practical place to begin is by identifying the ‘highest priority’ for law enforcement.
Inevitably, due to finite resources, law enforcement will be more proactive in matters where resources are made available.
The highest priority for resource allocation by the Hawaii County Government must be protection of life and property.
For example:
* Traffic violations that have resulted in this County’s roads being the most dangerous in the State of Hawaii: speeding, illegal passing, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and safe condition of vehicles.
* Violence in the home, in the workplace, and in other public places.
* Vandalism of public and private property.
* Theft, including, but not limited to, shoplifting, agricultural theft, and automobile theft.
* For some of the above there are cases that remain unsolved and outstanding warrants for known and/or alleged violators.
A reallocation and concentration of Police Department resources is imperative to put as the highest priority protection of life and property, including not only prevention and intervention, but also unsolved cases and outstanding warrants. If Police Department administration is unable or unwilling to make this reallocation to make crimes of life and property the highest priority, then it is the responsibility of the County Council and Mayor, through the budget process, to ensure that such reallocation takes place.
Protection of life and property must be the highest priority in resource allocation for law enforcement and in the administration of law enforcement.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Bob Orts]

Why not start a citizen referendum? Put it to the vote of the people to make certain items the highest priority. Sure we can wait for the politicians or we can take the bull by the horns and make it happen. Of course that will require people to actually get off their butts and really do something instead of talking about it, but it seems like a worthwhile endeavor. When will you have the initiative ready for people to look at?

[james weatherford]

Bob, initiative is your idea -- you write it and I will sign it. That will take several months ('Question 1' that was on the ballot took several months and lots of legal wrangling).
Meantime, the Police Commission is in the process of selecting a new Police Chief.
My written testimony to them put in the mail today points out the practicality of protection of life and property being highest priority.
The Commission is conducting public hearings Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. at the Aupuni Center Conference Room, Hilo. Testimony will be taken from the public.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Kelena]

Where can we send written testimony and can we do it after the 18th?

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by james weatherford

Bob, initiative is your idea -- you write it and I will sign it. That will take several months ('Question 1' that was on the ballot took several months and lots of legal wrangling).

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Yes, but it happened!
They didn’t sit around. They took the ultimate power of the people to the people and they won.

quote:

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Originally posted by james weatherford

Meantime, the Police Commission is in the process of selecting a new Police Chief.
My written testimony to them put in the mail today points out the practicality of protection of life and property being highest priority.

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But, if everyone says the Police Commission is a Mayoral appointed board who only rubber stamps what the Mayor and Police Chief wants, your essentially entrusting your issue to the very people you don’t trust.

Also, the Hawaii State Constitution does not give anyone but the Police Chief the authority on police operations. Neither the Mayor nor Police Commission can violate the Sates Constitution. All they can do is recommend that the police prioritize this or that. Now let’s be real, do you really think catching litterbugs is a higher priority over murder and violent crimes? Fact is, the Police department is woefully understaffed due to budget restraints. How about urging the Hawaii County Council to pass a 3.5% increase in property taxes with it dedicated to a Violent Crime Reduction Fund? The police department can tap that fund through grants so long as it is going directly to hiring more police dedicated to violent crime reduction through patrol, investigation and apprehension. That’s basically the people putting their money where their mouth is.

I know it’s easy to complain and much harder to act, but there are times when the people need to act and stop complaining.

[james weatherford]

Bob,
Please refer to the exact place in the State Constitution about Police Chief.
Littering v murder? where did that come from?



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[amf217]

I agree that protection of life and property should be the #1 priority for every law enforcement agency, if your's doesn't have replace whom ever is in-charge NOW! Oh Yea I am a retired PO-PO, If the majority voted for it do it period! Citizen initiative can be a nightmare when over used, ask Florida. Example the bullet train, billion dollar+ C.I. that would have killed the state and had to be repealed.

[Bob Orts]

If you worked as a LEO maybe you can shed some light on this using your knowledge. There are 500 sworn officers encompassing all ranks from officer to chief. Those 500 must handle all duties of sworn officers from patrol, investigation, administration, detention and special duty such as airports. Given the size of the island (2,000+ sq miles), and the geographical layout (donut) with several major disjointed centers of congestion, how many officers at any given time would most likely be available to patrol the Puna District and let’s say an area such as HPP?

I strongly doubt the Police don’t consider the protection of life and property as their number one priority. I believe the perception comes from there not being enough sworn officers to adequately do the job, so naturally the people think the police have other priorities. If you read some of the post you’ll see people calling for the police to be proactive in property crimes. Yet those same people in another thread are calling for the police to stop doing what they are doing and do more traffic enforcement. And in another post they are saying the police need to concentrate on violent crimes. Everyone wants the police to be doing specific things based on what the topic is. But combined, the fact remains there is not enough funding to provide adequate police coverage for all the priorities everyone wants when they want it.

Lots of talk about what the police should be doing but squat about how to fund it

quote:

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Originally posted by amf217

Citizen initiative can be a nightmare when over used, ask Florida.

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Hawaii County initiative isn’t that bad because it’s not an absolute referendum vote. The steps places the referendum before the County Council to work on before going to the people. This gives everyone enough time to work through the “politics” and “influence” that can cause an initiative to be about “A” to the public but “Z” in the initiative.

[james weatherford]

quote:

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Originally posted by james weatherford

Bob,
Please refer to the exact place in the State Constitution about Police Chief.
Littering v murder? where did that come from?



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

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James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Bob Orts]

James, do you understand the concept of superior standing? By that I mean a Constitutional statement of superior authority over local rule? If not, it simply goes like this: a constitutional statement that a power is granted to a lesser authority so long as that power does not provide a superior authority over the granted rights of citizens and their constitutional protection. So, if the people of a given local are secure in a right, no local decision can supersede that ultimate right and lessen the constitutional protection provided.

(FYI, remember last May when Ashida raised a cautionary note about the legal ability of the government to mandate priorities of the PD)