Police Chief Darryl Perry has made sweeping changes since taking over the Kaua‘i Police Department in October, and some of his visions will be implemented in the coming months. Perry said Thursday that the KPD will be adding a community
Police Chief Darryl Perry has made sweeping changes since taking over the Kaua‘i Police Department in October, and some of his visions will be implemented in the coming months.
Perry said Thursday that the KPD will be adding a community communications specialist and an internal affairs unit.
“The PIO (Public Information Officer) position has been approved in our budget for the next fiscal year,” Perry said.
Asst. Chief Gordon Isoda confirmed that the position was authorized for July 1, and that recruiting will begin at that time.
In addition to serving as a spokesperson for the department, the new position will be opening dialogue with community leaders to coordinate joint efforts, Perry said.
Furthermore, the KPD will soon be adding a “pseudo-internal affairs” unit built, at least in part, from the existing Criminal Investigations Bureau.
Perry said that his “wish list” for the department would include a captain to oversee internal affairs and criminal intelligence, a lieutenant and three detectives.
The unit would handle administrative review, facility inspections and criminal investigations of KPD personnel, specifically ensuring that KPD policy and procedures are followed.
According to Perry, the new unit will likely require “really specific training.”
For that reason, the Internal Affairs commander from the Honolulu Police Department will assist Perry’s staff in putting the division together.
“We’re way behind the ball concerning internal affairs,” Perry said. “We should have had this years and years ago.”
