I would like to use this week’s column to bring you up to speed on the recent conferences I was fortunate enough to attend. Criminal Intelligence Conference There is still grave concern about the trafficking of drugs and cock fighting
I would like to use this week’s column to bring you up to speed on the recent conferences I was fortunate enough to attend.
Criminal Intelligence Conference
There is still grave concern about the trafficking of drugs and cock fighting throughout the state of Hawai‘i. Crystal methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine remain the drugs of choice. We are also beginning to see an increase in the availability of cocaine.
Contrary to popular belief, cock fighting is not confined to Kaua‘i, or any one island. O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island have their share of events, which appear to have ties to organized crime.
KPD is aware of the participants and have been gathering intelligence from reliable informants on where these events are taking place. Why am I putting this in print? Because these crooks need to know that they can’t hide. And sooner or later they will be arrested (again) and convicted.
Don’t even try to convince me that cock fighting is a cultural event. It is brutal, cruel and illegal. You don’t have to look far in the past of mankind to know that human sacrifices were also part of our experience and at one time culturally and religiously accepted. Thank heaven we’ve evolved.
Law Enforcement Officials Association
Discussions centered on the role of the media and its relationship to law enforcement with respect recent and past cases of notoriety that included the Laci Peterson murder, Kobe Bryant trial alleging sexual assault, and the Green River Killings in which Gary Ridway after his arrest claimed to have killed 80 to 90 women over a period of 20 years.
Interestingly, most of the problems law enforcement faced were not with the local media; it was with the national media because they did not have a vested interest in the local community and did not have to establish long-lasting relationships. Often the national media would come into a small town, such as Eagle Colorado (Kobe Bryant trial), create havoc, utilize their resources and then leave.
Presenters also talked about the brutality and violent nature of the Tijuana Cartel in Mexico, also known as the Arellano Felix Organization. Their calling card is to murder anyone who stands in the way of their drug distribution organization. No one is off limits to this organization, including political officials, prosecutors, law enforcement, military, media, women, children, Americans — absolutely no one.
In the coming weeks, I’ll share more with you.
There is just one more thing I would like to mention. Last month there was an incident involving Kaleo Martin in Kilauea in which a Taser was used to incapacitate him because of his violent behavior. While I cannot go into detail about this investigation, I can tell you that the situation may have been much more serious than it already was if the Taser was not deployed.
Kudos to the officers on the scene, and the a big mahalo to our under recognized dispatchers who were our vital communication link.
In closing, a few police officers and I recently had a friendly 32-mile bicycle competition. It wasn’t so much about winning as it was about fellowship and teamwork. It was fun day, and I am proud to say that these officers are in great physical shape.
Who won? They did, but I gave it my best shot. Wait till next year.
• Darryl Perry is the chief of police at the Kaua‘i Police Department. Send your comments or questions to dperry@kauai.gov
