LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department budget for 2012-13 may revert to the previous year, based on vacancies and changed positions. Police Chief Darryl Perry said at Friday’s Kaua‘i Police Commission meeting that the department is below its budget target
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department budget for 2012-13 may revert to the previous year, based on vacancies and changed positions.
Police Chief Darryl Perry said at Friday’s Kaua‘i Police Commission meeting that the department is below its budget target and would likely be returning money that was allotted for positions that went vacant.
The budget reflects the transfer of a personnel clerk position to the newly formed County Human Resources Department. The other changes are from the re-description of two positions, a secretary and a records clerk, to that of identification clerks.
Perry said the mayors office and county finance director have reviewed the 2011-12 budget, and that projections have the department returning $1.2 million for unfilled positions and about $6,000 in equipment purchases that were not made.
The understanding with the mayor was that funding would be available as needs arise, Perry said. Also, Perry said, excessive overtime in the next year could be covered by the unfunded vacancies.
Commissioner Randall Francisco said he was concerned that the budget had no funds requested for training.
Perry replied that there is intended training and that he would follow up to ensure it was funded. He mentioned the department has training incentives for officers to take professional development and other courses created in coordination with the department at Kaua‘i Community College.
The construction of two sub-stations at Waimea and Kawaihau were to be in the budget, but have been left out. Perry said the mayor has agreed to build the substations within the next two years.
The current Kapa‘a substation will close and a temporary substation will be housed at the Kapa‘a armory across from the skate park. Work had been delayed until prohibitive pesticides were removed from soil outside the facility.
“Prior to us moving in we are going to ensure that it is safe,” Deputy Chief Michael Contrades said.
The Aug. 1 move-in date has been changed to sometime in November, according to Contrades. There is still work going on to make the facility disabled-compliant, along with painting and office construction.
KPD will only occupy a portion of the armory, but will have access to classrooms and the open bay area for training and physical fitness. About 29 officers in the Kapa‘a District will occupy the facility but it will also be used for department-wide training and storage.
Perry said the Kawaihau sub-station would have a separate training facility constructed.
Contrades also updated the commissioners on the new KPD Citizens Police Academy, a 13-week program to improve community understanding of police work. There are currently 14 applicants undergoing background checks for the first class, set to start July 1.
The goal is to start a new class every three months, said Contrades. The requirements are to attend at least 11 of the 13 sessions.
Perry said the academy is based on the Honolulu program that has been run successfully for many years. In Honolulu the academies have branched out to focus on specific areas, as they would like to see happen on Kaua‘i.
The participants range in age from 18 to 66. They will meet once a week for three-hour meetings and attend two Saturday field events.
It’s not all classroom work, as there are station tours and a mock crime scene investigation to illustrate how basic investigations are conducted. There will be an opportunity to drive a police cruiser and a weapons safety class at the range.
Participants must be at least 18 years old and have a valid drivers license. They must not have any prior felonies or convictions that would prohibit the use of a firearm, such as for driving under the influence or domestic violence.
There will be a course evaluation but the participants will not be tested or graded. The experience is not to be confused with a police reserve program after which graduates can perform policing duties.
“It’s more of an information type program,” Contrades said. “It’s an overview and we are giving them an opportunity to see what officers do and why we do it.”
Contrades said the department encourages anyone to apply online for the program. Go to the KPD Web site at kauai.gov, click on “police” and find the application link under the Community Relations section.
Employees honored
The Kaua‘i Police Department also honored Officers Anthony Abalos and Darin Irimata as Employees of the Month for June.
Sometime after midnight on May 12, the officers were making routine checks in the area of Second Ditch. They recognized a wanted individual with a companion in a vehicle and noticed drug paraphernalia while conducting an arrest.
After the officers seized the vehicle, a K9 dog indicated the odor of narcotics and a search warrant was executed. A team of officers conducted a search that produced more than $1,000 in cash, an electronic scale, distribution supplies, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and more than 20 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $2,500.
The routine encounter resulted in 18 felony charges being filed against the suspects.
The commendation read that Abalos and Irimata exercised due diligence and dedication to public safety when they recovered a substantial quantity of illicit and deadly drugs before damage could be done to the Kaua‘i community.
Other business
The items that moved into executive session included a May 3 communiqué from Perry to the Police Commission, concurring with the commission’s findings that there may be “preponderance of evidence to prove the allegations related to complaint KPC 2012-08.” The complaint alleges that an officer entered a residence without permission.
The commissioners and Perry had high remarks about the Hawai‘i State Police Commissioners Conference on Maui on May 24-25. They expressed a desire to bring some of the speakers to Kaua‘i.
Perry mentioned a new initiative regarding police internal relations. He is going to talk with the union about putting together a mediation program for officers when it wouldn’t be appropriate to take a conflict to the level of an higher complaint.
