LIHU‘E — Graduates of the inaugural Kaua‘i Citizens Police Academy received congratulations from city leaders Tuesday in a ceremony at Ka Hale Maka‘i o Kaua‘i, Lihu‘e headquarters. Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said the graduates are now a bridge between
LIHU‘E — Graduates of the inaugural Kaua‘i Citizens Police Academy received congratulations from city leaders Tuesday in a ceremony at Ka Hale Maka‘i o Kaua‘i, Lihu‘e headquarters.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said the graduates are now a bridge between the police department and the community. He commended them for perseverance when pushed outside of their comfort zones, and for developing an appreciation for officers who risk their lives every day for the safety of the community.
“Now you have a rare insight into the culture of law enforcement and the responsibility of our officers,” Carvalho said. “Now you hold the responsibility in some way or another to share KPD’s commitment to a create a better and safer Kaua‘i.”
The 13-week program began on July 11, and combined classroom instruction with first-hand field experience into the day-to-day work of a police officer. Participants described it as a hands-on look into the department and the courts.
County Council Chair Jay Furfaro said volunteerism is difficult to measure because there is no cost to it and no premiums but it is the spirit of ones who contributes to our community.
“We couldn’t do it without you,” he said, and thanked the group for upholding KPD values of “service, respect and fairness.”
Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry said he appreciated the sacrifices to participate and said they are paving the way for several other police-community programs.
“This was the first step and it was a very successful step,” Perry said.
The participants now understand that officers put in long hours and are on duty during holidays and miss many special family events. The participants now understand that officers are never certain if any given situation is harmless or potentially lethal, he added.
Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades said the academy was a condensed version of police recruit training and that classes often ran longer than planned. They are tweaking the second academy to avoid overwhelming the participants.
“We know they are here on their own time and we appreciate their being here to learn about the department,” Contrades said.
People hold incorrect assumptions about police work, partly based on movies and television, Contrades said. People don’t realize there are many hours of report writing and ongoing training.
“I was the same way growing up, he added. “Its not all car chases and gun battles.”
The participants go back into the community and hopefully share what they have learned to correct these misperceptions, he said.
Kaua‘i Police Commission Chair Ernest Kanekoa Jr., said the academy goal is to enable citizens to better understand the ethics, standards of conduct, training, investigations and the challenges facing the special services teams.
“I doubt that any of you had time to be bored and it’s hoped by all of us that you’ve gained insight and understanding and that you share our respect for our KPD officers,” Kanekoa said.
Class highlights included live firing of police weapons at Kipu Pistol Range, police ride alongs, investigating crime scenes and domestic violence disputes.
Bobby Thompson of Kapa‘a, a police cadet applicant, hopes to join the next Police Academy class in December. He said the Citizen’s Academy offered good insight into police work and the duties of officers.
“It gave us a better understanding of why officers practice protocols in any given situation to protect themselves and the public,” Thompson said.
Brycen Compos of Lihu‘e said he gained more knowledge on the inner workings of the police department. His father is a retired officer, and his brother is active. His sister works in dispatch.
They never talked about their work at home and he said the academy offered a chance to learn about the work they do.
“Every instructor that came into class gave us a wealth of knowledge and an inside look of operations inside the department,” Compos said.
Asked what his favorite moment was in the class, Compos said that driving a police car on a closed range was a great experience. The squad is larger than most vehicles but is also more responsive, he said.
Dustin Rivera of Koloa enjoyed the ride along and being present as police officers pulled over speeders and responded to an accident. The radar is very accurate, he said.
The class is helping him to decide if he wants to leave a good job and pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. There is a lot to consider, he said.
“I always wanted to be a police officer and this inspired me to look further,” said Rivera. “I am glad I took this class.”
Dave Thompson said he learned that the six months an officer spends in training from the academy to the beat costs about $140,000. Then they are prepared with their on-the-job training, he said.
“What I most got out of it is how well they were trained and how they were set up to succeed in their training,” Thompson said.
County Councilwoman Nadine Nakamura had a similar reflection on the academy as a way to better understand how the police department uses its $25 million annual budget.
“It’s a huge chunk of our county’s budget and I think it is important that we all understand what that money is used for and how they keep our community safe,” Nakamura said.
If the academy participants take what they have learned and become public safety advocates in the community, then the program will succeed in educating the public about police work, she said.
“I am excited about this program and I think I may need to be in the next class,” she added.
KPD worked in collaboration with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and provided an overview of police-prosecutor relations and state courts.
Teresa Stafford of Kalaheo, said the highlight of the academy was a mock trial where she played the role of a victim-witness. She is considering law school herself and enjoyed being questioned on the stand by attorneys.
Stafford has a criminal justice degree, but said the classes taught her more about the unpredictable daily life of a police officer.
“In school they teach you the logistical stuff and the laws, but when it comes down to it, every day is a new experience,” she said. “You never know what is going to happen.”
Colin Jackson of Kapa‘a said his work as an auto body technician brings him in contact with police to repair squad cars and in dealings with insurance and police accident reports. He said this was a way to learn more about the department and assist the community.
He said the class taught him a lot about how the average citizen ca help make a difference in crime prevention. He said that residents are in a position to know when something is not right and to report it.
“Maintaining a presence in the neighborhood is important,” he said.
Jackson said that while at the shooting range, officers fitted pistols with paintball pellets and created a shoot/don’t shoot exercise for participants.
In a moment’s notice they turned to find an officer holding a knife, and another quickly pulled out a cell phone. The officer with the phone was loud and yelling, while the officer holding the knife was still and silent.
“Of course, about half of the class shot the officer with the cell phone,” Jackson said.
He said they had a good laugh but also learned what an officer goes through when they walk into domestic violence situation, a possible burglary setting and a variety of situations.
“The person screaming might not be the real problem,” he said. “It might be the person who is standing there very calmly.”
Ongoing registration for future academies is available online at www.kauai.gov/police. There is no fee for the program but space is limited. Contact Lt. Paul Applegate at 241-1606 for more information.
Requirements are that applicants be Kaua‘i residents, at least 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and not been convicted of a felony, DUI, domestic violence offense or petty misdemeanor within the past five years.
