KAILUA-KONA Public disclosure of the names of officers discharged or suspended from a county police department could come as early as 2021.
KAILUA-KONA — Public disclosure of the names of officers discharged or suspended from a county police department could come as early as 2021.
The date was set during House Bill 285’s final committee hearing last week in Honolulu when the Senate Committee on Judiciary took up the measure that, if enacted into law, would require Hawaii’s four county police chiefs to disclose in annual reports to the state Legislature the identity of an officer upon an officer’s suspension or discharge from a county police department.
Currently, the reports outline misconduct, discipline and whether the grievance procedure has concluded, however, there’s no disclosure of identity.
The Committee on Judiciary voted 3-1 to pass the measure with amendments with Oahu Democratic Sens. Karl Rhoads and Mike Gabbard voting “yes,” Sen. Glenn Wakai (D-Oahu) voting “yes” with reservations, and Sen. Kurt Fevella (R-Oahu) voting no. Excused was Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (D-Oahu).
The amendments, said committee chair Rhoads, were prospective only, setting applicability dates for sections two and three of the bills.
Section two would require disclosure of identity upon the police officer’s suspension or discharge in the 2021 annual report to the Legislature and each year thereafter. Section three would require disclosure of a suspended officer’s name if the suspension occurs March 1, 2020, or thereafter.
House Bill 285 goes for a third reading today on the Senate floor.
A successful floor vote sends the bill back to the House.
Good bill to hold accountability. This is a much needed bill for checks and balances. The state of Hawaii and the counties have covered up so many un-becoming and worst crimes committed by those who wear the uniform. The public has the right to know what their tax dollars are performing. This is a bill that’s over 40 years overdue. If they had this bill back 40 years ago the public would not have such serious trust issues with public safety officers.