Report Title:

Public Safety; Sheriff Division

Description:

Makes appropriation to department of public safety for expenditures by the sheriff division for personnel, vehicles, and equipment.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3217

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SHERIFF DIVISION of the department of public safety.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The sheriff division of the department of public safety is vested by law with critical responsibilities to protect the public. Section 353C-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, defines the responsibilities of the director of public safety. Section 353C-2 states in relevant part:

"[T]he director may:

(1) Preserve the public peace, prevent crime, detect and arrest offenders against the law, protect the rights of persons and property, and enforce and prevent violation of all laws and administrative rules of the State as the director deems to be necessary or desirable or upon request, to assist other state officers or agencies that have primary administrative responsibility over specific subject matters or programs;

(2) Train, equip, maintain, and supervise the force of public safety officers, including law enforcement and correctional personnel, and other employees of the department . . . ."

The sheriff division's mission is to provide law enforcement services at state courts, the state capitol, the governor's residence, state buildings and offices, the Honolulu International Airport; serve warrants; and transport persons in custody to the courts.

The legislature finds that the sheriff division has increased its workload and obligations in the interests of protecting the public safety, which requires more manpower and motor vehicles.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to the sheriff division.

PART I

ADDITIONAL POSITIONS

SECTION 2. The Honolulu Police Department has recently instituted a policy of not responding to incidences occurring on certain state property within the jurisdiction of the department of public safety, which has resulted in increased responsibilities for the department. The sheriff division has requested additional permanent positions for the island of Oahu, as follows:

(1) Five clerk-dispatcher I positions for the communications unit. The current staffing consists of two clerk dispatchers. The dispatchers are responsible for prioritizing calls and for dispatching deputy sheriffs. They provide a critical information link to deputies in the field. The Honolulu Police Department refers these calls to the sheriff division for response. The unexpected change in circumstances requires the sheriff division to maintain clerk-dispatcher staffing on a 24/7 basis;

(2) Six deputy sheriff II positions for capitol patrol. The capitol patrol section is primarily responsible for law enforcement and protecting life and property at the state capitol and governor's residence, including responding to calls for service, conducting criminal investigations, handling citizen complaints, and being on call for possible disturbances on the property; and

(3) Five deputy sheriff II positions for the district patrol section. The district patrol section includes the judiciary buildings and other state facilities assigned to the department of public safety's jurisdiction, including the functions of providing escort and security to state officials, visiting dignitaries, and prisoners.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for additional permanent positions for the sheriff division for the Island of Oahu, as specified in section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the sheriff division of the department of public safety for purposes of this Act.

PART II

ADDITIONAL VEHICLES

SECTION 4. The average age of the vehicles in the sheriff division fleet is seven to ten years, and many have in excess of 100,000 miles. Due to age, wear, and tear, major mechanical break downs occur frequently. Over the past year, about $9,000 was spent on repairs. While this figure does not appear excessive, it is a sign of increased maintenance demands. Of particular concern is the breakdown on the highway of a vehicle while en route transporting a felon. More importantly, deferring small maintenance repairs inevitably leads eventually to major mechanical failures. The sheriff division has requested the following additional vehicles:

(1) Twenty-six replacement vehicles, as follows:

(A) Six police package sedans for the district court section;

(B) Two police package, twelve passenger vans for the district court section;

(C) Two police package sedans for the circuit court section;

(D) Seven police package sedans for the warrants section;

(E) Six police package sport utility vehicles for the canine section; and

(F) Three police package sedans for the capitol patrol section.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for additional vehicles for the sheriff division, as specified in section 4 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the sheriff division of the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION III

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 6. (a) Current radios assigned to the capitol patrol section are a VHF system, which is only operable for a short distance within the downtown area. Without the Honolulu Police Department's assistance, the span of communication of the sheriff division needs to be island-wide to ensure timely response, particularly for criminal matters. Efficient radio communications provide constant updated information on the location of the officer, the situation at the scene of the service call or crime scene, and the ability to call for back-up in dangerous or life-threatening situations. The sheriff division has requested fourteen Motorola UHF portable radios.

(b) Without assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the sheriff division is forced become crime scene investigators. Evidence recovery kits are critical to detect, gather, and preserve evidence, including photos, fingerprints, DNA, weapons, and other evidence. The sheriff division has requested three evidence recovery kits.

(c) As a major component of the state capitol's security system, it is vital that the cameras operate properly. The current two cameras, one located at the chamber level access door and the other near the governor's office, need to be replaced. The sheriff division has requested two PTZ closed circuit television cameras for security surveillance monitoring within the state capitol building.

(d) The department of accounting and general services recently installed a digital closed circuit television system at the governor's residence and Washington Place. A computer is necessary to provide remote monitoring of these cameras. The sheriff division has requested one Pentium III class desktop computer.

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for new equipment for the sheriff division, as specified in section 6 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the sheriff division of the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

PART IV

SECTION 8. The sums appropriated by this Act shall not be allocated to any division of the department of public safety other than the sheriff division.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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