LIHU‘E — Budget constraints might put an end to Kaua‘i Police Commission members traveling to off-island law-enforcement conferences, commissioners said. And that would be a bad thing, said Commissioner Thomas Iannucci, as attendance at these conferences has made him a
LIHU‘E — Budget constraints might put an end to Kaua‘i Police Commission members traveling to off-island law-enforcement conferences, commissioners said.
And that would be a bad thing, said Commissioner Thomas Iannucci, as attendance at these conferences has made him a better commissioner.
The commissioners discussed off-island conferences scheduled for later this year at their regular May monthly meeting Friday at the Council Chambers of Lihu‘e’s Historic County Building.
Even with two free slots in the Homeland Security Conference scheduled for O‘ahu in mid-November, there may not be enough funds to allow all seven commissioners to attend.
“We have to look carefully at the budget so that everyone can go,” Iannucci said.
At conferences like the Hawai‘i Police Commission Conference held on Kaua‘i last month, commissioners and other law-enforcement personnel come together, discuss budget concerns and other common problems, find out unique and shared concerns of other commissions and departments, and bring back information that makes all who attend better commissioners and officers, Iannucci said.
Commission Chair Russell Grady said he would meet with KPD Chief Darryl Perry and Deputy Chief Mark Begley to discuss funding options.
If commissioners decide to skip the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement in Austin, Texas, in late October and early December, the $3,200 budgeted for that conference could be used to send more commissioners to the in-state conferences, Iannucci said.
“Budget adjustments” should be considered to allow all seven commissioners to go to the Hawai‘i State Law Enforcement Officials Association conference on Maui in September, Iannucci said. “Get creative.”
Commission Vice Chair Charles Fulks Jr. agreed, saying training funds or other sources should be found to allow commissioners to travel to these conferences.
Iannucci called the Homeland Security Conference in Honolulu in November “another outstanding conference,” and Grady suggested fellow commissioners check their schedules now to determine availability for the HSLEOA gathering, the Homeland Security Conference, and the NACOLE conference.
On another matter, Iannucci said Perry has gone from the junior-most chief in the state, in terms of time in the chief’s office, to the senior-most chief, with the changing of the guards on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.
Another agenda item, establishing protocol for condolences, was discussed by Commissioner Charles Iona, who said that at least one member of the commission should attend every memorial service for former KPD officers, representing the commission.
“I just want to make sure we’re properly represented” in paying respects to families of officers who have passed away, Iona said.
Begley said someone at KPD can notify commissioners whenever a KPD officer passes away, and sometimes families ask for a KPD honor guard to be present as well.
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