LIHU‘E — The Princeville Community Center was standing room only with about 20 percent raising their hands as burglary victims. The latest Public Safety Town Hall on Thursday proved to be the liveliest with more than one hundred people expressing
LIHU‘E — The Princeville Community Center was standing room only with about 20 percent raising their hands as burglary victims.
The latest Public Safety Town Hall on Thursday proved to be the liveliest with more than one hundred people expressing concerns about everything from light sentencing to more police presence.
Burglaries are up 100 percent from last year in Princeville, said Michael Dexter-Smith, treasurer of the Princeville Community Association, who has taken the lead with security strategies. Working closely with police is one part of the solution and becoming more responsible for personal property is another, he said.
“We are getting serious with a six-point plan to join all the areas into a Princeville security zone,” he said. “We are bringing them all together under a security blanket to get a grip on this.”
The big picture is building a greater sense of community and watching out for each other is another, Dexter-Smith said. It can still be a friendly place, but the reality is that when economic conditions are bad and people are under pressure, then crime is up.
“If crime keeps going up, we are going to see a stronger community,” he said. “If it goes down, then we will have to start picking people up to stay involved.”
Several residents expressed frustration that the burglars are known and reported. They are sometimes arrested but are back on the street in short order, they said.
One resident said neighbors are printing out the arrest logs and mug shots of known burglars and posting them on doors and windows to let them know they are on to them.
Others said they were concerned that the number of officers on duty in each district on any given shift was woefully inadequate to respond to crimes.
Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry said the number of arrests in 2011 and 2012 show that police are arresting people, but that they wind up back on the street in short order. He said police are as frustrated as the citizens.
There is a plan for four more beats and to double the number of officers, but recruitment is still a barrier, Perry said.
The public needs to do their part by contacting their elected officials and demanding more police, he added.
Other residents said there is a need for more prisons and rehabilitation.
Perry said drugs are the motive behind most of the burglaries occurring. He said the turnaround is not addressing the core addition issues, and that rehabilitation centers offer a long-term solution.
County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said laws are passed that allows the low-maximum jail terms with probation. When the court doesn’t allow probation then the parole boards have discretion to reduce a sentence, she said.
The public needs to add their voice in opposition with the county attorneys on each island, she said. Contacting the judiciary and elected officials will let them know.
The new courthouse has room for more judges and attorneys to deal with the growth of crime, she said. It is up to the public to demand more appointments.
County Council members KipuKai Kuali‘i and Mel Rapozo were also present.
Rapozo responded to one resident’s concerns about stolen property going though fencers. He said the three pawn shops on the island are regulated to report stolen property against listings.
Assistant Chief Roy Asher said stolen goods are moved online and that jewelry is very difficult to track. Keeping good written records of items are important, he said.
Police Commissioners James O‘Connor and Charles Iona were present. They described the commission as the voice of the people.
Iona said it serves the public by investigating complaints against officers.
He said it depoliticizes the department as a buffer from the administration that appoints the commissioners.
A resident said that gated communities are not the answer but felt camera technology that scan license plates and run them against a database to alert the presence of non-resident vehicles would help neighborhood watches and security.
The series continues in Kapa‘a at day and time to be announced. For more information contact Charles Foster at 241-1729 or cfoster@kauai.gov.
