Kauai officers wearing body cameras as union dispute lingers
LIHUE >> Kauai police officers are the first in the state wearing body cameras as a dispute lingers over whether the union should have gotten final say on the policy.
The Garden Island reports the Kauai Police Department’s 90 patrol units started wearing cameras on patrol Wednesday, after months of negotiating between the department and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
Union president Tenari Maafala says the group should have final say on policies that could impact officer discipline. The dispute centers on contract wording, the difference between “mutual consent” and “meet and confer.”
“First and foremost, we have always been in support of the body cams,” Maafala said. “The policy was never the problem. We’re fine with the policy. We agreed to it.”
Chief Darryl Perry says the union blocked and delayed the implementation of the cameras.
“There was no problem with other technologies,” Perry said. “But with cameras, SHOPO said it has to be mutual consent.”
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County spokeswoman Sarah Blane said last week that it is still possible for the union to file a labor board complaint. Maafala said the complaint is standard practice.
The complaint would not impact the department’s camera use.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s at this juncture,” he said “I respect Chief Perry. But he’s the only chief of police that has chosen to take this route. I don’t know if it’s because he wants this to be his legacy.”
16 responses to “Kauai officers wearing body cameras as union dispute lingers”
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the HPD should have cameras in Honolulu as well.
HPD is getting body cameras. They’re just working out the procedures…same for MPD, and HPD (Hawaii island). Chief Perry just wanted to be first. If the Labor Board rules in favor of SHOPO…the decision to rush it along will look rather silly for the “Chief” there.
honolulu should sit back and observe the first year or so of kauai’s body cam use.
once hidden costs are revealed, department policies on body cam use and video storage and distributions are developed a better idea of initial costs and procedures can be implemented in honolulu.
Storage of data is going to cost. PDs can get Federal grants for cameras, but the data will be a different story. How long you store, another issue. Only two countries can afford, Maui and Honolulu.
Two things: integrity and public-trust. We need the Kauai Chief here on Oahu.
Nope, left here as a major, runs the smallest police dept., highest paid pd, which does the least, runs a foul to his boss the mayor, and challenges the Union, too much controversy.
Integrity? Didn’t he get the Kauai job…but very, very shortly after, when the HPD job opened up put in his application there? What does that say about his loyalty/intergrity…it’s like asking a girl on a date but a prettier girl might have interest so he ditches the first. So the story goes…he “withdrew” from HPD when it became apparent he had no support or shot for it. Oh well, he’s stated he wants to get into politics in the future…guess that’ll be his next shot at a legacy.
Another good reason to get rid of unions. And, I had to belong to one when my employer went to a closed shop as a result of contract negotiations with the represented members of our employee. The employee said that it did not have any money for a pay raise so the union said that they would settle for a closed shop. I was sorry to see senior engineers having to join a union but the alternative, resigning, was not an option after getting half way to retirement.
Easier to just GoPro the choice.
Since when do employees get the final say on anything work related? The public worker unions in this state have corrupted our political system by funding the democratic party of Hawaii. Chief Perry appears to be the only chief with the balls to confront Maafala on the issue.Kealoha is owned and operated by Shopo, for now. With the Mayor publicly abandoning Kealoha,the end is near for him and his crooked wife.Caldwell has decided he doesn’t want to be just a one term mayor and will soon start throwing his liabilities overboard. Prosecutor Kaneshiro should be worried too, he won’t get re-elected either.
Since there were Unions with smart attorneys, contracts that once signed becomes law, and stupid chiefs that are going to tie their city up in unnecessary litigation. He did already with Kauai. That’s the reason he never made Chief under Chiefs Donohue’s administration and left to work in private industry until the Kauai position opened up. The other 3 counties aren’t having problems deploying their cameras.
Caldwell’s liabilities aren’t SHOPO or Chief Kealoha, it’s the Rail, Homeless, and increaded property taxed.
Why they get something to hide?
Body cams are good. Always curious about those fist fights with cops in the news. Who provoked who? Videos don’t lie. What are the real reasons cops are against it? Same reasons they refuse to allow the public to video them in action with their smart phones? Camera shy?
Yes, we put them in our work areas, saved lots of employees jobs. Gave our attorneys ammunition to fight back. We also found out it is great intelligence tool. We share data with other agencies, amazing what we see, especially in the background. Cops coming to your house, running camera, it will be a treasure drove for other agencies, especially if they give it to you through a federal grant. Who lives there, what is there, how your house is made….surrounding neighborhood. You know what else is going to come out, ” I never meant to kill him, just scare him…!” or “…but I only had two..”….”I WEN CRACK’UM CAUSE HE WEN START IT! ” all on camera.
Start worrying when the police don’t want you to see them at work.