Police union’s complaint on cameras gets hearing

The Hawaii Labor Relations Board has scheduled a two-day hearing to address a complaint by the police union against Kauai County over the use of body cameras by police officers.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers filed a complaint in January against Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Police Chief Darryl Perry and the county. The hearing will be held Thursday and Friday in the labor board’s hearing room at 830 Punchbowl St.

SHOPO’s complaint came a month after the Police Department announced its patrol officers would begin using Axon Flex body cameras. The program would be the first of its kind in the state.

The police union and Perry have opposing positions on the implementation of the program, with the union insisting implementation requires a “mutual consent” agreement.

“Body-worn cameras constitute a condition of work, and are thus, necessarily a subject of mandatory bargaining that requires the mutual consent of both parties,” SHOPO said in its complaint.

SHOPO President Tenari Maafala has said the union fully supports the use of body cameras for patrol officers, but that using the equipment falls under the category of working conditions, which require a supplemental agreement between the Police Department and the union.

Perry said the use of body cameras is similar to existing programs for police vehicle cameras and Tasers with built-in cameras.

Prohibited practice complaint by SHOPO