Bill Text: HI HCR43 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requesting An Increased Honolulu Police Department Presence On Oahu's North Shore.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-28 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Souki excused (1). [HCR43 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HCR43-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
43 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING AN INCREASED HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESENCE ON OAHU'S NORTH SHORE.
WHEREAS, Oahu's North Shore is one of the State's most scenic areas and features world-famous beaches, majestic ocean waves, unique restaurants and retail businesses, and a quiet and respectful community; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau estimates that more than half of Oahu's 6,500,000 visitors make the trek to the North Shore at some time during their stay on Oahu; and
WHEREAS, it is important to maintain the safety of North Shore residents, business owners, workers, and patrons as well as to protect their property and possessions and preserve the community-based lifestyle of Oahu's North Shore; and
WHEREAS, residents have reported that crimes such as arson, vandalism, theft, and burglary have sharply increased in the community, making residents feel unsafe and dissuading visitors from visiting the North Shore; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2017, tourists found the body of an elementary school teacher who had been cleaning a rental home on Ke Iki Road near Sunset Beach and five days later a man and a woman were charged with murder, kidnapping, and burglary in connection with her death; and
WHEREAS, according to the latest Honolulu Police Department (HPD) annual reports from 2015 and 2016, there was an increase in the total index crime rate that consists of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft reports in Wahiawa's District 2, which includes the North Shore; and
WHEREAS, the total index crime rate reported for District 2 increased from 2,023 to 2,055 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2015 and 2016, respectively, according to data extrapolated by the Attorney General's Research and Statistics Division; and
WHEREAS, in District 2 from 2015 to 2016, reports of burglary increased from 320 to 359 and auto theft reports increased from 284 to 324; and
WHEREAS, North Shore residents have reported an increase in crime, particularly car break-ins, during the final months of 2017; and
WHEREAS, according an HPD report encompassing January 2018, there were 304 reported crimes, including 65 reports of theft, 96 reports of unauthorized entry into motor vehicles, and 23 reports of burglary in District 2; and
WHEREAS, according to HPD, there were 33 reported incidents relating to burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle from January 29, 2018, through February 11, 2018, in Sector 3 of District 2, identified as the areas of Waialua and the North Shore; and
WHEREAS, while the number of reported incidents within a short period of time is already a concern, total incidence of crime on the North Shore may be even higher as many crimes may not be reported to HPD; and
WHEREAS, members of the North Shore community and area business owners are calling for more police presence in the area, due to concerns about the recent increase in incidence and severity of criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, the North Shore is similar to Waikiki as both districts are frequented by many visitors and have high incidences of property crime; and
WHEREAS, while police have increased patrols and added newly graduated officers to the Waikiki district after a string of crimes in the area in late 2017, a similar HPD enforcement strategy should be implemented on the North Shore to decrease property crime and offenses against visitors and residents; and
WHEREAS, increasing the visible presence of uniformed police officers improves public safety by deterring criminal activity as well as providing more immediate assistance to victims once a crime has been committed; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the Senate concurring, that the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council are strongly urged to allocate more resources to the Honolulu Police Department, for the purpose of increasing visible police presence in, and active patrols of, the North Shore of Oahu; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, the Chair of the Honolulu City Council,
the Chief of the Honolulu Police Department, and the Chair of the North Shore Neighborhood Board.
North Shore on Oahu; Increase Police Presence
