Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud. - Helen Dyer

1. Maui County Police Commission
Maximizing Strengths of Members – Community Voices Represented
Los Angeles Board of Commissioners - A Guide
Maui County Police Commission - 2021
<https://www.mauicounty.gov/234/Police-Commission>
The Police Commission is made up of nine individuals appointed by the Mayor and confirmed
by the County Council. All members serve staggered terms of five years, volunteering their
services and receiving no compensation. The commission elects its own chair and vice chair
each year from among its members.
The Police Commission:
 Prepares and submits to the Mayor a request for an annual appropriation for the operation
of the department,
 Appoints the Police Chief,
 Receives, reviews, and investigates charges brought forth by the public against the conduct
of the department or any of its members, and submits a written report of its findings and
recommendations to the Chief of Police for disposition.
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The Function and Role of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners
<https://www.lapdonline.org/police_commission/content_basic_view/900>
The Board of Police Commissioners, originally created in the 1920's, is comprised of five
civilians who donate their time to the City while maintaining their professional careers. They
are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The Commissioners serve a
maximum of two five-year terms. The Commissioners routinely spend 25-50 hours per week
on Commission business, and serve as the citizens' voice in police affairs and as a means of
ensuring more responsive and effective City government.
The Commissioners' concerns are reflective of the community-at-large, and their priorities
include implementing recommended reforms, improving service to the public by the
Department, reducing crime and the fear of crime, and initiating, implementing and supporting
community policing programs.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has appointed the following Commissioners:
President Eileen Decker <https://www.lapdonline.org/police_commission/comm_bio_view/64785>
Commissioner Dale Bonner <https://www.lapdonline.org/police_commission/comm_bio_view/64391>
Commissioner William J. Briggs, II <https://lapdonline.org/police_commission/comm_bio_view/67108>
Commissioner Maria Lou Calanche <https://www.lapdonline.org/police_commission/comm_bio_view/66978>
Commissioner Steve Soboroff <https://lapdonline.org/police_commission/comm_bio_view/54346>
The Board holds meetings every Tuesday, normally at 9:30 a.m. The meetings follow a
published agenda consisting of various routine items of concern to the Department, as well as
policy matters that may be of concern to the community. Each agenda includes a period for
public comment, during which any member of the public may speak for up to two minutes on
any topic within the Commission's jurisdiction. [Maui Police Commission meets monthly]

2. The state's Uniform Crime Report for 2019 has been released, showing a double digit decrease in
index crimes in Maui County over the past decade. Police say Maui County's total index crime
rate in 2019 was the lowest on record since the state began collecting data in 1975.
During the past 10 years, the population of Maui County increased +8.5%, and the total number
of reported Index Crimes decreased -17.2%, including a -20.5% decline in property crimes;
however, violent crimes increased +52.2% over the same period. The data was compiled by the
state Attorney General's Office.
According to the report, violent crimes accounted for 8.3% or 449 of all index crimes in 2019;
and property crimes accounted for nearly 92% with 4,984 incidents last year.
The number of reported crimes decreased for four Index Crime categories in 2019 from year
before levels: murder (1 case), -80%; rape (110 incidents reported), -3.5%; burglary (577
incidents), -23.2%; and motor vehicle theft (661 cases), -4.6%. The number of reported crimes
increased for five Index Crime categories from the pervious year: robbery (67 cases), +26.4%;
aggravated assault (271 cases), +3%; theft (3,746 incidents), +2.9%; and arson (128 cases),
+4.9%.
Of the 67 robberies reported, the data shows 12% (8 incidents) involved firearms and 9% (6
incidents) involved knives or cutting instruments.
Source: Maui Crime Over 10 Years: Violent Crime Up 52%; Property Crime Down 20% By Maui Now,
June 3, 2020 <https://mauinow.com/2020/06/03/maui-crime-over-10-years-violent-crime-up-52-property-crime-down-20/>
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Crime falls during pandemic - Honolulu police, officials expect a surge as restrictions continue to ease
By Peter Boylan, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 20, 2021
<https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/06/20/hawaii-news/crime-falls-during-covid-19-police-urge-vigilance/>
Heidi Tsuneyoshi, chairwoman of the Honolulu City Council's Public Safety Committee, said
police face unprecedented challenges and need community support and partnerships. Putting
more officers, visibly, into communities, restarting neighborhood watches and community
policing programs are critical to empowering citizens to look out for one another while
supporting law enforcement efforts to keep them safe.
“We have to focus on supporting … each other at every level. We need to get boots on the
ground and get back to community policing and neighborhood watches to make sure we
focus attention on what's going on so we can see any spikes or increases in real time.”
[Emphasis Supplied]