No overtime
puts squeeze
on officers

The HPD used up its annual overtime
budget in less than eight months

By Jaymes Song
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu police officer Anthony Shimizu is looking for a second job as a security officer because earning overtime pay isn't an option for him right now.

Shimizu earns about $30,000 annually as a second-year officer and depended on overtime money to support his wife and five children.

But the Honolulu Police Department exhausted its $10 million annual overtime budget in less than eight months and, instead of overtime pay, officers and civilian employees as of Feb. 18 have been receiving compensatory time.

"Comp time doesn't pay the bills," Shimizu said. "And comp time can't buy any groceries."

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers says eliminating paid overtime violates Hawaii law, and employees must get cash unless they agree to take compensatory time off.

It is advising all members to request the cash.

"They can request it, but there's no monetary funds available," said Human Resources Division Capt. Glen Kajiyama.

Meanwhile, the chief's office is declining comment until negotiations with SHOPO are completed, said police spokeswoman Jean Motoyama.

The department has paid $11.5 million in overtime so far this fiscal year. According to police finance officials, this is not the first time funds have dried up.

In the last fiscal year, for instance, the department's overtime budget was $8.98 million, and it spent a little more than $12 million.

The department was able to route money from other areas, mostly from the salaries for vacant positions.

"We always ask for more, but we take what they give us," said Maj. Gordon Young, commander of the Finance Division.

Lt. Ray Ancheta said overtime was the "only thing keeping (officers) in the ball park" financially, and worries its elimination might cause more officers to leave HPD, which is already 200 officers short.

Maj. Boise Correa said several officers are seeking special duty or second jobs to make ends meet.

"It was thought that if you work hard, you're going to make the OT," he said.

While morale and bank accounts may suffer, both SHOPO and police administrators say they have not seen a change in the quality of police work since the suspension began.

Sgt. Wes Wakui of District 8 in Waianae agrees, even though the number of officers on the road in his district -- which SHOPO claims has one of the most severe manpower shortages -- has been cut from one for each of its 18 beats to 14 overall.

"They just have to carry the workload and cover more ground," Wakui said. "The calls are stacked up."

Officials said overtime is inherent to police work.

Officers may make an arrest late in their shift and need an extra hour or two to complete paperwork, or could be called into court on days off.

"The officers are not based upon greed," Ancheta said. "They are based on the community's need for police service."

With the situation, officers are snatching any opportunity for special duty -- police work performed outside normal hours, like traffic control and police escorts, that pays $20 an hour.

"Before it was first come, first served," Shimizu said. "Now, it's dog eat dog."

Department officials are advising officers to live within their means.

Recruits are taught money management as part of their police academy training, while veterans are taking similar courses at annual recall-training classes.

And despite the budget problems, Correa generally remains positive about the officers in Honolulu's police force.

"It's just a period of adjustment," he said. "They're loyal soldiers who are committed to the community. Eventually, everything will work out."