Contract adds
police to
airport patrol

The two-year deal also spreads
out overtime payments more evenly

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Police and state transportation officials have negotiated a two-year contract that will allow a police patrol unit to continue providing security at Honolulu Airport.

"We don't expect any problems," police Chief Lee Donohue said about City Council approval of the contract. "I'm happy it's out of the way so we can move on."

The new contract calls for the addition of five positions, increasing the number of sergeants from three to five and the total number of officers assigned to the airport unit to 27.

The move is designed to spread out overtime payments more evenly among the staff.

A major concern of the state was that high overtime payments to only a few were being used to boost their "high-three" salaries for retirement benefits.

"We're not going to save tons of money since it's a wash over the long term," airports administrator Jerry Matsuda said. "What we'll be getting is better service. The new positions will give us a fresher police force."

It cost the state $1.946 million last year for the airport unit.

The budget for this year is $1.895 million, Matsuda said.

Donohue noted that police were told to cut the airport staff from 32 positions to 25 in 1996, and that contributed to the high overtime costs.

"What they're getting with the 27 officers is the support of the whole department," Donohue said, referring to resources such as communications and investigative services.

The new contract runs from April 1998 to April 2000.