Public Safety
Department
may be split

Lingle supports a bill separating
the prisons from law enforcement

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By B.J. Reyes
Associated Press

The Department of Public Safety would be split into two agencies, one for law enforcement the other for corrections, under a proposal approved Friday by two House committees.

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Gov. Linda Lingle also backs the measure, Senate Bill 1393 Senate Draft 2, saying the department's two core divisions have different priorities and should be handled as such.

"After having much discussion with the sheriffs and with the corrections department, it's become very clear that what we need to do is to separate the two departments," said George Lindsey, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

The bill would create a Department of Law Enforcement and rename Public Safety the Department of Corrections. The proposal also would transfer Department of Education after-hours security contracts and library security functions to the new Law Enforcement Department.

The Honolulu Police Department testified in support of the bill but raised concerns that it could lead to duplication of services.

"There could be jurisdictional disputes," said Maj. William Chur.

Lindsey said more study was needed, but added that he envisioned a situation where sheriff's duties might be increased to the benefit of police departments.

"The sheriff's department would be able to assume some of the responsibilities that are overburdening the police department, thereby allowing the police department to spend more time and attention to our communities, neighborhoods and this ever-escalating problem we have with drugs," he said.

Lindsey noted that the state was seeking the Legislature's support for the bill with the understanding that no funds would be sought for the time being.

"We cannot afford to do what we want to do now," he said. "We're not really looking for the budget to complete this transfer now, but we believe it's very important that we start.

"We need the directive to go ahead and do it."

The Senate-approved proposal passed unanimously out of the House committees on Public Safety-Military Affairs and Labor. It now goes to the House Judiciary Committee, where a companion version of the bill has stalled.