HGEA complains about
shortage of sheriffs’ vests

Union officials are questioning why Honolulu-based deputy sheriffs had to ask a private organization for bulletproof vests when they should have been provided by the state Department of Public Safety.

Tomorrow officials for the Hawaii Government Employees Association will receive the last of 40 vests being donated by the United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association. The nonprofit organization, according to its mission statement, "awards needed equipment free of charge ... to underfunded county law enforcement agencies."

But while the organization's donation is appreciated, HGEA officials said they made such a request to the state after the shooting death of Honolulu police officer Glen Gaspar on March 4, 2003.

"I as an agent sent out several requests ... and it went completely unanswered," said HGEA union agent Jeff Morgan, who represents state sheriffs. "We said we were going to tell our people not to report to work.

"They need that body armor."

Though state sheriffs have tactical body armor they can wear over their uniforms during raids and other special operations, the concern was that they did not have daily-wear bulletproof vests, which can be worn under their uniforms much like those worn by Honolulu Police Department officers.

According to a news release yesterday, HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata said the "state Department of Public Safety has failed to act on requests from deputy sheriffs and HGEA for daily-wear bulletproof vests. As a result, some deputy sheriffs have resorted to buying their own vests, paying as much as $1,000."

"State deputy sheriffs face life-or-death situations every day when they go after fugitives to serve felony arrest warrants."

In response to Okata's statements, Public Safety Director John Peyton announced yesterday that the department is buying 250 fitted bulletproof vests for the Sheriff Division. Peyton said more than $25,000 in funds to buy the vests were provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"The donation of only 40 bulletproof vests to this department by the United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association is just another step in our long association with that group," said Peyton. "However, the statement by HGEA's executive director that this department has failed to act on requests to purchase vests is not true.

"We have been working diligently to get this federal funding ... We will not let the safety of our deputy sheriffs be compromised in any way."

But Morgan said that Peyton wanted to "take them to the labor board" when the HGEA suggested that deputy sheriffs walk off the job because they did not have their vests. And, he said, the state has "had the Homeland Security money for a year now."

"Shame on them ... These are not the typical HGEA employees we're talking about," Morgan said. "They have the authority to take a life and could have their lives taken from them."

Some deputy sheriffs who did not want to be identified said they serve about 60 warrants a month, about 90 percent of them for felonies.

In his statement, Peyton said deputy sheriffs will be getting their state-issued vests in about a month because they must be measured for size.

"Getting life-saving vests for all of our sheriff deputies has been a No. 1 priority for this department," said Peyton. "We appreciate Department of Homeland Security providing Hawaii with the funds to purchase vests."

This is not the first time the United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association has purchased equipment for state sheriffs. In 2001, the organization also donated sirens and visor lights for sheriffs' use during the Asian Development Bank conference.