Enforcement agencies
to increase park patrols

The program looks to restrain
underage drinking and drug use

The state Sheriff Division and county police departments plan a summertime crackdown on underage drinking and other illegal activity at state parks, small boat harbors and boat ramps.

The law enforcement agencies, working with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, are starting a pilot program tomorrow that involves teams of officers periodically patrolling those grounds 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While the program targets underage drinking and illegal drug use in state parks, patrols also would have the authority to make arrests for activity such as unruly behavior, theft and vandalism.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona announced the program at a news conference at Waahila Ridge State Park, where graffiti covered some of the park's facilities despite a cleanup and painting effort just two weeks ago.

"A lot of our residents and a lot of our visitors have a little fear in them," Aiona said. "They do know that there's a threat of criminal activity in some of our parks, and we want to make sure that it's not there."

Agencies said they hope to finish the pilot project this summer with their existing budgets and personnel.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees state parks, boat ramps and harbors, is the lead agency in the pilot program, which runs through Labor Day.

Acting Public Safety Director James Propotnick said the Sheriff Division would rearrange schedules of some personnel to accommodate the program.

"By re-prioritizing our peoples' time, I'm hoping that I don't impact my budget any more than I do on a normal basis," Propotnick said. "We're trying to do it with the normal amount of overtime we would spend under ordinary circumstances."

Authorities will have the discretion to arrest people, issue citations or let them go with a warning.

"We're not up here to arrest everybody and waste everybody's time in court," Propotnick said. "We're up here to keep the parks safe and open to everybody.

"Those people that need to be arrested, obviously, will be."

After Labor Day, authorities plan to study arrest and citation statistics to see if the patrols have had a significant effect.

"If it's successful I'm hoping we can do it year-round," Aiona said.

Parks crackdown What: Officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the state Sheriff Division and county police departments will crack down on underage drinking and other illegal activity. Where: Officers will check the state's 54 parks and 21 small boat harbors daily. When: The pilot program starts tomorrow and lasts through Labor Day weekend, ending on Sept. 5.