Restore federal aid to police departments

THE ISSUE Violent crime increased nationally and in Honolulu from 2005 to last year.

VIOLENT crime rose sharply last year in Honolulu and other cities for the second straight year, partly due to reductions in federal financial support of police departments. Significant arbitrated pay raises for Hawaii's police officers during the next four years should help the fight against crime, but federal assistance also is needed.

While property crimes decreased, violent crime rose by 1.3 percent nationwide in 2006 and by a disturbing 5.9 percent on Oahu -- from 2,570 to 2,722 murders, rapes, assaults and robberies. A Honolulu police spokeswoman said the increase "is no cause for alarm," but crimefighters nationally are concerned.

The federal government provided substantial support in the 1990s to police departments stretched thin by financial constraints. The Community Oriented Policing Services program helped pay for more than 118,000 new officers from 1995 to 2000, resulting in crime reductions, but has been cut back since then.

A bill to restore the COPS program with $1.15 billion a year has passed the House and needs Senate approval. The Senate has approved continuation of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program at $1.1 billion in annual grants to police departments until 2012, focusing on fighting drugs, firearm traffickers, gangs and organized crime.

A decade ago, police departments in Washington and Oregon successfully recruited Honolulu officers enticed by higher wages, a lower cost of living and strong public school systems. Six percent yearly raises during the next four years will bring the starting pay in Honolulu to $52,000 and should deter future recruiting efforts from the mainland.