StarBulletin.com

Police Civil Service proposal under fire


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POSTED: Sunday, April 11, 2010

Disregarding protests of the Honolulu police commission, the senate this afternoon voted 10 to 5 to include the Honolulu police department in the civil services system provided by under House Bill 2. ... Opposition to inclusion of the Honolulu police department in a civil service system, as suddenly inserted in HB2 Monday night by the senate, was expressed by two members on behalf of the police commission today. ... The two members, Chairman F. D. Lowrey and A.D. Castro, requested and were granted the opportunity of airing the commission's views on the subject before the whole senate this morning. They were heard on motion of Senator David K. Trask (D. Oahu).

Mr. Lowrey ... said “;several points must be considered”; in applying civil service to the local department: that “;Honolulu's police are practically under civil service now”;; that vice squad members are shifted regularly; that detectives must have “;racial contacts and language qualifications”; not taken into account in the civil service bill and other things.

“;Here's the position we're in,”; said Senator Trask,”; if we exempt your department, the others will all wonder why they must be included.”;

My answer to that,”; replied Mr. Lowrey, “;is that no other department is set up in the same way that ours is. We have examinations for entrance, for promotion and appeal to the commission on disciplinary matters.”;

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