Not transparent
After reading your coverage regarding the Police Commission’s public meetings for the finalists for police chief, I was perplexed by the fact that the matter regarding the hotel room provided to Maj. Sherry Bird, as well as Capt. Thomas Shopay (who’s not a candidate for chief) wasn’t mentioned in the article on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Instead, it came out on your Wednesday, Dec. 14, issue. It appears that the commission waited until the West Hawaii public meeting to surface the matter.
Also, like Mr. Prentiss Moreno in his letter published on Thursday, Dec. 15, I find in interesting that Chairman John Bertsch recused himself only after the finalists were announced. From the get-go, it was the aim of the commission to be transparent in its process of finding a new police chief for the Big Island.
However, I think this has not been accomplished, given the fact that two candidates have a connection to the chairman of the commission.
Given this, the commission may find itself having to make a choice from two finalists (Moszkowicz or Applegate) or revisit the process used and return to square one.
Don’t get me wrong, these four finalists are qualified. However, the next Big Island police chief will have the opportunity to develop a strategic plan for the department that brings about organizational transformation, which is a key element of the community policing philosophy.
Having a vision and mission statement, along with core values, isn’t sufficient without a plan that moves the department in a positive direction. The commission needs to select the candidate most suited to undertake transforming our police department.
James Sanborn
Hilo
A health hazard
Mahalo to Mayor Roth and county officials for sending a dumpster truck to assist in the cleanup at Ala Kupuna (Maunakea Access Road) area on Friday, Dec. 9.
Along with the Royal Order of Kamehameha and many volunteers, a lot of items were removed as Tutu Pele was moving in the direction of Saddle Road from Mauna Loa.
During the cleanup, it became clear that the sanitation facility which was removed from the Pu‘uhuluhulu hunters’ check-in station needs to be restored. As the eruption has attracted thousands of visitors, and (despite the pause in the eruption) many of those visitors continue to climb Pu‘uhuluhulu, especially at night, without proper sanitation facilities, they are forced to relieve themselves all over Pu‘uhuluhulu and elsewhere.
While the kia‘i have graciously opened and maintained three relief stations along Ala Kupuna for use by visitors, there is no facility on the Pu‘uhuluhulu side.
This is a health hazard that could be easily remedied by placing a relief station in the parking lot or other appropriate area.
Kini Burke
Hilo