The state Sheriff Division is working on a project to establish a permanent presence at Mayor Wright Homes in Kapalama to keep residents safe, the state sheriff said Thursday.
Sheriff Shawn Tsuha could not elaborate on the plan because union and legal issues must be addressed, but he said it involves having a deputy sheriff on site 24 hours a day.
"I’m on the verge of putting it out to my division to see if this opportunity would like to be taken up by one of the deputies," Tsuha said. The division began work on the plan about three months ago, following the governor’s commitment to improve public housing, he said.
Tsuha made his comments to the Star-Advertiser at a meeting about security for Mayor Wright tenants after a 32-year-old nonresident was stabbed on the property Jan. 27.
Police arrested a 33-year-old tenant, but released him because he acted in self-defense, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said. The man was trying to tell people to get away from his vehicle when he was mobbed and knocked to the ground. He pulled out a 2-inch folding knife and began thrusting it, stabbing the man who died, prosecutors said.
Hakim Ouansafi, Hawaii Public Housing Authority executive director, told the more than 50 residents at the meeting about plans to improve security at the 364-unit property and asked them for their help.
He said 19 locations on the property have been identified as possible sites for security cameras and said the state is still working on creating ID cards for visitors and residents so visitors can get in from only one entrance. He said the state is considering a 10 p.m. curfew for visitors and a quiet time from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for residents.
He also asked residents to help select new names for the property’s buildings rather than just calling them by numbers like jail cells.
One resident said the problem was residents allowing their children to run around without supervision. Malia Fetu said children jump on cars, which could have caused last week’s deadly fight.
"I like this place," she said, adding that conditions would improve if residents took responsibility for their children and if the state allowed security officers to live on the property, where they would learn which people cause problems.
Andrew Nakoa Sr. said he felt the cameras would help, but agreed that in-house security would make the biggest difference.
"They’re not patrolling the lot," he said of security. "That’s why that happened over here."
