Bill to let mayors fire police chiefs hit with criticism

KAILUA-KONA » Hawaii County police commissioners are critical of bills before the state Legislature that would alter and reduce police commissions’ powers.

Their primary concern is about Senate Bill 677, which would give the mayor of each county the authority to fire the police chief, West Hawaii Today reported Saturday. That power currently rests solely with the state’s four county police commissions.

"To give (that power) to the mayor goes against what the police commissions were created for," Commissioner Leroy Victorine said Friday at a meeting of the body in Kailua-Kona. "The commissions were set up to keep politics out of that process."

John Bertsch, acting chairman of the Hawaii County Police Commission, said the bills were driven by circumstances on Kauai and in Hono­lulu.

Bertsch said the mayor has the ability to come before the commission if he has a problem with a chief.

The commissioners are also concerned about Senate Bill 389, which would change the composition of their volunteer nine-member panel to ensure that three commissioners have experience in civil rights, women’s issues and law enforcement.

Hurt hiker, wife flown to safety on Garden Island

Kauai firefighters rescued a 30-year-old visitor from San Diego who was injured while hiking in Hana­ka­piai on Monday.

The man was unable to continue after suffering an ankle injury.

Firefighters placed the man in a litter and airlifted him and his wife to Kee Beach, where the couple had left their rental car.