BIG ISLE MAYOR SEEKS FUNDS FOR SPECIAL 'ICE' TEAMS

HILO -- Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is seeking $836,000 from the Hawaii
County Council for two police teams dedicated to fighting crystal
methamphetamine, or "ice."

The money would also be used to put more patrol officers in rural
communities.

Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna said the three-member "Ice Teams" are needed
because ice usage continues to grow. He noted Tuesday's shooting death of
Honolulu Officer Glen Gaspar allegedly took place at the hands of a suspect
thought to have been under the influence of ice.

On the Big Island a suspect recently climbed the exterior of a hotel
building, crashed through windows and took a hostage before finally
surrendering. He was found in possession of syringes and other drug
paraphernalia, although the specific drug was not identified, Mahuna said.

>From 55 in 1997, ice arrests on the Big Island more than quadrupled to 292
in 2000, Mahuna said. The figures fell to 233 ice arrests in 2001 and 136 in
2002, he said. But police know ice use is increasing, and declining arrests
just show police have not been able to make cases, he said.

The officers assigned to Ice Teams would also investigate other hard drugs,
Mahuna said. The teams would especially seek to catch leaders in the
distribution system, he said. Ice is more dangerous than other drugs because
it causes extensive brain damage and is associated with violence, he said.

Like other police departments, Big Island police have a vice section that
investigates drug crimes, but that unit also has to handle other crimes such
as gambling and prostitution.

Kim's request was presented in his $218.7 million budget proposal submitted
recently to the County Council. The proposal is 6.5 percent larger than
present $205.4 million budget.

The proposed funding would allow the Police Department to contract guards to
provide security at police holding cells where suspects are detained before
being taken to court.

That would free up 14 police positions now assigned to guard duty. Of those,
three in Hilo and three in Kona would be assigned to Ice Teams.

The Puna and Waimea areas would each receive three more patrol officers, and
Kau would receive two more.