YAGONG: STEP UP THE WAR ON 'ICE'

The Big Island needs a special police task force to fight the "current
explosion of ice abuse in our county," Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong
wrote Thursday in a letter to Mayor Harry Kim.

Yagong is suggesting a possible solution for combating use of crystal
methamphetamine, or "ice," and needs Kim's support to carry it out.

Yagong has authored a resolution that would give the Police Department
$215,000 from the County Council's budget to hire four new vice officers who
would form an ice task force.

"This is not nearly enough personnel that is needed to battle hard drugs on
this island, but it would be a positive first step," Yagong wrote in his two
- - page letter to Kim. "We need to support the Vice Section with more
personnel, or simply stated, we will lose the 'war against ice.'"

The council has $217,881 in its special "contingency account" created in
June when lawmakers trimmed that amount from Kim's spending request. The
council chose not to earmark the money for any special use, leaving it in
their account.

The council can say how the money should be spent, but the administration is
authorized to propose new jobs, which lawmakers would then approve.

Calling Yagong's proposal a "generous offer," Kim on Thursday said he
appreciates the focus on reducing use of crystal methamphetamine, noting
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has scheduled an Aug. 27 summit on the issue in
Waikoloa.

However, Kim said he is in a "quandary" about adding more police officers
after having spent his entire term as mayor asking all departments to hold
the line on the county's payroll.

Although he feels there is a "tremendous problem of ice on this island," Kim
said he wants police administrators to determine the priority for new
positions, which may be better needed in other areas of law enforcement.

The East Hawaii Vice Section has 10 officers, including Lt. Henry Tavares
Jr., the commander. Another eight vice officers are stationed in West
Hawaii.

The officers are responsible for investigation narcotics use along with
prostitution and gambling, including cock fighting.

In his letter, Yagong called those responsibilities "an impossible task
especially with the current explosion of ice use in our county."

Crystal methamphetamine is a powerful, synthetic stimulant that users often
smoke. The addictive drug is made with chemicals that can be very hazardous
if not properly handled.