Police: Upcountry crime down 34% in 12 months

PUKALANI - Police documented decreases in burglaries, thefts, vehicle thefts and car break-ins as part of an overall one-third drop in crime reported in Upcountry communities during the past year.

"The numbers show that crime is down Upcountry," Maui County Police Chief Gary Yabuta told residents Wednesday night at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani. "We're not patting ourselves on the back because 2009 to 2010 may be a different story because of the economy. That's what we're worried about."

In the 12 months ending Aug. 31, police responded to 6,155 calls Upcountry, down 34 percent from 9,369 calls during the 12 months that ended Aug. 31, 2008. The statistics cover Haiku, Haliimaile, Kula, Makawao, Paia and Pukalani.

The decline in crime Upcountry included:

* A 62 percent drop in car break-ins over the period, from 312 to 118. In Paia, the numbers went from 110 car break-ins to 41; in Haiku, they dropped from 100 to 32.

* A 50 percent decline in stolen vehicles, from 120 to 60 cases.

* Burglaries decreased by 35 percent, from 236 to 153 cases.

* Thefts decreased by 27 percent, from 397 to 291 cases.

Decreases were also reported in documented drug offenses, which dropped by about 19 percent, and juvenile offenses, which declined by 12 percent.

Although police officials outnumbered the seven residents who attended the first of seven police town hall meetings planned throughout Maui County, Yabuta said he wasn't discouraged.

"Whether people come out or not, we give it our best effort," said Yabuta, who took over as police chief June 1. "We're going to go to every district, every community, no matter what."

Along with Yabuta, seven ranking officers, a civilian employee and two Maui County Police Commission members attended the meeting Wednesday night.

Yabuta outlined Maui Police Department goals, including making roads safer by issuing more citations to deter speeding. Year after year, he said speeding has been cited as the top concern in annual community surveys.

He acknowledged that not all residents would be happy with more ticketing by police.

"Without enforcement, we're going to have out-of-control highways, and we're going to have more deaths," he said. "We're going to get into more aggressive enforcement."

Yabuta noted that a recent survey showed Maui County's 98.4 percent rate of seat belt use was the highest in the state, which had the highest rate in the nation.

"It's because of our officers," he said.

He and other police officials stressed that they need residents' help to fight crime, whether it's by reporting a drug house in their neighborhood or banding together to form a neighborhood crime watch.

"That's what we need more the community standing together as one," said Lt. Wallace Tom, who has helped residents organize crime watches to report suspicious activity to police. "Maybe three voices are much stronger than just one voice."

Kula resident Rhea Demar-Lee said she and her neighbors started a crime watch about two months ago. "It's a wonderful program," she said after the meeting. "I encourage other people in the community to start it."

During the meeting, she asked whether a patrol officer was stationed in Kula. She said her husband, driving from Kahului, got home before police arrived when she reported their home had been burglarized. "It concerns me that they're not in Kula," she said.

Yabuta said an officer is assigned to Kula at all times. But if there's an emergency call, he said the officer may be called on to respond with another officer. "If you have a priority call, you're going to get a rapid response," Yabuta said.

Police reported an average response time of nine minutes and 13 seconds for emergency and priority calls.

If residents have complaints about how a police officer handled a call, "please call a supervisor," said Deputy Chief Clayton Tom.

A Pukalani resident, who didn't want to be identified because she feared retaliation, said she had made eight reports to police about a gang of teenagers that has continued to harass her family, apparently targeting her teenage son who attends a different school from the other youths.

"We live on the edge because of the threats," she said. "They threatened to burn my house down, kill my dog. All we were told is to make a report."

She said she did get some help from a police school resource officer assigned to King Kekaulike High School but the problem continues.

"We're going to deal with this," Yabuta told the woman. "I can see the frustration."

After talking with Capt. Jody Singsank, Wailuku Patrol District commander, after the meeting, the woman said she was hopeful but still concerned.

Yabuta said police are working on activating a crime reduction unit to target street crime, including gang violence. The effort would include a police gang identification investigator, Yabuta said.

In the past, crime reduction units have been successful in combating drinking and fights at Kihei beach parks, Clayton Tom said.

"This is very good for the community to be informed about what's happening," said Kula resident Siuai Laufou. "I just wish more people would show up."

Yabuta said it wouldn't be the last time police officials meet with residents. "We will be back," he said.

Other police town hall meetings are scheduled Oct. 14 at Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai, Oct. 19 at Helene Hall in Hana, Oct. 22 at the Kihei Community Center, Oct. 26 at the Lahaina Civic Center, Nov. 3 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku and Nov. 5 at the Lanai Community Center.

All meetings will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto @mauinews.com.