Police report few problems in keeping peace
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Although some picket lines are getting longer and louder, Honolulu Police have had a relatively easy time keeping everyone in order.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Since the strike began a week ago, police have issued eight citations, all at University of Hawai'i campuses. Seven citations were given to impatient motorists trying to drive through picket lines and one was issued to a picket who refused to make way for a vehicle.
Officer Juan Quintanilla stopped traffic yesterday at the entrance to Windward Community College as University of Hawaii Professionals Association members walked behind him.
There have been no arrests or reports of injuries. Police have not compiled the costs of monitoring the pickets, but the department has not had to dip into its overtime budget to man strike posts, and service to the public has not been affected by strike activities, said Maj. Michael Tucker.
"Something of this magnitude, there's always a ripple effect, but that's something we're prepared for as far as our staffing. We knew it was coming so we prepared for it," Tucker said.
Police have used their regular pool of patrol officers, as well as nonpatrol officers from criminal and traffic investigation divisions, and juvenile services.
Police presence at the picket lines also has declined since the strike began.
On the first morning of the strike, police manned strike posts at 36 of the 146 schools that were picketed, including the five university campuses.
Yesterday, police were posted at only 18 of the 169 schools that were being picketed.
Assistant Police Chief Stephen Watarai said university campuses have had most of the police activity because they are open.
Yesterday, a student was cited for speeding through a crosswalk and almost striking a picket on Manoa's Lower Campus Road at about 7:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, a picket in the same area wound up on the hood of a car driven by a state worker. The picket said he had to jump on the car to avoid being hit, while the driver said the man just jumped on his car, Tucker said.
No citations or arrests were made in that incident.
