$1.5 million withheld in city, Verizon dispute

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A contract dispute over problems with police mobile data computers centers on a $1.5 million payment the city withheld from Verizon Hawaii Inc. after the system did not fully function.

City officials and attorneys would not comment on why the money was withheld, but Verizon insists that the computer software it provided meets the city's contract specifications.

The software would not allow officers to print reports properly from computers installed in police cars or save the reports to computer disks, according to a recent audit.

The audit did not specify who may be responsible for the problems, but it said the city's Department of Design and Construction had managed the project poorly. The city's project manager later abandoned responsibility for overseeing the contract, according to the audit.

The Honolulu Police Department later hired a consultant to provide technical guidance and assist with the contract.

The $1.5 million in dispute is part of a $10 million contract with Verizon for the project, which began in 1998. The City Council recently authorized the hiring of private attorneys to file a lawsuit against Verizon.

The mobile computers transmit data over a digital radio system, and allow officers to check suspects' "rap sheets," and license plates directly from their cars. Before, officers would request the data from others via radio.

But the computers have been of limited use because the $40 million radio system, which was not supplied by Verizon, cannot handle all of the voice and data transmissions it was expected to.

The city is considering setting up a separate radio system for data so there is no interference with voice transmissions.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.