Police presence in Chinatown shifted to cover early, late hours
It might look like police have scaled back their increased presence in Chinatown.
In fact, says district commander Maj. Clayton Saito, officers have just been spread around to cover more shifts.
Saito said residents complained that too many of the newly assigned officers were on during the day, and not enough at night.
In response, he put more officers on patrol during evenings and early-morning hours.
The Honolulu Police Department beefed up patrols in Chinatown in April, following two violent attacks.
HPD Chief Boisse Correa has said the number of officers patrolling the streets increased threefold.
Saito and Correa have also said the increased police will have to be reduced at some point.
But Saito said there is no timeline for doing that. And for now, he added, the increased presence will stay.
“I think it’s given the community some peace,” Saito said.