STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3570

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, and 576, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Law Enforcement Standards Board

 

G.M. No. 570

SAMUEL JELSMA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021;

 

G.M. No. 571

SHERRY BIRD,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 572

GARY YAMASHIROYA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 573

GARY YAMASHIROYA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 574

HARRY KUBOJIRI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021;

 

G.M. No. 575

CRAIG TANAKA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022; and

 

G.M. No. 576

NICHOLAS COURSON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Samuel Jelsma, Sherry Bird, Gary Yamashiroya, Harry Kubojiri, Craig Tanaka, and Nicholas Courson for service on the Law Enforcement Standards Board.

 

SAMUEL JELSMA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Samuel Jelsma from the Hawaii Police Department and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Samuel Jelsma from one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Jelsma's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Jelsma has accumulated over twenty-seven years of experience in law enforcement services with the Hawaii Police Department.  Mr. Jelsma has held various ranks in the Hawaii Police Department, including Major, Captain, and Lieutenant.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Jelsma is currently retired from the Hawaii Army National Guard with the rank of First Sergeant and has over twenty-one years of credited military service.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Jelsma be appointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

SHERRY BIRD

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Sherry Bird from the Hawaii Police Department and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Bird's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Bird has been a Captain in the Hawaii Police Department since 2018 where she commands the South Kohala district, the third largest police district in the County of Hawaii.  With over twenty years of experience in law enforcement, Ms. Bird has gained broad experiences and extensive knowledge about issues and concerns regarding law enforcement statewide.  Your Committee further notes that Ms. Bird has also served in the United States Army prior to entering into law enforcement.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Bird be appointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

GARY YAMASHIROYA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Gary Yamashiroya from one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Gary Yamashiroya from one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Yamashiroya's professional experience, background, and desire to serve his community qualify him to be nominated for appointment and reappointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Yamashiroya was most recently a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu from August 2015 to May 2016.  Prior to that position, Mr. Yamashiroya spent roughly twenty-nine years at the Chicago Police Department, having served in various high-level positions, including a Detective Commander and District Commander.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Yamashiroya is also an active member in professional and community organizations, including as a board member and contract negotiating team member for the Chicago Police Sergeant's Association.  Based on Mr. Yamashiroya's legal experience and extensive experience in law enforcement, your Committee recommends that he be appointed and reappointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.

 

HARRY KUBOJIRI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Harry Kubojiri from the Hawaii Police Department and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Kubojiri's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Kubojiri has over thirty-seven years of professional law enforcement experience.  His most recent position was at the Hawaii Police Department where he served as the Police Chief for eight years.  During the course of Mr. Kubojiri's career, he has gained broad experiences and extensive knowledge about the administrative procedures of law enforcement in the State.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Kubojiri is an active member in professional and community organizations having served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, International Association Chiefs of Police, and Governor's Committee on Crime.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Kubojiri be appointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

CRAIG TANAKA

 

     Your Committee did not receive any testimony regarding the nomination for the appointment of Craig Tanaka.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Tanaka's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Tanaka has extensive experience in security training and is currently serving in various security training positions, including as the President of Kaanaikepono, LLC; a security training company; Assistant Director of Security at the Grand Wailea Maui Resort; and Instructor of security guard training at the University of Hawaii, Maui Campus.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Tanaka has served on various professional and community organizations, including the Maui County Hotel and Resort Security Association, Hawaii Hotel and Visitor Industry Security Association, and has chaired the Corporate Task Force Team for Pandemic and Virus Outbreak Guidelines.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Tanaka be appointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board based on his knowledge and experience in visitor industry security and commitment to public service.

 

NICHOLAS COURSON

 

     Your Committee did not receive any testimony regarding the nomination for the appointment of Nicholas Courson.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Courson's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Law Enforcement Standards Board.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Courson is currently the Administrator of the Office of Boards and Commission in the County of Kauai, where he is responsible for providing administrative support to seventeen boards and commission, including the Planning Commission, Police Commission, and Board of Review.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Courson has previously served as a Deputy County Attorney for the County of Kauai and gained a legal understanding of various law enforcement related issues in the State.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Courson be appointed to the Law Enforcement Standards Board based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair