https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/07/11/under-city-pilot-private-security-guards-are-patrolling-waikiki-streets-after-dark/


"Off duty hpd" hired.

Guy wearing shirt that says security on it shows u a hpd badge and verbally states he is a cop. Does 1 have to comply? How does 1 know hes a real cop?



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You need to be more specific in your question.  Do you have to comply with WHAT?

If the moonlighting officer / rent-a-cop has to call 911 to have you arrested when he believes you're breaking the law, then he's not acting in his capacity as a law enforcement officer.  You don't have to comply with orders like "Get on the ground" and 'Put your hands behind you".  He's a private security guard, and in that capacity, he can only request that you stop doing something, leave, or similar.  If you refuse to cooperate, they can call the on-duty Cops to arrest you.  He can't go hands-on unless you start a physical altercation.

The fact he's an off-duty Cop means things will likely lean toward his version of events -- unless there's video to back you up, of course.  You have to really want to win the argument to risk being taken downtown by his buddies.

$75 an hour.  Hope it's worth it.

The big difference is sworn cops can blow someones heart out and be
immune to prosecution.
Security guys have to be thoughtful.
cause they will have to be exposed to the same rules as all the rest
of humanity has to face.
personal responsibility.
 

So the City says they have a shortage of officers. The solution is to hire off duty officers to do additional patrols under private security.

$75 an hr.  When things get dicey, call your on duty buddies. 

Easy money.

Or maybe not.  Some of those pukes in Waikiki really do deserve a dirt nap.

I wonder if those security guys can carry machetes.

You need to be more specific in your question.  Do you have to comply with WHAT?

If the moonlighting officer / rent-a-cop has to call 911 to have you arrested when he believes you're breaking the law, then he's not acting in his capacity as a law enforcement officer.  You don't have to comply with orders like "Get on the ground" and 'Put your hands behind you".  He's a private security guard, and in that capacity, he can only request that you stop doing something, leave, or similar.  If you refuse to cooperate, they can call the on-duty Cops to arrest you.  He can't go hands-on unless you start a physical altercation.

The fact he's an off-duty Cop means things will likely lean toward his version of events -- unless there's video to back you up, of course.  You have to really want to win the argument to risk being taken downtown by his buddies.

If the security guard tells u to do something and says "I'm the police" and shows u his badge. All while not in uniform, no gunbelt,  and wearing a shirt that says security on it. Then does a CCW holder now also have a duty to inform?

The article did say that if they witness a crime, they will call 911 and have uniformed officers. But this is what they are saying, and often what really happens during an interatction is a different story.

$75 an hr.  When things get dicey, call your on duty buddies. 

Easy money.

Or maybe not.  Some of those pukes in Waikiki really do deserve a dirt nap.

I wonder if those security guys can carry machetes.

The City didn't say how long the $450K contract was for. So let's say it's for 1 year. With 4 on duty from 8pm-4am and if they make $30/hr, that's like $960 a day. Let's round up to $1K, just in payroll. So $30,000 a month. Which means ML Security profits $7500 a month and uses that for other expenses like insurance, training, vehicles, etc...  This leads me to believe that the $450K contract is for less than 1 year.  Maybe a FOIA to find out?

I see these guys when walking to the shell after work. Was wondering who the hell these guys are. Thought they were private security for the hotel.

They are using FEDERAL post pandemic funds to pay for this private security.  So what happens when the money runs out.  Especially if this endeavor proves to be productive and improves the security situation in Waikiki.

Thing is, the pukes that inhabit Waikiki knows that private security only can do so much.  So it ends up the strained HPD force gets called in anyway.

We need a complete overhaul of our criminal justice system and the funds available directed into incarcerating criminals for what they do.  If we don't punish the crime, then the criminals will continue to do what they're doing.

I'm not a bleeding heart liberal.  My heart bleeds for the victims and the innocent.

The City didn't say how long the $450K contract was for. So let's say it's for 1 year. With 4 on duty from 8pm-4am and if they make $30/hr, that's like $960 a day. Let's round up to $1K, just in payroll. So $30,000 a month. Which means ML Security profits $7500 a month and uses that for other expenses like insurance, training, vehicles, etc...  This leads me to believe that the $450K contract is for less than 1 year.  Maybe a FOIA to find out?

Focus

A total of four guards work each shift, which is from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., seven nights a week.

The city’s contract with Matt Levi Security is for six months — through Nov. 30.

Federal post-pandemic recovery funds are covering the $450,000 price tag.

They are using FEDERAL post pandemic funds to pay for this private security.  So what happens when the money runs out.  Especially if this endeavor proves to be productive and improves the security situation in Waikiki.

Simple solution. Raise the Oahu GE Tax another .5%, making it an even 5% instead of the present 4.5%.

The city’s contract with Matt Levi Security is for six months — through Nov. 30.

Thanks, I missed that part. No focus.

Simple solution. Raise the Oahu GE Tax another .5%, making it an even 5% instead of the present 4.5%.

No matter what rate they tell you the excise taxes are calculated at, it's always more.  The state charges you tax on top of the tax.

The current rate is 4% for consumers.  Additionally, there is a surcharge tacked on at 0.5% in Honolulu and Kauai, and 0.25% for Hawaii Island.

Even if you added another 0.5% to Honolulu, you still wind up paying more than 5% total.

So, the actual tax rate for Honolulu consumers is 4.712% including the 0.5% surcharge.  It's more than the tax rate because businesses owe tax on the entire transaction amount including the tax -- tax on top of tax.

Plus, if you consider everyone who touched that product you bought had to pay taxes (which they passed on to the next person), the consumer is paying multiple times any increase.  The 4% tax turns into as much as 12% for the consumer to pay, most of which is rolled up in the price.

You gotta love our politicians way of thinking.

Why did Matt Levi ring a bell???
Just figured it out. He was a TV news guy here for a while.
And don't off duty/ special duty cops need to be in uniform to use their police powers?
I can see an exceptional circumstance where an off duty cop stops a crime, but when actin as security on somebody else's nickel?

In my opinion these off duty cops working as private security will rely on verbal reasoning to try to diffuse and deter criminal activity.  Also presenting visual presence in high crime areas.  Not sure how much more they can do legally.

Something like those guys who used to wear those red berets long ago and patroled the streets on the mainland.  Forget who or what they were.  I think they were called Guardian Angels.  Don't even remember what city(ies).

In Waikiki maybe we should make them wear aloha plaid berets and call them "Guardian Braddahs".

In my opinion these off duty cops working as private security will rely on verbal reasoning to try to diffuse and deter criminal activity.  Also presenting visual presence in high crime areas.  Not sure how much more they can do legally.

Something like those guys who used to wear those red berets long ago and patroled the streets on the mainland.  Forget who or what they were.  I think they were called Guardian Angels.  Don't even remember what city(ies).

In Waikiki maybe we should make them wear aloha plaid berets and call them "Guardian Braddahs".

It was on the NYC subway.  This was back in the 90's when they began and the show that interviewed people about it, the riders said they felt safer. But there was 1 angel like every 15 feet or so inside the cars. So it wasn't like the Chinatown Citizens Patrol where there's like 4 of them in a group and they walk around the block.  Sometimes they have police escort and sometimes they don't. But majority of them are retiree's. Compared to the Guardians who are all middle age.

In my opinion these off duty cops working as private security will rely on verbal reasoning to try to diffuse and deter criminal activity.  Also presenting visual presence in high crime areas.  Not sure how much more they can do legally.

Something like those guys who used to wear those red berets long ago and patroled the streets on the mainland.  Forget who or what they were.  I think they were called Guardian Angels.  Don't even remember what city(ies).

In Waikiki maybe we should make them wear aloha plaid berets and call them "Guardian Braddahs".

IIRC "sworn" officers are really on duty 24/7 as they are always armed.
BI HPD cops doing traffic control for highway work are armed and that is a side job for them.
Some contractors like to hire cops so they can control irate drivers.
Here on the BI the state and county operate year round road repair schools
for idiots. Many people tire of the never ending BS.
 

Policy on HPD outside security work
https://www.honolulupd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/OutsideEmployment-03-28-2019-08-43-49.pdf

They can't use their authority for outside work, but can carry a gun if authorized by the chief.