The Hawai‘i County Police Department is holding a community meeting to discuss a temporary morgue facility in Hilo at the Aupuni Center Conference Room tonight from 5-6pm.

The meeting is part of the County’s ongoing efforts to address the overcrowded morgue facilities at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital.

Per state statutes, the police chief is the coroner for the county and the police department has the responsibility to collect and transport bodies involved in coroner’s inquests and criminal investigations to a secure location until a mortuary is able to collect them.

In the past, the department has relied on morgue facilities at the two hospitals, however both facilities are facing overcapacity issues. For several months, the police department and other county agencies have been working together to chart a long-term solution of building a permanent morgue facility on island while simultaneously creating a temporary facility at 540 Kupuna Place in Hilo.

Monday’s public meeting will feature speakers from various County departments, including the Police Department and Public Works.

For questions contact Assistant Chief Sherry Bird at (808) 961-2261 or via email at Sherry.Bird@hawaiicounty.gov.

 

HPD Photo