Hawai‘i County Councilwomen Heather Kimball, Cynthia Evans, and Michelle Galimba donated three certified agricultural produce scales to the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Community Policing Section to help officers combat agricultural theft. Each portable scale can weigh more than 500 pounds of produce and print out a receipt showing the total poundage. The three scales, valued at $1,500 each, will be kept at the Hilo, Kona, and South Kohala police stations for use by police investigating agricultural thefts. The collaborative effort to procure the scales was spearheaded by retired Hawai‘i County Prosecutor and community advocate Charlene Iboshi, along with the County of Hawai‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and the County Office of Research and Development. Council members used their discretionary funds to pay for the equipment. Additionally, HPD recently collaborated with the Office of Research and Development on a new, online, and fillable self-reporting form regarding agricultural theft. The form is available on the County’s website, https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3557/, and simplifies the reporting process for victims, police officers, and prosecutors.
HPD Photo