HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	22
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Promotion and Expansion of the City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Security Watch Program.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department coordinates a neighborhood security watch program; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous communities have established neighborhood security watch groups, with approximately twelve thousand residents participating across Oahu; and

 

     WHEREAS, neighborhood security watch program members and participants receive education on operation identification, residential security inspections, reporting suspicious activity to 911 emergency services, and describing suspects; and

 

     WHEREAS, the neighborhood security watch program is an important tool for improving community security, effective crime deterrence, activating community involvement and integration, and fostering and strengthening neighbor relationships; and

 

     WHEREAS, neighborhood security watch groups in participating communities are spearheaded by a volunteer program coordinator who serves as the liaison between the community and police; and

 

     WHEREAS, the program coordinator works directly with district police officers, designated block captains, and community members; and

 

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu makes available to participants house decals and street signs to show that communities and individual residents are participating in the neighborhood security watch program; and

 

     WHEREAS, neighborhood security watch groups are entirely organized and maintained by community volunteers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the neighborhood security watch program could be even more effective if greater public resources were provided to participating community groups; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to promote and expand the neighborhood security watch program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to establish a prototype pilot program that provides minimal funding budget allowance for a community or communities that have an established and active neighborhood security watch program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the pilot program budget allowance is requested to provide to the program coordinator, at minimum, funding for one mailer per home, per quarter, in the selected community or communities, and funding for regular meetings of the neighborhood security watch group or groups; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate Honolulu Police Department division is requested to provide accounting and oversight of the pilot program funding; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if proven successful, the pilot program is requested to be expanded to other communities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Chief of the Honolulu Police Department; and Chair of the Honolulu City Council.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

City and County of Honolulu; Honolulu Police Department; Neighborhood Security Watch; Funding; Pilot Program