HR 140: supporting Hawaii's law enforcement officers and greatly Appreciating the sacrifices made to protect and serve our communities.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

supporting Hawaii's law enforcement officers and greatly Appreciating the sacrifices made to protect and serve our communities.

     WHEREAS, more than 2,700 law enforcement officers in the State risk their lives daily to serve and protect their communities; and

     WHEREAS, the law enforcement officers of the State perform their difficult and dangerous job honorably and professionally; and

     WHEREAS, dedicated efforts by law enforcement officers have successfully brought down the crime rate over the past decade, positioning the state of Hawaii as fifth in the nation for low violent crime rates according to U.S. News and World Report; and

     WHEREAS, the environment for officers has become increasingly more hostile and their safety more precarious; and

     WHEREAS, over a 170 years ago, the first Hawaii Police officer gave his life to ensure the safety of residents; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation has recognized the continued sacrifice of our law enforcement professionals, noting that eighty-four men and women have died in the line of duty for the residents of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii experienced a recent tragedy when Maui police officer, Suzanne O, was killed in the line of duty in response to a shooting incident at the Pāʻia Sugar Mill off Baldwin Avenue on August 15, 2025; and

     WHEREAS, law enforcement officers typically encounter between 400 and 600 traumatic events during their career as an officer, compared to three or four traumatic events encountered by the average citizen; and

     WHEREAS, the unusually high number of traumatic events experienced by law enforcement officers has contributed to a fifty-four percent higher suicide rate among officers than among other workers in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, over the last decade, law enforcement officer vacancies have continued to grow leaving the City and County of Honolulu alone with over 400 vacant positions; and

     WHEREAS, the high vacancy rate has resulted in a dangerously low level of sworn officers able to serve and protect Hawaii’s communities; and

     WHEREAS, supporting law enforcement officers with the equipment, training, and funding needed to protect communities from criminal violence has long received overwhelming public support across the political spectrum; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that these bodies support Hawaii’s law enforcement officers and greatly appreciate the sacrifices made to protect and serve our communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Thirty-third Legislature remembers and honors those officers and their families who have experienced death or injury in the line of duty; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that increased measures be taken to maximize the safety and well-being of officers, including more policing personnel, improved training and equipment, tougher penalties for assaulting or killing a law enforcement professional, and increased mental health resources for officers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all levels of government shall ensure that law enforcement professionals receive the support and resources needed to keep the State safe; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Law Enforcement, Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department, Chief of Police of the Maui Police Department, Chief of Police of the Hawaii Police Department, and Chief of Police of the Kauai Police Department.

Report Title: 

Law Enforcement; Police Department; Officers; Public Safety