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Committee advances Bill 46 on police dispatch access after debate on privacy and public safety
Summary
The committee voted to send Bill 46 to the full council for second reading and a public hearing after a lengthy debate. Acting HPD leaders opposed providing live radio access, citing federal CJIS rules and privacy concerns; media organizations urged access or faster, formalized alternatives for real-time alerts.
The Committee on Public Safety and Economy advanced Bill 46 on July 24, a measure that would require the Honolulu Police Department to provide certain public information to the media and public, after a contentious discussion about privacy, officer safety and timely public notification.
Acting representatives of the Honolulu Police Department told the committee they strongly oppose the bill as drafted. The department’s testimony said live dispatch audio routinely contains personally identifiable information and criminal justice data — including names, addresses and medical details — that federal and state rules and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security policy specifically require agencies to protect. The department said releasing live radio communications could violate Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 138 and CJIS requirements and risk sanctions that would limit investigative tools.
“Releasing this information in real time would violate…
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