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State law‑enforcement director proposes license‑plate readers, SaferWatch app and drones to bolster safety on Hawaiian homelands
Summary
Department of Law Enforcement Director Michael Lambert presented a proposal to pilot license‑plate readers, a SaferWatch community app and drone ‘first responder’ capability on DHHL lands as a force multiplier for sparsely patrolled homestead communities. Commissioners and beneficiaries asked about privacy, coverage and timelines.
Major Michael (Mike) Lambert, director of the State Department of Law Enforcement, presented a technology‑based safety proposal that would pilot license‑plate readers at homestead access points, roll out a SaferWatch neighborhood‑reporting app for beneficiary security watches and deploy tethered drone docks as a “drone as first responder” capability in remote areas.
Lambert said the technology is intended to fill gaps created by law‑enforcement understaffing. “The reality is…we’re short…The average is about 20% short staffing,” he said. He described using license‑plate readers to identify nonresident vehicles associated with suspicious activity, an app to let neighborhood watches upload photos and alerts to a real‑time operations center, and drone docks (Skydio X10 docks in demonstration) to get airborne “in 20 seconds” and provide remote video evidence for investigations.
Lambert said the pilot is financed initially through startup contracts the department holds and that DHHL’s participation would require MOUs allowing mountings on DHHL poles or rooftops and agreements about launch points for drones in remote areas. He said license‑plate readers could be installed in four to six weeks once agreements are finalized and that the SaferWatch app could be available immediately for participating neighborhood security watches. He also said drone deployment would require FAA clearances and additional operational arrangements.
Beneficiaries and commissioners asked about privacy safeguards and program costs. A beneficiary asked that DHHL consider privacy and “aerial trespass” protections for residential areas; Lambert responded that drones would operate over public property and roadways, and that state law and policy constrain aerial surveillance over private backyards. The director also said the department could cover the pilot’s costs for multiple years but future funding models would need DHHL or legislative support.
Ending: Staff and commissioners expressed interest; Lambert said draft MOUs were available and that the department would meet with neighborhood security watches and DHHL staff to determine pilot locations and technical details.
