Committee approves forwarding de‑escalation training grant, related budget amendments

The finance committee voted to forward a package of items to implement verbal de‑escalation training and to appropriate federal grant funds for public‑safety capabilities.

Resolution 611‑26 authorizes the mayor to accept $129,033 from the state attorney general to fund the Hawaii police de‑escalation training project. The committee moved to forward the resolution to counsel with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried by voice vote with eight members in favor and one member excused. "Resolution 611 authorizes receipt of $129,033 in federally derived funds to be used to conduct verbal judo de‑escalation training for law enforcement," staff noted when presenting the communication.

Related budget items included Bill 177, which amends the county operating budget to appropriate $129,032 to the Burns State Intervention de‑escalation training program account, and Bill 178, which allocates $20,797 from a Justice Assistance Grant to enhance special response team capabilities. Both bills were moved forward with favorable recommendations and carried without substantive debate.

Council members acknowledged the presence of police staff and asked no substantive questions during the motions, and the committee closed the items quickly to ensure the funds can be processed for training and equipment.