THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	209
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO DEPLOY EXPLOSION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE AND RESPOND TO THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS.

WHEREAS, the people of the State deserve to live in peace and security, without the public safety risks, health hazards, and traumatic impacts of illegal gunfire and illegal fireworks use; and

WHEREAS, the use of illegal fireworks has caused brush fires, structural fires, injuries, and death despite various local, state, and federal laws governing the manufacture, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of fireworks that continue to be violated at what appears to be an increasing rate; and

WHEREAS, the deployment of new technologies may help county police departments better enforce existing fireworks and firearms laws by allowing law enforcement officers to instantly detect and locate the geographic origin of explosions caused by gunfire or illegal fireworks; and

WHEREAS, according to a police lieutenant in Denver, Colorado, his department's use of this technology allows police to receive notification of gunshots within forty seconds and respond to within twenty-five feet of an actual crime scene; and

WHEREAS, although these technologies were originally developed to assist law enforcement in detecting gunshots, the technology may also equip police departments with the ability to enforce fireworks laws; and

WHEREAS, one such service, ShotSpotter, has been deployed in more than one hundred twenty cities; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies that have adopted explosion detection technology have been able to deploy their officers more efficiently and effectively, which is especially important as law enforcement agencies across the country report officer shortages and have been forced to cut back on neighborhood patrols in certain areas; and

WHEREAS, similarly, explosion detection technology may help county police departments in the State to address their officer shortages; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that county police departments are requested to deploy explosion detection technology to assist in locating and responding to explosions caused by the illegal use of firearms and fireworks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the respective Chief of Police of each county police department is requested to ensure that appropriate training is provided to police officers in the use of explosion detection technology; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the respective Mayors and County Councils are requested to provide to the police departments any resources needed to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayors, County Council Chairpersons, and Chiefs of Police of the City and County of Honolulu and Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Counites; Public Safety; Explosion Detection Technology; Police Departments