David Y. Ige | OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR NEWS RELEASE: GOVERNOR IGE SIGNS BILL ESTABLISHING NEW DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR NEWS RELEASE: GOVERNOR IGE SIGNS BILL ESTABLISHING NEW DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Posted on Jul 8, 2022 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases
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HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today signed HB2171 establishing a new Department of Law Enforcement (DLE). The last time a new department was formed in the state was over 30 years ago, in 1989, with the creation of the Department of Public Safety.
The new DLE includes the Department of Public Safety’s Law Enforcement Division (State Sheriff Division and Narcotics Enforcement Division) and Internal Affairs Office, Department of Transportation Harbors Division and the Department of the Attorney General’s Criminal Investigative Division. The new department will also include the Department of Defense Office of Homeland Security, and the Hawaiʻi State Fusion Center.
“Hawaiʻi is the only state in the country that doesn’t have a centralized, independent state law enforcement agency. The new department will allow more efficient and effective emergency response, criminal law enforcement, investigations and homeland security operations,” said Gov. Ige.
“The consolidation will centralize command and control for the State’s critical incident management, improve interoperable communications, and the ability to handle complex multi-island investigations and improve overall efficiency of statewide law enforcement operations. The new DLE will also be able to provide additional resources for other law enforcement agencies in both independent and joint operations,” said Jordan Lowe, PSD Deputy Director for Law Enforcement.
The projected timeline for the transition is as follows:
July 1, 2022 – Transition team begins implementation and creation of framework and infrastructure for the new DLE.
July 1, 2023 – Administrative infrastructure is established in the DLE. The process to begin filling all allocated positions begins.
January 1, 2024 – Transfer of Department of the Attorney General non-statutorily mandated investigative functions and related employees, Department of Transportation Harbors Division criminal law…