MPD TAKES OFFENSE TO REP. BERTRAM BUDGET SUGGESTIONS

Rep. Joe Bertram III of Maui is suggesting trimming budgets for two Police Department programs.

In a letter drafted on April 17^th, 2009, Bertram suggested that the department discontinue funding for the Marijuana Eradication Task Force Program saying it infringes on the privacy of medical marijuana patients and creates a disturbance of the peace with noise.  The 11^th district representative of South Maui also suggested cutting the DARE (Drug Enforcement Resistance Education) Program saying it has proved to be unsuccessful.

Deputy Chief Gary Yabuta of the Maui Police Department issued a statement in response to the letter saying that the department is quite aware of Bertram’s position on the legalization of marijuana.  Yabuta further called criticism of the department’s DARE Program offensive.

(Posted by Wendy OSHER, photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009)