Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: News

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa may receive almost $1 million next year as part of its supplemental budget request to the state to boost Campus Security by 25 people. 

There are currently 46 Campus Security personnel, who are responsible for UH's roughly 300-acre campus.

"We know that's not enough," said Gregg Takayama, UH director of communications.

"We could always use more people - a lot of times we're limited," said Neal Sakamoto, chief of Campus Security at UH.

Recent incidences, such as a string of burglaries on campus and the Oct. 25 threat against students, serve as a constant reminder of the importance of adequate security.

UH is requesting $25 million in next year's supplemental budget request, of which $933,000 would go directly to hiring 25 additional Campus Security personnel. Most of these positions would be security officers, Sakamoto said.

UH's budget request occurs every two years, with a supplemental budget request in between that addressing any other issues that may arise.

Kathy Cutshaw, the vice chancellor for administration, finance and operations, said these requests are submitted at the same time to Hawai‘i's governor and state Legislature. The governor and Legislature review the request and then approve funds based on what they believe is most important and what the state can afford. In the end, the governor makes the final decision on the budget.

So far, Gov. Linda Lingle has approved the funding for Campus Security, making it the only one out of the 32 proposals in the school's budget request to be approved. The request also has to make it through the state Legislature, which will meet during the first few months of 2008.

"The legislators certainly fund health and safety issues above anything else that we ask for," Cutshaw said. "It's one of their priorities."

The school will know if the Campus Security funds are approved on July 1, 2008. If granted, this would also be the day funds are dispersed and the hiring process for the additional security would begin.

According to Sakamoto, the new officers would undergo a standardized hiring process determined by the state. After initial screenings by Human Resources, applicants take a written test. A background check would then be conducted on the applicant after an interview. Finally, trainees would be on probation for six months, with three to four months for training.

Continued...

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