The Honolulu Police Department collects information from individuals that may assist in preventing crime, identifying offenders, and protecting public safety. Officers are encouraged to engage in lawful, consensual contacts with individuals when circumstances indicate the interaction may serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
While on duty, field and investigative officers should engage individuals in consensual contacts when circumstances reasonably suggest the interaction may provide information relevant to ongoing investigations, criminal activity, or public safety.

A consensual contact is a police-citizen interaction that occurs when an officer approaches and engages an individual in conversation to obtain information without detaining them, restricting their movement, or requiring their compliance. These interactions are neither arrests nor detentions because a person’s participation is voluntary.

While conducting a consensual contact, officers shall activate their body-worn camera in accordance with Policy 2.57, BODY-WORN CAMERAS.

CONSENSUAL CONTACTS

Officers may initiate consensual contacts with individuals in public places without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, provided the person’s participation remains voluntary.

A. During a consensual contact:

1. Individuals are not required to provide their name, identification, address, or reason for being in an area.

2. Individuals are free to decline the contact or leave at any time.

B. If statements, observations, or other circumstances during the consensual contact give rise to reasonable suspicion about the person and a crime, the contact may transition into an investigative detention.

Officers should then request a records check through the National Crime Information Center and department database to determine whether the individual is wanted or of investigative interest.

C. Officers shall not initiate contacts solely on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other protected characteristics.

CONTACT DOCUMENTATION

A. Officers shall document the contacts with a Consensual Contact or Field Contact Report in the department-approved records management system such as the Case Report System during their tour of duty.

B. The computerized data shall be available only to authorized personnel and shall be accessed and used solely for legitimate law enforcement purposes in accordance with Policy 8.17, SECURITY AND HANDLING OF DEPARTMENTAL RECORDS AND FILES.