The Honolulu Police Department shall establish
fugitive extradition procedures and be guided
by Chapters 832 and 833, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

DEFINITIONS

MDC: A department-issued, laptop computer that sends and
receives data via a wireless data network and associated
equipment, including antennas, aircards, etc. The MDC is
configured to receive case information from the Computer Aided Dispatch System.

Log-on password: A password which allows a user to activate
and access the MDC system.

USER INSTRUCTIONS

The department shall provide training in the use of the
MDCs to personnel who are issued the units. This training
shall be provided before personnel are permitted to use
the MDCs for police work. While general guidelines are
provided in this policy, use of the MDCs, including
specific prohibitions, shall be in accordance with the training provided.

GENERAL USE

A. Only authorized departmental personnel shall use the MDCs.
Personnel who require an MDC shall complete all necessary
training before an MDC can be issued.

B. At the beginning of their tours of duty, officers who are
issued an MDC and drive a fleet vehicle shall install the MDC
into the mount, which holds the unit in place in the vehicle.

If a computer must be removed from a regular fleet vehicle,
only the MDC shall be removed/released from the mount. Under
no circumstances shall an officer remove any portion of the
mount (e.g., post or brackets) along with the computer.

1. Each user shall log on at the beginning of the tour
of duty and log off at the end of the tour of duty.

2. Each user shall utilize only his or her assigned log-on password.

3. Whenever an MDC and/or MDC-related equipment is
inoperable, the user shall call the Information Technology
Division (ITD) MDC helpdesk for assistance (see the HPD intranet
for contact information).

C. Confidential information that is contained or
displayed on an MDC shall be kept out of view of
nonlaw enforcement personnel.

1. The MDC should be secured or MDC screen cleared
of any confidential information as soon as practicable
before the user moves away from the MDC.

2. In the event that confidential information can
be accessed from the MDC, including information stored
on any portable storage devices, the employee shall
ensure that the data is secure, even when the MDC is
not in use. The department shall provide a means to
protect the data, such as encryption or maintaining
the data on removable media.

D. Authorized personnel shall confirm notifications
of all temporary restraining orders, outstanding warrants,
and outstanding auto thefts received via their MDCs
before taking any law enforcement action.

E. Personnel shall not use the MDCs while operating
vehicles that are in motion. In addition, personnel
should not use the MDC in other situations where use of
the MDC might compromise safety.

F. Both the MDC system and any display or communications
via the MDC are the property of the HPD.
ASSIGNMENT AND ISSUANCE OF MDCs

A. The assignment of the MDC shall be made or
changed at the discretion of the ITD commander or designee.

B. The ITD will issue the MDC and associated
portable computer equipment.

C. The MDC and associated portable, computer equipment
shall be returned to the ITD when the employee separates
from employment with the department.

When an employee transfers from a patrol to a
nonpatrol element or other unit not authorized
to use the MDCs, the MDC and associated portable,
computer equipment shall be returned to the ITD
within seven days of the transfer.

The ITD commander may grant an exception for
extended special assignments upon receipt of a
written request submitted by the employee via channels.

D. Officers shall make every effort to submit police
reports via the MDC or any desktop computer utilizing
the Case Report System feature.

E. In the event that the MDC and/or associated portable,
computer equipment is not working properly or has to be
repaired, the employee shall call the MDC helpdesk to
report the problem. If the MDC and/or any related
equipment has to be replaced, as determined by the ITD,
the employee shall submit the “Request for Replacement
of Issued Item(s)” e-form via channels to the ITD with
an e-form copy to the Finance Division.

F. During leaves of absence longer than 30 consecutive
days (e.g., military leave, family leave, or suspension),
the employee shall return the MDC and associated portable,
computer equipment to the ITD prior to the leave commencing.

G. Personnel on medical/sick leave longer than 30 days
shall return the MDC and associated portable, computer
equipment to the ITD as soon as practicable.

H. If the employee is not able to return the MDC and
associated portable, computer equipment, the employee’s
supervisor should assist the employee with returning the items to the ITD.

I. In the event that an employee is away from a patrol
assignment or on leave (i.e., military leave, special
assignment, medical leave, etc.) for a period of more
than one year, that employee shall attend an MDC refresher
course taught by the ITD prior to being issued an MDC.

INSTALLATION

All permanent hardware installations, modifications,
and removals shall be performed only by department-
authorized personnel (e.g., personnel from the
Telecommunications Systems Section [TSS], ITD Data
Section, and the contracted vendor). Unless
specifically authorized by either the TSS or ITD,
no MDC user shall tamper with any part of the
permanently installed hardware.

TRANSACTION LOG, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM, AND AUTOMATED VEHICLE LOCATOR

A. The MDC stores transaction logs of Global
Positioning System (GPS) data, criminal history
checks, vehicle checks, rap and warrant checks,
etc. These transaction logs shall be maintained
in accordance with any applicable, established
retention policies.

B. The GPS data obtained from the MDC is utilized
by the Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system,
which can display an officer’s vehicle or MDC
location on a map. The GPS data shall be used
primarily for location-based dispatching and
supervision and to enhance officer safety.

1. The GPS data shall not be used as the sole
basis for any administrative investigation.
However, the GPS data may be used to support or
refute evidence in an administrative investigation.

2. The GPS data may be used for criminal or administrative
investigations involving criminal misconduct.
OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

A. The dissemination of information displayed, received,
or transmitted via the MDCs is governed by Policy 2.21,
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, as well as other directives that
address police records and data files, such as:

1. Policy 8.17, SECURITY AND HANDLING OF DEPARTMENTAL RECORDS AND FILES; and

2. Policy 8.20, COMPUTER SECURITY.

B. The use of MDC hardware and software is also
governed by guidelines established in Policy 8.08,
USE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. Personnel shall
not activate screen savers of any kind on the MDCs.
Screen savers can interfere with an MDC’s reception
of emergency notifications.

C. Prohibitions in Policy 3.28, SEXUAL HARASSMENT,
shall also apply to content of a sexual nature that
is displayed or transmitted via the MDCs. In
addition, personnel shall not display or transmit
material that is sexist, racist, derogatory, vulgar,
or discriminatory via the MDCs. These prohibitions
do not include the creation, transmission, or display
of material that is necessary for official investigative
or reporting purposes. Supervisors are responsible for
ensuring that each investigative or reporting use of
such material is appropriate and authorized.

SECURITY

Employees are always responsible for the proper
security of the MDCs that are assigned to them.

CARE OF THE MDCs

To avoid spillage that can damage the MDCs, personnel
shall take special care to keep liquids (such as soft
drinks) and particles (such as food crumbs) and other
debris away from the units.

As with other issued police equipment, the user is
ultimately responsible for the MDC while the unit is
in his or her care. This is also applicable to the
storage of the MDC and any associated portable computer
equipment. Therefore, the user shall exercise extreme
caution and attention to ensure that the unit is not
lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
DAMAGES

A. With the exception of normal wear and tear,
any damage to an MDC shall be documented by the
officer who was responsible for the unit when
the damage occurred. The officer shall initiate
either a Miscellaneous Public case, which should
cross reference any relevant reports (e.g., Motor
Vehicle Collision report) or initiate the appropriate criminal case.

B. In the event that the MDC is lost or stolen,
the employee or the employee’s supervisor (if
the employee is incapacitated) shall call the
MDC helpdesk, as soon as practicable, to report
the loss in order to preserve the security of
the data and resources.

C. The employee shall file the police report and
submit a copy of the report, via channels, as an
attachment to the “Request for Replacement of
Issued Item(s)” e-form.