Latest news with #MikeLambert
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hawaii elected officials won't be above illegal fireworks crackdown
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The state Department of Law Enforcement is getting serious about cracking down on illegal fireworks thanks to new legislation. Illegal fireworks have exploded across Hawaii with little consequence for years, but resulted in tragedy in the first seconds of 2025 in Aliamanu. Newly passed legislation funds the DLE to the tune of $7.6 million to go after offenders. Medical Examiner identifies 3-year-old boy killed in Aliamanu fireworks incident 'Where things will be different is these are new sets of tools that law enforcement can use and investigators can and also prosecution,' said Sen. Brandon Elefante. Among those tools are the fact that the state illegal fireworks task force was extended — eight full time positions focused on enforcement were also funded. 'To be able to go after, basically repeat offenders and people violating our illegal fireworks laws that, really it's about health and safety of our communities,' Sen. Elefante said. Sixth person dies from Oahu fireworks tragedy: 'Murder is murder' 'I think the beauty of this new law is that it gives our foot in the door to bigger investigations, because we may see the drone, the drone may fly over, we may see what is only going to be a civil violation. But when we go there to cite, we go out and see the illegal fireworks in open view, which may lead to a larger investigations,' said DLE Director Mike Lambert. Lambert added that while the vast majority of illegal fireworks come through ports, some do come through the mail but he will focus on shipping container seizures during his said the public's long standing frustration has fueled the push for results. 'The biggest thing that hurts public trust is, 'How can it be this bad,' Right? 'How is it possible? Who is involved?' And those are all of the things that in my new position, we're going to find out,' Lambert said. 'And if those people along the way are government workers then, well, you know, expect to be prosecuted.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Four fireworks-related bills made it through the Legislature in 2025 and director Lambert said he expects Gov. Josh Green to sign them into law before the Fourth of July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Genetec and SaferWatch bring real-time vehicle intelligence to public safety agencies
MONTRÉAL, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Genetec Inc. ('Genetec'), the global leader in enterprise physical security software, today announced the integration of AutoVu Cloudrunner™, its vehicle-centric investigation system (VCIS), with the SaferWatch real-time alerting and reporting platform. Initially developed for the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, the integration brings together Cloudrunner's vehicle search capabilities and SaferWatch's live communication tools into a single platform, enhancing how public safety agencies and communities coordinate in real time during incidents involving vehicles of interest. Pioneering real-time collaboration in Hawaii The initiative was born out of the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement's pressing need to strengthen situational awareness and inter-agency communication. SaferWatch was already being used widely throughout the state, providing secure, real-time communications between citizens, public institutions, and law enforcement. Their vision was to combine real-time technologies to enhance public safety, not only to respond more quickly to incidents, but also to proactively identify potential threats before they escalate. 'This partnership represents a major step forward in how we protect our communities across Hawaii,' said Mike Lambert, Director, Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. 'By integrating Genetec advanced license plate recognition technology with the SaferWatch real-time alert platform, we're giving our officers and public safety partners the tools to act faster, smarter, and with greater precision. This technology helps us stay one step ahead while keeping transparency and community trust at the forefront.' Improving situational awareness with real-time data Cloudrunner automatically and accurately captures license plate information, vehicle characteristics (color, type, make, and model), and driving behaviors, regardless of time of day or weather conditions. With this data now available within SaferWatch, law enforcement agencies can receive instant alerts when a vehicle on a hotlist is detected. These alerts are automatically pushed to 911 dispatchers, investigators, and authorized personnel through the SaferWatch alerting ecosystem. In addition to the license plate information, each alert can include critical context, such as case reports or related vehicle intelligence—enabling faster, more informed decision-making. Beyond law enforcement The integration of AutoVu Cloudrunner with SaferWatch also extends meaningful new capabilities beyond law enforcement, benefiting educators, healthcare administrators, and public venue operators who already use SaferWatch to monitor potential threats. With Cloudrunner's vehicle intelligence now embedded in the platform, users can submit tips about suspicious vehicles directly through the app. If a license plate is deemed actionable, it can be added to a hotlist—triggering real-time alerts the moment the vehicle is detected by a Cloudrunner camera. This streamlined flow of information reduces response times and ensures that key stakeholders are aligned and ready to act. The integration also empowers community members to play an active role in public safety. Through the SaferWatch app, citizens can report sightings or suspicious activity, contributing critical information that could lead to identifying vehicles or individuals of interest. In high-priority scenarios—such as when a most-wanted vehicle is spotted nearby—law enforcement can instantly issue mass notifications to users in surrounding areas, helping alert the public to potential danger and guiding coordinated response efforts. 'Time and collaboration are critical when addressing public safety threats,' said Larry Legere, Commercial Director, AutoVu Cloudrunner at Genetec Inc. 'This integration streamlines how agencies share vehicle intelligence, enabling faster coordination across jurisdictions and more effective community engagement.' The integration is now available to Cloudrunner and SaferWatch customers across North America. The SaferWatch app remains free for citizens to download and use for submitting tips, but organizations need an active account on each service to unlock the full benefits of the combined solution. For more information about Genetec, visit . About Genetec Genetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. The company's portfolio of solutions enables enterprises, governments, and communities around the world to secure people and assets while improving operational efficiency and respecting individual privacy. Genetec delivers the world's leading products for video management, access control, and ALPR, all built on an open architecture and designed with cybersecurity at their core. The company's portfolio also includes intrusion detection, intercom, and digital evidence management solutions. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its 42,500+ customers via an extensive network of accredited channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries. For more information about Genetec, visit: © Genetec Inc., 2025. Genetec™, AutoVu Cloudrunner™ and the Genetec logo are trademarks of Genetec Inc. and may be registered or pending registration in several jurisdictions. Other trademarks used in this document may be trademarks of the manufacturers or vendors of the respective product. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State seeks access to surveillance feeds from Waikiki businesses
The state is pitching a plan to Waikiki hotels and businesses that would allow real-time access to the footage from their private security cameras to help monitor crime and maintain public safety. If enough businesses buy in to the agreement, the state Department of Law Enforcement will make a 'significant investment ' in license plate readers, drones and additional cameras to areas that are not currently covered, Director Mike Lambert told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. State officials are in the pitch phase of the project and hope to be actively engaged in memorandum of agreement discussions in the coming weeks. The Safety Via Technology initiative, referred to as SVT, and partnerships with private businesses is used in cities such as San Francisco and Miami and is being explored in other tourist hubs. If the project is to succeed, it 'requires interest and cooperation from the area hotels and business ' to allow the Real Time Operations Center access to existing public-facing cameras to assist in monitoring activities that impact public safety. 'The DLE intends to use Waikiki as its showpiece to promote the SVT concept, but we also intend to run similar yet scaled pilots in agricultural areas, at state buildings and infrastructure that are susceptible to criminal activity, public schools, as well as on a handful of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands communities across the state that are interested in the additional monitoring, ' said Lambert, a former major with the Honolulu Police Department. The motivation for turning to technology initiatives is that metropolitan police departments across the country are struggling to recruit, train and retain officers. Law enforcement agencies and local governments are struggling to address the officer shortage. Any kind of county service is difficult as there are more than 2, 000 vacancies citywide, including HPD. The selfless, unpredictable and dangerous nature of traditional police work does not interest young people the way it once did. 'However, when speaking to the target audience of 16-24 year-olds, the mention of needing drone pilots, digital forensic analysts, as well as having opportunities to work with big-name vendors that utilize advanced AI (artificial intelligence ) to support law enforcement has created more interest in this field, ' said Lambert. 'The hope would be that these individuals would fill the increasing void in public safety through technology platforms while the law enforcement community at large works to improve interest in traditional policing.' The Waikiki Business Improvement District, referred to as WBID, is working on that partnership with the state to bring 'cutting-edge technology to Waikiki ' to improve public safety, Trevor Abarzua, the organization's president and executive director, told the Star-Advertiser. WBID would help organize the businesses and commercial properties to participate in adding more cameras to the public safety network. Currently the city operates 31 cameras as part of an overt in Waikiki. As of Friday, 26 of those cameras operate around the clock and three work at night but are offline during the day due to an issue with the battery system, which the city is working to address. Two other cameras are off line, one due to obstruction of the wireless backhaul signal by surrounding trees and the other because of a power problem. 'Public safety is always our top priority, and we remain confident in the overall safety of Waikiki. While a portion of the security cameras are currently offline, the Honolulu Police Department continues to maintain a strong presence in the area, with officers regularly patrolling key locations, ' read a statement to the Star-Advertiser by Scott Humber, Mayor Rick Blangiardi's communications director. The city is planning an inspection in the coming weeks to figure out what is causing camera outages. 'Once we know more, we'll be able to give a better estimate on how long the repairs will take and how much they'll cost, ' he said. 'We know this is frustrating, and we really appreciate the public's patience as we work to get it resolved.' The city also operates an overt video surveillance system in Waikiki and is exploring. Almost every business and commercial property has public-facing cameras in their private network that face the street, sidewalk or other public property, explained WBID's Abarzua. The state is investing in a technology network that will be able to have these private cameras added into the broader network of public cameras, therefore expanding the number of cameras in Waikiki that law enforcement agencies have access to. 'While we only currently have 26 (full time ) working public safety cameras in Waikiki, this public-private partnership can add dozens, if not hundreds, of additional cameras into the system, ' said Abarzua. Abarzua noted a visit he made to The Union Square Alliance in San Francisco, an organization equivalent to WBID. He met with their leadership, along with San Francisco Police Department, to learn about how they rolled out an identical partnership. Union Square was able to add 520 cameras into their system, allowing SFPD greater access to help improve public safety. The need to prevent crime and improve public safety in the heart of Hawaii's visitor industry should not unduly infringe on citizens' right to privacy, advocates argue. Jongwook 'Wookie ' Kim, an attorney and legal director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, told the Star-Advertiser that the SVT program is 'deeply alarming ' from a civil liberties perspective. 'Pouring resources into license plate readers, drones and cameras is investing in the creation of a 'Big Brother'-like surveillance state. While the state may claim to be focused on improving public safety, blanketing Waikiki with advanced surveillance technology is not about safety—it's about public control, ' said Kim. 'We should be extremely wary of initiatives like this one that normalize constant monitoring of everyday life. Whether intentional or not, this kind of surveillance will inevitably chill lawful conduct and the exercise of our fundamental rights. The stakes are high, especially when it's unclear whether there will be meaningful oversight.' Kim believes any program arising from the partnership between government and private businesses needs strict safeguards to ensure that the data collected is not used for purposes beyond its stated intent. 'Without those protections, we risk opening the door to widespread misuse of our personal information. Safety cannot come at the expense of our freedoms, ' he said. Lambert acknowledged that the biggest pushback will be the arguments on overmonitoring. He thanked WBID for supporting the discussions around this initiative and hopes the community will support the additional monitoring with the intent to 'identify and deter crime.' 'From a personal standpoint, as a law-abiding citizen, I could care less if I'm being videoed as I'm walking down the street, if the intent is to deter someone from robbing me. The reality is this : If you aren't breaking the law, then there is nothing to worry about, ' said Lambert.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Hawaii DLE director details gun buyback event
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The state is hosting another gun buyback event this weekend aimed to encourage residents to surrender unwanted firearms in exchange for gift cards, with no questions asked and no identification required. Bill to legalize sports betting in Hawaii gaining steam 'We're asking anybody who has firearms that they no longer have use for, to go ahead and turn those in, and we'll go ahead and exchange those for some gift cards at a local grocery store,' said the state's new Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert. The state held gun buybacks in 2024, with one in August giving out $53,100 in gift cards. Lambert thinks it can create a safer environment for residents.'What it does is it reduces the amount of guns that perhaps are not being stored or cared for correctly. What we find is that sometimes there are gun owners that pass, and their family members don't have the same love or passion for guns. And that can be a very dangerous combination for many reasons. Maybe they're not stored properly. Secondly, they may not be handled properly. So what we wanna do is take those off your hands and exchange that to incentivize people to exchange it for gift cards.' Guns that are turned in are reviewed and if stolen, returned to the legal owner. If it isn't stolen, it is destroyed in a big metal shredder. This is one of Lambert's first events as the new head of DLE. 'I've been Honolulu-centric for twenty-two years, meaning that I will fight tooth and nail for everything that, you know, matters to Honolulu,' he said of his career as Major for the Honolulu Police Department. 'Now it's just a matter of, I guess, broadening my vision and opening my heart to all counties. So after the legislative session, I definitely wanna get out to the other county chiefs and see how the state can go ahead and support their operations.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The event is Saturday at Aloha Stadium's gate 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Pricey Honolulu police robot dog is out of service
In the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, flush with federal relief money, the Honolulu Police Department made national headlines for spending $150,000 on a robot dog. A four-legged machine that can walk and even dance, Spot was ostensibly purchased to take people's temperatures at a city-run homeless encampment, an explanation that attracted so much criticism that HPD leaders were hauled before the Honolulu City Council in 2021. There, they defended the six-figure purchase by saying Spot would actually be useful for years to come. 'The ideas you can come up with would be endless as far as its future potential use beyond the pandemic,' then-Lt. Mike Lambert told the council. Four years later, Spot is playing dead. 'The department still has the robotic dog but is not deploying it at this time,' HPD spokesperson Michelle Yu said via email. In fact, Spot hasn't been used since 2021, she said, and the department apparently doesn't know what to do with it. 'In-house programmers are currently reviewing its software capabilities and assessing how it can be used to assist with possible future tasks, such as searches and surveillance,' Yu said. The robot was purchased with part of Honolulu's $386 million in federal CARES Act money, of which $40 million was granted to HPD by then-mayor Kirk Caldwell. Besides Spot, HPD spent millions on new trucks, ATVs and overtime used to cite people in closed public parks. Meanwhile, residents were struggling to access financial assistance through a city program meant to help them pay for rent and childcare. 'For us to invest that into a robot instead of people, it's not only disconcerting from a fiduciary point of view, it's concerning from a humanity point of view,' said Camron Hurt, executive director of the government accountability nonprofit Common Cause Hawaii. 'We should've been putting our people first.' Wookie Kim, legal director at American Civil Liberties Union Hawaiʻi, said the sidelining of Spot validates public concerns from years ago that it was a waste of money. HPD's approach to buying it was 'entirely backwards,' he said. 'It very clearly was a toy,' he said. 'You should have a problem in mind and figure out the tools or strategies you need to address that problem, not buy a tool and figure out what problems to solve with it.' Lambert, now director of the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, did not respond to a message left with his office on Friday afternoon. In a statement, Assistant Chief Darren Chun of HPD's Special Field Operations Bureau said Spot did serve a purpose. In 2021, the robot was used more than 100 times for 'contactless temperature checks, client interviews and telemedicine appointments via tablet' at the city's Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage program. The so-called POST program offered unsheltered homeless people a legal place to camp overnight with police oversight and the promise of referrals to services. 'It's important to remember that there were a lot of unknowns at the outset of the COVID pandemic,' he said. 'Social distancing and contact tracing were in place, and the public was being advised to severely limit person-to-person contact to reduce the spread of the virus.' Before Spot was purchased, officers and site workers had extended face-to-face contact with clients, some of whom were Covid-positive, he said. After each actual or potential exposure, he said staff had to be tested and quarantined for two weeks or until cleared by a doctor. 'Spot reduced the risk of contracting and spreading COVID at the site for clients, officers and workers,' Chun said. The ACLU, however, found the use of robots to help with homeless individuals' healthcare to be 'dehumanizing,' Kim said. Spot was transferred to HPD's Major Events Division in late 2021, and the IT division took it over in May 2024, Yu said. Following complaints about HPD's CARES Act spending, the U.S. Treasury Office of the Inspector General launched a review. In 2021, the office determined the department's purchases, including the robot dog, were legally permissible. Spot can be equipped with various add-ons, including cameras, sensors, thermal imaging tools and hazardous substance detectors. Police departments around the country have acquired the robot dogs to help with SWAT missions and other tactical challenges. Hurt said he sees possible uses for Spot in patrolling city parks at night or monitoring Kakaʻako for 'smash and grabs.' 'If they are capable, why have they not been used for that?' Hurt asked. However, community members and academics across the country have raised concerns about potential misuse of Spot's surveillance capabilities and the possibility it could be weaponized. Kim said the risk is too great that this powerful technology could be used to harm people. 'It's like the hammer that sees everything as a nail,' he said. 'They should get rid of it, instead of what it sounds like, trying to find some use for it and potentially increase the odds that it violates people's rights.' ___
