Hawaii’s police union plans to make due on its threat to halt the Kauai Police Department’s body camera program, which is set to launch next week.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers believes it must sign off on the department’s policy regulating the technology before it can be used.

But since Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry is ignoring that demand, SHOPO told him in a letter Tuesday that the union plans to go the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

According to SHOPO attorney Norman Kato, the union believes that the policy is a manner of mandatory negotiations under its collective bargaining agreement.

Perry, however, is undeterred and said in an emailed statement Tuesday that he plans to move ahead despite the union’s threat.

Here’s what he had to say:

KPD is proceeding with the roll out of the Body-Worn Camera Program while we await notification that an official complaint has been filed.  

If the Hawaii Labor Relations Board decides to take their complaint under consideration we shall abide by all rules and file the necessary documents to address SHOPO’s claims.  

However, I would be very disappointed with SHOPO’s adversarial approach, because further delays would be harmful to our officers—their members—and the community which we took an oath of office to serve and protect.

Civil Beat previously reported on the spat between Perry and SHOPO. You can read that story here.

This is SHOPO’s letter to Perry:

SHOPO letter to Perry (Text)