HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - With more than 600 officer and civilian openings at the Honolulu Police Department, a new report is offering solutions.

Lawmakers and law enforcement leaders say the key to reducing vacancies is incentives.

Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Andria Tupola led a task force to produce a 26-page report on ways to increase staffing at HPD. The document mentioned that housing stipends have helped with staffing woes at police departments across the country.

Tupola and the task force’s report suggest offering a $500 monthly housing stipend at HPD.

“We all know housing is extremely expensive here, and it’s one of the chief reasons why a lot of individuals that choose to leave,” said police union vice president Jonathan Frye, who was on the 11-member task force.

The re

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