Sen. Will Espero, chair of Senate Public Safety, Government Affairs and Military Operations, has asked administration officials to check whether the state Capitol’s surveillance system is broken.

Excerpts from an email Espero sent out Wednesday (March 7) to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Public Safety Director Jodie  Maesaka-Hirata and others:

I am concerned that the maintenance of the Capitol security system has not been a priority, and it has been allowed to deteriorate. 

These “extra eyes” monitored from the Sheriff’s Office in the Capitol chambers are a layer of security intended to lessen the need for more deputy sheriffs physically located at the Capitol. A security system that costs just under $500,000 should have maintenance on a regular basis.

Photo of generic surveillance camera courtesy zigazou76.