Tenari Maafala, president of Hawaii’s police union, just gave an impassioned speech to the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee.

The council, of course, is expected to approve $200 million in cost items that were included in a new contract for the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers at its next full meeting in August.

Maafala told the council members that they’ll never understand the difficulties and dangers officers face on a daily basis. This is true whether officers are on-duty or off, he said.

Maafala even recounted a story in which he encountered a “gang member” who was firing a gun on the street during a party. Maafala said he got into a shoot out with the man, killing him.

“When we walk out that door our family doesn’t know when we’re coming home,” Maafala said.

The union president’s words seemed to resonate with the council as many members lauded police officers for going “above and beyond” in their duties to protect the community.

Later today, the budget committee will consider several new bills that will allow the city to raise property tax revenues to help pay for soaring union costs.

—Nick Grube