The Kaua‘i Police Commission recently announced their decision to not take further action against Police Chief Todd Raybuck after considering two complaints alleging retaliation against officers. The complaints, known as KPC 2024-005 and 2024-006, were dealt with in an executive session yesterday. The Commission concluded that the evidence presented did not support the allegations to justify further action. In an open session that followed the executive discussion, the resolution was shared with those in attendance before the meeting was closed.
Seemingly set on turning a new page, the Commission also addressed the upcoming retirement of Chief Raybuck, which he had announced to Kaua‘i Police Department employees earlier on Nov. 13. According to the official statement released on the County of Kauai, the Commission has resolved to form two permitted interaction groups designed to swiftly prepare recommendations for hiring a new chief of police along with an interim chief.
The selection process for a new chief follows guidelines outlined in the Kaua‘i Police Commission Rules 4-1 through 4-3. However, there's a point of order to note. The Kaua‘i County Charter was amended in 2020, affecting the minimum requirements for the Chief of Police position. The Police Commission’s rules, last amended in 2018, have yet to be updated to reflect these changes. The Commission's official rules alongside the current County Charter's language on chief of police qualifications can be examined on the Kaua‘i Police Commission’s website and the county’s portal respectively.
It has been emphasized that Chief Raybuck's decision to retire is not connected to any settlement with the Commission, and there is no severance agreement in relation to his retirement. While this decision brings to a close Raybuck's tenure, the announcement marks the beginning of a procedural journey for the Commission. They now have the task of ensuring a seamless transition of leadership within the Kaua‘i Police Department. According to the Kaua‘i Police Commission's statement, this will be the only discourse on the topic at this time, as no further details are available.
