Kauaʻi police officers ready to move forward as Chief finally announces retirement date
HONOLULU (KHON2) — After months of uncertainty, the future is starting to become clearer for the Kauaʻi Police Department.
The chief of police finally announced his retirement date, which officers say will allow for a much-needed reboot of the department.
Former Honolulu police chief returns to Hawaii
In a letter to the Kauaʻi Police Commission, Chief Todd Raybuck said he's retiring on June 12. He first announced he was leaving back in November.
'It's something we've been talking about for more than a year now is that this department really needs a complete refresh to start back over to build up what it's lost over the last couple of years,' said Dustin Derollo, SHOPO attorney.
Raybuck was sworn in as Kauaʻi's top cop in 2019.
In 2021, he was disciplined for violating the county's policy against discrimination after comments he made at work.
Last year, he was suspended for three days after he left his gun in a station bathroom
Check out more news from around Hawaii
A department survey found issues with his leadership style, which caused a lack of trust among officers. Union leaders preferred Raybuck to leave when he made the announcement, so the department could start looking to the future.
'Everybody's been unable to do that,' said Derollo. 'You know, it's kind of been I don't even want to say a holding pattern. It's like going in slow motion, but doing so very carefully because you don't know where danger lies ahead.'
The department says Raybuck gave the commission advance notice of his retirement, 'allowing them the time necessary to begin the important process of selecting the next chief.'
Raybuck will officially transfer his command to Interim Chief Kalani Ke on June 12. The job opening was recently posted and will be open for a little over a month.
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Whoever the next chief is, officers say they just want someone who'll listen to their concerns and be accountable.
'And they want to be inspired,' said Derollo. 'They want to see that they can start over. They want to be part of the solution of rebuilding the department that they know that they are.'
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