Statement by Kaua‘i Police Commission on Police Chief Todd Raybuck

Published on November 22, 2024

LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Commission issues the following statement on their decision Friday, Nov. 22, regarding two complaints against Police Chief Todd Raybuck.

“Today, after considering the evidence gathered during the investigations of Complaints KPC 2024-005 and 2024-006, both alleging that Police Chief Todd Raybuck retaliated against officers, the Police Commission declined to pursue further action on both complaints. The Police Commission found that the evidence does not support the allegations made in the Complaints to justify further action.” – Kaua‘i Police Commission.

Complaints KPC 2024-005 and 2024-006 were discussed by the Kaua‘i Police Commission during their monthly meeting in executive session on Friday. Their decision was announced in open session before closing the meeting.

Also on the agenda Friday were two discussion items regarding the chief of police’s retirement, following Chief Raybuck’s announcement to Kaua‘i Police Department employees on Nov. 13. The Commission decided to form two permitted interaction groups to formulate recommendations for the Commission’s consideration related to the hiring of a new police chief and an interim chief.

The Kaua‘i Police Commission Rules 4-1 through 4-3 outlines the general selection process for the Chief of Police. Kaua‘i Police Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure can be found on the Kaua‘i Police Commission’s website, https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions/Police-Commission. Please note that the Kaua‘i County Charter Sec. 11.04 was amended in 2020 which changed the minimum requirements for the Chief of Police. However, KPC Rules do not currently reflect the 2020 Charter Amendment as the rules were last amended in 2018. To view the current language in the Charter of the County of Kaua‘i, Section 11.04, please visit the following link: https://www.kauai.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/county-council/documents/council-meetings/the-charter-of-the-county-of-kauai-2022.pdf.

Chief Raybuck’s retirement announcement is unrelated to any settlement with the Kaua‘i Police Commission, and there is no severance agreement tied to his decision to retire.

This will be the only statement from the Kaua‘i Police Commission on this matter at this time, as no further information is available.

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