Kauai Police Chief Gets 3-Day Suspension For Leaving Gun In Bathroom
Chief Todd Raybuck said negative media coverage about complaints against him was the main reason he decided to retire next year.
The Kauai Police Commission decided Friday to suspend Chief Todd Raybuck without pay for three days for leaving his department-issued Glock unsecured in a police station bathroom stall in March.
The decision came just over a week after Raybuck announced plans to retire next year, citing a desire to prioritize his health and well-being and spend time with his family.
Commissioners also looked into two complaints filed against the chief by employees who claimed he retaliated against them for finding his unattended gun on March 4. The commission said it did not find sufficient evidence to justify the complaints and took no action against the chief.
Raybuck that the outcome of the investigation confirms he did not retaliate against his employees over the gun incident. In April, he and took responsibility for his actions.
“It would be ludicrous for me to retaliate against my employees for an incident I self-reported in a timely manner to the police commission before any complaint was filed against me,” he said in a statement published Friday.
He also wrote that he accepted the three-day suspension issued by the commission.
“Some of my most valuable lessons in life have been learned through my mistakes,” the statement said. “I hope that others have learned the importance of properly securing firearms from my experience.”
Raybuck, who previously worked in Las Vegas, added that the media coverage about the issue has been difficult on his family and was the main reason he decided to retire.
“I recognize that public scrutiny is part of being a public official,” the statement says. “However, it is unfair for my family to continue bearing the emotional burdens resulting from individuals with agendas attacking my reputation and making false claims against me. For this reason alone, I have decided to retire from law enforcement.”
Raybuck has faced other problems since coming to Kauai in 2019. He was suspended without pay for five days in April 2021 after a Kauai County Human Resources Department investigation found he violated discrimination policy with his remarks about Japanese people. He later in a statement posted on YouTube.
The commission also formed two sub-groups to discuss recommendations for the hiring of an interim chief and a new chief. The groups will be allowed to meet outside of regular commission meetings, which happen once a month.
The chief does not have a severance agreement with the county, spokesperson Kim Tamaoka said.
Raybuck has said he’ll retire next year but hasn’t given a specific date.
“I will continue to offer the necessary leadership and support for the remainder of my time with the department,” he wrote.
