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Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck’s retirement next year comes as he faces potential disciplinary action for leaving his gun in a bathroom stall. But the island’s police commission vowed to persist with the proceedings so the public can get answers.

Raybuck has faced other controversies during his five-and-a-half year tenure, including allegations he made racist comments about Japanese people and created a hostile work environment for employees. A recent found widespread dissatisfaction and low morale in the department.

Raybuck said Wednesday in a letter to staff that he will retire from law enforcement in 2025 to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his health and wellness.

That was just over a week before the Kauai Police Commission, which has authority to hire and fire police chiefs, is due to discuss disciplinary action against Raybuck over accusations that he left his loaded Glock in a police station bathroom stall in March for the second time in two years.

Police commission member John Calma said commissioners will disclose what, if any, disciplinary action they believe should be taken against Raybuck at an upcoming meeting. He would not provide details of the commission’s investigation or say what type of disciplinary action it may recommend.

Raybuck 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’s next monthly meeting is on Friday. Members are scheduled to discuss the chief’s retirement and the hiring of an interim chief, .

A Fresh Start?

In , Raybuck said he took “full responsibility” for leaving his weapon in the restroom outside his office and promised to fully cooperate with the police commission’s process.

“The employee restroom is located in a secured area of the department that requires access via an employee key card,” he said. “However, I recognize the serious nature of this incident. My firearm was located by another police department employee who took the appropriate steps to secure the firearm.”

Kauai police spokeswoman Tiana Victorino declined a request for an interview with Raybuck and said he is in Jacksonville, Florida, at a law enforcement conference until Nov. 26. She also declined a request for an interview with Deputy Chief Mark Ozaki. 

“The Kaua’i Police Department does not have any additional details regarding Chief Raybuck’s resignation and would like to refrain from making any statements,” she wrote in an email.

Robert Cavaco, president of the state police union, which has previously called for Raybuck’s resignation, said in a statement “nothing short of major change” will help boost morale.

“The tremendous challenges identified by Gallup, as well as their recommendations on how to address morale and employee engagement, require a fresh start,” the statement says.

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said he was surprised by Raybuck’s decision to retire because the chief had expressed his desire to make the Garden Isle his permanent home. But Kawakami said he also knew the stress from Raybuck’s term had started to affect the chief’s family.

“I knew he was going through some rough times, that was obvious, but I never thought that it would trigger retirement,” he said. “But in a sense I wasn’t surprised because he does have a family. He has a wife, he has two kids, and I don’t think most people realize that the spouses and the kids probably take it harder than the actual elected official, or leader in his regard.”

Raybuck wrote in his retirement announcement that while his family had supported him in becoming chief, they also “shared in carrying the emotional burdens that come during difficult times.” He didn’t mention the allegations against him.

“There are moments I’ll admit that I got frustrated because any time somebody makes a mistake it becomes my mistake as well because I’ve got to deal with responding to it,” Kawakami said. “But never was it to a point where I felt that he’s unfit to lead.”

Once the chief retires, the position will be posted publicly and commission members will be responsible for considering job candidates. 

Qualifications for position were updated in 2020 in the . The chief was previously only required to have five years of training and experience in law enforcement, but the new qualifications require at least 15 years, as well as a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice, business administration, public administration or another administrative field. 

Raybuck came to Kauai in April 2019 from Las Vegas, where he served for 27 years and rose to the rank of captain. He was a commander on scene in 2017 when a gunman, perched in a hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killed 58 people at an outdoor concert. 

Kauai council member Felicia Cowden said she appreciates the chief’s efforts to work with the department and the county “to make sure that there is a good transition and that Kauai Police Department will be strengthened through this change.”

“The chief has worked hard to do as good a job as possible moving from a very urban police department in the continental United States to a rather rural island police department,” she said, “and so I think that the difference in the culture is the main element that has created some level of turbulence that has been there.” 

But Cowden said hiring a chief from within the department is made more difficult because civil service positions like the assistant chief earn more than the chief and deputy chief. 

The chief’s salary is $158,640, and the deputy chief’s salary is $107,082, according to Kauai County’s fiscal year 2025 budget. The assistant chief earns $172,787 and, unlike the chief and deputy chief, is eligible for overtime. The assistant chief position is also covered by the police union, while the chief and deputy chief are not.

Ozaki previously served as assistant chief but was appointed deputy chief earlier this month. 

Justin Kollar, former prosecuting attorney for the County of Kauai, said as they search for a new chief, the police commission should prioritize candidates who can balance local knowledge with an understanding of broader policing methods. But the salary inversion issue could get in the way of hiring local candidates.

“As long as the police departments in Hawaii are going to maintain that system, you’re going to see a repeat of this set of events,” Kollar said, “where you have otherwise highly qualified folks with long careers and distinguished resumes who want to come and work in the islands, but maybe have not been familiarized enough with the local dynamics to be able to really bring that experience to bear on the communities that they’re coming into.”

Ozaki, who was born and raised on Kauai and has been with the department for 25 years, will take on the chief’s responsibilities once he retires until a new chief or interim chief is hired, Calma said. 

Raybuck did not specify a retirement date in his letter but wrote: “In the remaining months, I will continue to work with the dedicated KPD leadership team to achieve our shared goals.”