Maui Police Chief to Seek Return to Job at Nov. 18 Commission Hearing
Chief John Pelletier plans to request reinstatement after one month on paid leave, citing a lack of legal basis for his suspension.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier will ask the Maui Police Commission to restore his duties at a meeting scheduled for Nov. 18. He has been on paid leave for one month since the commission removed his police powers on Oct. 7.
Attorney Eric Seitz represented Pelletier in this move. Seitz stated that the chief wants to return to work and is choosing to meet with the commission instead of filing a lawsuit immediately.
The leave was ordered pending an independent investigation into Pelletier's oversight of the Criminal Intelligence Unit. The commander of that unit faces accusations of accepting bribes.
Seitz argued that the commission acted without meeting with Pelletier first. "Our position is, why do you take an action without at least meeting with a person and presenting to that person some grounds?" Seitz said. "We're not aware of any legal or factual basis for why any action was taken against him."
The attorney said Pelletier and his family are upset by the suspension. "He's very upset and his family is very upset because none of this was warranted," Seitz said.
Pelletier believes Mayor Richard Bissen pressured the commission to take action. Bissen has denied this claim. Seitz noted that animosity between county leadership and Pelletier likely influenced the decision.
Colleen Uechi, editor of the Hawaii Journalism Initiative on Maui, said the Nov. 18 meeting is the first chance for Pelletier to address the board. Uechi observed that the timing of the dispute near the general election may have limited its political impact.
Pelletier previously accused Bissen of being under criminal investigation before the election. Maui's prosecuting attorney said that claim was not true. Bissen won reelection over Yuki Lei Sugimura.
