Posted at 11:20 a.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2001

Kaua'i police chief pulled from job

Advertiser staff

FREITAS: Reported to be under investigation

Kaua'i police chief George Freitas has been placed on leave, and his deputy has been named acting police chief, said a spokeswoman for the mayor's office.

Deputy chief Wilfred Ihu will run the department until further notice, said Beth Tokioka, a spokeswoman for Mayor Marianne Kusaka.

She declined to say why Freitas was placed on leave or how long it would last. Freitas has been the island's police chief for nearly six years.

Television station KITV reported that Freitas was under investigation for allegations he hindered a sexual assault investigation involving a police officer.

Tokioka said her office was not the source of that report, and she would not confirm or deny the allegations.