Kaua'i police chief's status not on agenda

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser KauaÎi Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Police Commission will meet Friday in its first session since placing Chief George Freitas on administrative leave.

Neither the commission nor the chief has made any public comment about the events leading up to Freitas' departure. The department is under the command of Deputy Chief Wilfred Ihu.

The chief's status is not on the public agenda for the Friday meeting, but the commission has scheduled a closed-door executive session during which the issue may be discussed. County attorneys have advised the commission and police employees to make no public statements about the chief's situation.

The 120 days of leave was in response to a unanimous request by the Police Commission after it discussed a formal complaint filed by two police officers on Aug. 10, the office of Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said last week.

The allegations involve Freitas' handling of a criminal case pending against police officer Nelson Gabriel, who was charged in 1999 with sexual assault. Gabriel is scheduled for trial next month.

Deputy County Attorney Laurel Loo said the commission plans to hire an independent party to investigate the officers' complaint and make a report to the commission.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.