Kaua'i council denied update on police chief

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser KauaÎi Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — County Attorney Hartwell Blake yesterday refused to give County Council members an update on the investigation of Police Chief George Freitas, citing concerns about confidential personnel matters and lawsuits.

Blake even refused Councilman Gary Hooser's request for a briefing in a closed-door executive session.

"It's a personnel matter and there have been threats of litigation" regarding the release of personal information, he told the council's Energy and Public Safety Committee.

"What happened to working together?" asked Councilman Kaipo Asing.

Freitas has been on paid leave since August, pending completion of a Kaua'i Police Commission investigation of complaints brought against him by two senior officers.

The nature of the complaints, which were released at a commission meeting last week, involve interfering in a criminal investigation, inappropriate use of a county vehicle and rudeness to the two officers who brought the complaints.

Council Chairman Ron Kouchi has expressed fear that the Police Commission's handling of the case will end up in Freitas' suing the county.

Hooser said that as the legislative arm for the county, the council needs to know what's going on in the case. Blake was firm.

"I've been advised of two threatened lawsuits and possibly a third regarding the release of information in this case," he said.

Freitas and his attorney, former state Attorney General Margery Bronster, have offered to waive the chief's right to privacy and to have all further meetings in public.

But Deputy County Attorney Laurel Loo said there are other people's rights involved, as well.

"We feel we are precluded" from revealing information that might harm "the privacy interests of other people involved," Loo said.