Posted on: Saturday, September 1, 2001
Investigator enters Kaua'i police chief case
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua‘i Bureau
LIHUE, Kaua'i — An investigator for the Honolulu Police Commission has been asked to look into complaints that Kaua'i Police Chief George Freitas interfered with a criminal case involving a police officer.
Freitas, who has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 10, has hired as his lawyer former state Attorney General Margery Bronster.
Bronster yesterday welcomed word that an investigator, who has not been identified, had been assigned to move the case along.
"If this is an indication that the chief is finally going to get his due, then it's a good thing," said Bronster. For one thing, she said, it may mean the chief will have an opportunity to learn the details of the complaints against him and to respond to them.
County officials have confirmed reports that Freitas is accused, in part, of interfering in the criminal investigation of police officer Nelson Gabriel, who is charged with sexual abuse of a minor and is scheduled to go on trial this month. Freitas has denied any wrongdoing.
He was off-island when the Kaua'i Police Commission heard the complaints filed by two officers in a special meeting Aug. 10. Freitas was immediately ordered placed on leave.
"The process to date has been woefully inadequate. The chief should be given an opportunity to tell his side of the story and get the record straight," Bronster said. "He has not even been given full information about what he's being charged with."
Bronster said the county is handling the investigation inappropriately by issuing press releases about the case.
"We want to know what specific complaints are being discussed. We have yet to be officially notified," she said.
County authorities have been instructed by County Attorney Hartwell Blake not to discuss anything about the Freitas affair, since it involves private personnel issues. The only official comment from the county has come in the form of press releases discussing the status of the investigation and confirming Freitas' being placed on leave, but not dealing with specifics of the complaints.
Bronster said the county has been handling the case improperly. She said the commission did not have the legal power to place the chief on leave.
