Less than a month after the Kaua’i County Police Commission publicly censured chief George Freitas, it was once again business — and Freitas — as usual at Friday’s regularly scheduled commission meeting. Freitas sat at the same table as commission
Less than a month after the Kaua’i County Police Commission publicly censured chief George Freitas, it was once again business — and Freitas — as usual at Friday’s regularly scheduled commission meeting.
Freitas sat at the same table as commission chairman Norman Holt, who had lobbied for a more serious punishment than Freitas received – two written reprimands – just three weeks ago.
Holt and commission member Staunton Pa had voted to reprimand Freitas for driving his girlfriend in a police car and for yelling at former chief inspector Mel Morris, who has since retired from the Police Department.
Pa and Holt were joined in that vote by other commission members but couldn’t get enough votes to discipline Freitas for allegedly interfering in a departmental police investigation of officer Nelson Gabriel.
Gabriel still faces multiple misdemeanor charges in District Court that he harassed and stalked a female police dispatcher.
Also still pending is Freitas’ legal claim against the county for the way he contends he was mistreated during the commission’s four-month investigation into eight allegations against him, including the two that eventually were upheld. Yesterday, he sat talking to Holt and Pa.
Commission member Dede Wilhelm, who is recovering from hip surgery, was absent. She earlier voted to issue Freitas written reprimands on two allegations.
Freitas had indicated he might address the commission Friday about his current situation, vis a vis the status of his legal claims against the county. But other than routine matters of introducing officers and awarding plaques, he said nothing.
Holt, Pa and Freitas didn’t huddle before the meeting, but the trio was cordial while cameras for local access cable television were on.
The meeting started 10 minutes late. The commission was waiting for county attorney Hartwell Blake to arrive.
When a Honolulu newspaper reporter prodded the commission to begin by stating, “You have a quorum,” the only harsh words of the day were uttered.
“We’re waiting for our attorney. You got a problem with that?” Holt responded.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
