The Kaua‘i County Council has confirmed Carol Furtado’s reappointment to a second, three-year term on the Kauai Police Commission. The decision came Thursday after months of delay. Some council members said the lag was unavoidable because they were waiting for
The Kaua‘i County Council has confirmed Carol Furtado’s reappointment to a second, three-year term on the Kauai Police Commission.
The decision came Thursday after months of delay.
Some council members said the lag was unavoidable because they were waiting for information connected with Furtado’s confirmation to the post.
Furtado said the council had questions about a police commission selection process that ultimately resulted in K.C. Lum being named the new police chief, and questions over the hiring or work of an investigator for public claims.
Furtado said she is ready to tackle the very issues that held up her re-appointment.
“We need to address those issues so that future commissioners who go before the council for approval don’t have to face the same things I had to face,” she said.
Furtado said the reasons that held up her re-appointment frustrated her, but noted that “I am finally glad that it is over,” and “I take this job seriously,” Furtado told The Garden Island before the start of the Kaua‘i Police Commission meeting held at the historic County Building on Friday.
Her confirmation was approved following a 4-3 vote by the council.
In support of Furtado’s re-appointment were council vice-chairman James Tokioka and councilmembers JoAnn Yukimura, Daryl Kaneshiro and Jay Furfaro.
Voting against Furtado’s re-appointment were council Chairman Kaipo Asing and councilmembers Mel Rapozo, a retired police sergeant and detective, and Shaylene IseriCarvalho, a former county prosecutor.
Wallace Punua Sr. a former chairman of the police commission, said Furtado is an asset to the body, and that the council’s decision, although not unanimous, was a good one.
“I think they made a good decision. She really does her homework,” Punua said. “Her whole heart is in the job.”
Furtado is also the newly-elected president of the Kauai United Way chapter.
