Kaua‘i County Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Monday announced that Police Chief Darryl Perry was officially off paid leave and back on the job, even though Perry said he had been on the job since last month. “We stand here
Kaua‘i County Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Monday announced that Police Chief Darryl Perry was officially off paid leave and back on the job, even though Perry said he had been on the job since last month.
“We stand here today, side by side,” Carvalho said at a news conference outside county offices in Lihu‘e, at which he shook hands with Perry and Kaua‘i County Police Commission Chair Ernest Kanekoa Jr.
“If it is going to court, so be it,” the mayor later said, referring to the continuing controversy over whether he had authority to first suspend the police chief Feb. 1 and then place him on paid leave a week later.
The police commission later in February ordered Perry to return to work, and he was back on the job Feb. 22, even though the mayor continued to maintain that Perry was on leave.
What Monday’s announcement means for Perry is that he will regain access to his office and equipment, including his gun, badge and equipment — access denied to him after he was ordered back to work.
“While I still firmly believe that I have the authority to take the actions that resulted in the chief being placed on leave, I also believe that through discussion with the commission, we have reached a place of consensus on how the department should be managed beginning today,” Carvalho said.
“We’ll work hand in hand,” the mayor said.
The mayor first suspended and then placed Perry on leave in connection with an internal employee complaint that neither man has discussed, saying the case is still under investigation. Two assistant chiefs remain on paid leave in connection with the case.
A source close to the matter said the question of whether the mayor had the authority to suspend and then place Perry on leave would likely end up in court.
Kanekoa said at the news conference that the commission stood by its decision to return Perry to work last month.
“We will continue to work closely with the commission,” Carvalho said, adding that several meetings occurred before Monday’s announcement.
“Discussions among our administration, our legal team, the leadership of the Police Commission and the chief himself have helped us to arrive at this decision, where we are confident that the chief can provide the leadership for this organization while the investigation into an employee complaint is conducted with integrity to its conclusion,” the mayor said.
“I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement,” Kanekoa said, and added that future meetings would take place.
“I just want to get the department on track,” Perry said, adding that he “will be looking internally at how to boost morale” among some of his officers.
His message to the public was: “You can trust and have confidence in our officers.”
Perry also said he was glad to have access to his equipment.
“As a police officer, if you don’t have your equipment, it’s a safety issue,” he said. “It’s a liability.”
The chief also said he had consulted with federal authorities about files on his computer, which had been removed from his office.
“I have secret clearance with the federal government, and my computer was removed,” he said.
The department had been under the supervision of Acting Chief Michael Contrades, who reportedly will return next week after being away from Kaua‘i for FBI training since the beginning of the year.
The mayor would not comment on why he selected an absent officer to act as police chief while Perry was on leave, but he expressed confidence in Contrades.
Kanekoa said Contrades “is up to date with the day-to-day operations” of the department.
The mayor thanked Contrades and “all the men and women of the Kaua‘i Police Department for their hard work over this past month. You have provided stability and continuity throughout a challenging, challenging period of time.”
