LIHUE — Todd Raybuck has officially taken over as chief of the Kauai Police Department.
Only a few locals came to watch the change of command ceremony at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall on Monday morning, but a number of distinguished guests were in attendance, including Pacific Missile Range Facility commander Capt. Vincent Johnson, Senate President Ron Kouchi and Kauai Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami.
“This is one of the most nerve-wracking speeches I’ve ever had to give,” Kawakami said, as he stepped up to the podium, encouraging the solemn crowd of police officers, politicians and family members to lighten up and enjoy the ceremony.
Kawakami started by thanking Michael Contrades for standing in as acting-chief of police following the retirement of former KPD Chief Darryl Perry last July.
“I cannot tell you how grateful the people of Kauai are for the sacrifices you have made,” Kawakami told Contrades. “So from the bottom of our hearts, mahalo nui loa.”
Then, turning to the incoming police chief, Kawakami welcomed Raybuck “with open arms.”
“Kauai is now your home,” he said, adding a half-serious word of advice.
“We’re not always going to see eye-to-eye,” he cautioned, promising Raybuck, “I will always fight and strive to get to a place where we can see heart-to-heart.”
Contrades spoke next. From the start, he was overcome with emotion as he prepares to retire after nearly a quarter century with the KPD.
“I knew this was going to be difficult,” he began.
Contrades called Raybuck a “very impressive person,” who he has talked with on an almost-daily basis in recent weeks in preparation for handing over the reigns of the department. He said Raybuck impressed him as an accomplished, sincere and knowledgeable law enforcement officer whose personality will be a nice fit for the KPD and the island.
“He has that local style,” he said.
The outgoing chief gave a few words of encouragement to the officers that had been under his command and noted some of the department’s achievements during his tenure, pointing specifically to the implementation of an online crime reporting system and the creation of a police exam prep course for new recruits, “which is already showing positive results.”
He praised the KPD patrol bureau for continuing to provide a “high level of service” despite shortages that have forced many of Kauai’s beat cops to frequently work 17-hour shifts, promising the officers that “hiring will continue to be a top priority.”
“This is where it gets difficult,” Contrades said, his voice breaking mid-sentence. “To my family, I know it wasn’t easy, but thank you for putting up with me.”
After some brief formalities that made the change of command official, Raybuck addressed the KPD officers for the first time as chief of police.
“I don’t think this is ever gonna happen again,” he said. “So I’m going to take a photo.”
Raybuck pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the 30 or so officers that had saluted him moments before, after his wife pinned on the new badge.
“I’m honored to wear this uniform,” Raybuck said, telling the story of how he began his career in law enforcement in Hawaii, when he joined the Air Force and was stationed on Oahu from 1987 to 1990. “I have to say, it feels good to be back in blue.”
Raybuck’s speech primarily focused on his continuing efforts to get to know the island and its people and reiterated his pledge to work toward resolving the departments ongoing staffing shortage.
The new police chief talked about plans to build trust and respect, with a special emphasis on the island’s youth, a segment of the population from which he hopes to recruit KPD officers in the future.
“I look forward to the opportunity to talk story with you, and malaho nui loa,” he said.
Good Riddance to Contrades and how is the Kauai Serial Killer protector Asher still working for KPD? He went on America’s Most Wanted and lied to the nation and the world while all of the west side knew who was the Kauai Serial Killer and posted flyers describing the KPD and Hawaii MOB the company connection.
Now you all see how only 30 officers showed up while majority showed up for Perry. This sends a huge message on how the Dept is split and majority are dirty cops. They won’t embrace a decorated officer like Chief Raybuck for the same reason they got rid of a few police chiefs prior to handpicking Perry.
Will Chief Raybuck finally change the untrusted police Dept? It wasn’t only the fact that the top ranking officials in kpd protected the Kauai Serial Killer but a culmination of many
Instances where the public had prior knowledge or information on kpd’s illegal activities as well as covering up crimes, rapes, and murders.
How is a Dept with over 200 employees not there supporting their new Chief? How is it that their families aren’t there to support him? No free food? No drinks? No under the table deals? No quid pro quo? Be careful Chief because this shows that they are plotting and planning against you and all you have to do is ask previous chiefs that they’ve colluded in tarnishing their reputation and got them fired or replaced by someone that they know will protect the powers.
Good Riddance to dirty cops. Kauai opens its hearts, minds, and arms to true men and women who want to serve and protect honorably. The people of Kauai will wait and hope to see that this is a new era where the trust is restored.
Good Luck Chief Raybuck!
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan
Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity
White and blue collar crime on Kauai is out of control.
I want to know how much the Bus stops cost the taxpayers. Was it $80,000 per shelter like it was outrageously overbid and proposed? Like the $100 million dollar bike path (multiNOmodal path) or the $10 million dollar plant trees in the middle of the road, under electrical wires, put 20 cross walks, and paint lines and call it a bike path all for a discounted price of $10 million like what’s being proposed for Rice st and yet they ask for raises equally to $5 hr or more. Yeah who would like a $5 hr raise right about now from raised taxes? County employees sure do and have nothing to show for!
Kauai County opens 9 new bus shelters in an effort to improve service
April 22, 2019 at 9:40 AM HST – Updated April 22 at 9:40 AM
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Starting Monday, nine new and relocated bus shelters for the Kauai Bus will be available.
The bus shelters are located along Kuhio and Kaumualii Highways.
County officials said the new shelters will improve overall service to the public.
Copyright 2019 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
What happened to this story and where did the $100 million dollars go to? That’s $100,000 per classroom (1,000). That’s an expensive AC unit must be able to create snow flurries and blizzard to mimic the north pole .
Skyrocketing bids delay plans to cool Hawaii’s classrooms
By Jim Mendoza | June 23, 2016 at 8:32 PM HST – Updated July 10 at 9:00 PM
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The breakdown of the bids to cool portable classrooms at three elementary schools on Oahu show prices even higher than the $135,000 per classroom previously quoted by the Department of Education.
The bid to air condition one portable classroom at Ewa Beach Elementary ranged from a low of $102,000 from CC Engineering to a high bid of about $361,000 submitted by Contech Engineering.
Bids to cool a portable at Aliamanu Elementary ranged from $81,000 to $181,000. At August Ahrens Elementary, bids came in between $92,000 and $240,000 per portable.
Copyright 2016 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
That’s a DOE and it’s contractors as well as a Democratic Party RACKET.
Lets hope this Chief can clean out the department from all the mis-management that Perry, Contrades, And Asher has done through the years.
Hope he can see through the balarcy