Kaua’i County Police chief George Freitas was back on the job Monday morning, walking into police headquarters in Lihu’e under a sign that welcomed him about 8 in the morning. Within minutes, Freitas had reassigned Jackie Tokashiki, who had served
Kaua’i County Police chief George Freitas was back on the job Monday morning, walking into police headquarters in Lihu’e under a sign that welcomed him about 8 in the morning.
Within minutes, Freitas had reassigned Jackie Tokashiki, who had served as secretary to the county’s police chiefs for the past 20 years.
“She is working for someone else in the building. At this point I am not going to do anything with that position,” Freitas said later Monday.
The secretary had reportedly expressed her support of interim chief Will Ihu during Freitas’ suspension.
Freitas had no comment about that, and Tokashiki couldn’t be reached.
Last Thursday, after learning of his reinstatement, Freitas said there would be “an assessment of organizational loyalty.”
Freitas said Monday he was enjoying his first day back, despite some earlier apprehension about returning to the office he’d been asked to leave Aug. 13.
Freitas was placed on leave, with pay, by the county Police Commission while eight allegations of wrongdoing by him, filed by recently retired chief inspector Mel Morris and Lt. Alvin Seto, were investigated by an investigator from the Honolulu Police Commission.
The Kaua’i commission has dropped five of the eight allegations, determining them not applicable or not provable. The three remaining allegations can’t be adjudicated until a federal judge rules Jan. 14 on whether the commission can proceed.
“I was a little bit anxious about doing this, coming back here, but God, I really do like this job and I am glad to be back,” Freitas said.
Later in the morning, Freitas had a brief meeting with Ihu, the deputy chief. Detractors of Freitas said he was upset that Ihu had promoted more than 10 men within the department during his nearly five months as interim chief, but Freitas said there was no truth to those rumors.
At their meeting, Ihu “was just filling me in on what has happened. We’re going to move slowly,” Freitas said, adding he feels “a little bit awkward. I’m trying to stay out of everyone’s way.”
Freitas said he’d “probably spend most of the day just saying hello to people.”
Some officers reported anonymously that the environment at police headquarters was tense Monday, but an equal number of officers said they were happy to have the chief back.
At least two County Council members are hopeful that Freitas’ reinstatement will shift the focus back to police work instead of police politics.
“It seems like a step toward resolution, and that’s what we all want. The challenge for the chief and others will be rebuilding bridges,” Councilman Gary Hooser said.
“It is unfortunate that this is what gets the attention at a time when we are able to graduate 11 new officers. We have a great recruiting class, and many officers in the department are doing a fine job,” said Councilman Ron Kouchi, referring to last week’s graduation at the police academy.
“We need to come to a lawful resolution. Rightfully, under the law, the chief should be returned to work while the rest of the charges are decided,” Kouchi said.
County spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said Mayor Maryanne Kusaka had no comment.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
