LIHU‘E — Russell Grady, a Kaua‘i Community College health educator and Lihu‘e resident, was up for confirmation by members of the Kaua‘i County Council yesterday as the newest member of the Kaua‘i Police Commission.
An appointee of Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, Grady said he welcomed the chance to serve on a commission that has been embroiled in some controversies, including a lawsuit filed against county leaders by Commissioner Michael Ching over refusal to release executive-session minutes.
Ching is seeking the release of the minutes of an executive session council members held in January, where they reportedly discussed an investigation of members of the Kaua‘i Police Department.
Grady pledged his willingness to serve while he was being interviewed for the job during a special meeting of the council at the historic County Building Thursday morning.
The session over his appointment stretched into Thursday evening without resolution at press time.
During their afternoon meeting in the same building, council members were poised to take action on a resolution to confirm his appointment. If the action was favorable, Grady would replace the Rev. Thomas Iannucci.
Iannucci, a resident of South Kaua‘i, served for five or six months, and recently stepped down from the post, saying he wanted to spend more time with his parishioners and his family. He is senior pastor of Breath of Life Christian Ministries in Lihu‘e.
Following the interview with the council, Grady said he would work with other commissioners to resolve any controversies that came their way, including one involving Commissioner Ching’s lawsuit, which has put members of the council, the funding agency for KPD, and the Police Commission at odds with one another.
Ching recently filed a lawsuit seeking the minutes from that meeting which state Office of Information Practices attorneys say county officials should release.
County attorneys asserted the meeting was conducted legally in accordance with the state sunshine law, and that the OIP attorney’s opinion calling for the release of the minutes was flawed.
“Controversy doesn’t bother me,” Grady said. “I hope to resolve these controversies.”
Grady said a seat on the county commission would be his first, and that he looked forward to serving.
“I have always been involved with the Kaua‘i Police Department via sports and athletics,” he said. He has worked as a referee and umpire for basketball and softball tournaments sponsored by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO).
Grady said he wants to hear from officers on how to improve the department.
When asked by council members on his feelings about getting feedback from officers on training and equipment needs, Grady responded, “absolutely.”
“We have a lot of great officers, and I want to support them in every which way possible,” he said after the interview.
Grady also said he would be as dedicated to the job as the next commissioner, but had concerns that meetings might be a little too long.
He said he could put up with lengthy meetings if he had to, but would call for shorter meetings if needed.
“I guess that (long meetings) is one more of your challenges,” said Council Chairman Kaipo Asing.
The commissioners periodically hold long meetings to try to resolve matters related to raising the standards and operations of KPD.
Councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, a former deputy county prosecutor, noted most police officers have the qualifications to become the chief of police.
She said any person eligible to become the chief must have a minimum of five years of training in law enforcement and three years in a responsible administrative capacity.
“Do you think these requirements are sufficient?” Iseri-Carvalho asked Grady.
Grady said he was not up to speed yet on the specific requirements, but noted that that question “could be addressed.”
Grady said after the meeting that he would like to study the eligibility requirements to see if any needed to be added or deleted.
Grady was accompanied to the council interview by his wife, Sheryl, an employee of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.
