LIHUE Former county councilmember Mel Rapozo has been hired as an investigator for the Kauai County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, according to a county spokesperson.
LIHUE — Former county councilmember Mel Rapozo has been hired as an investigator for the Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, according to a county spokesperson.
The spokesperson confirmed rumors about Rapozo’s appointment via email Wednesday afternoon but offered no further details about the position other than the length of the contract — 89 days.
The county prosecutor’s office is staffed with one full-time investigator and two part-time, contract investigators who have the powers and duties of police officers, according to a federal grant application Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar recently submitted for County Council approval.
In a written statement Thursday, Kollar said Rapozo will be handling criminal investigations for the Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit, filling a job vacancy that arose from a retirement in the unit earlier this year.
“We are excited to have Mel aboard,” Kollar said. “His wealth of experience and skills make him an asset to our office.”
Rapozo, a former Kauai Police Department officer, was first elected to the council in 2002, and served until 2008. He was reelected two years later and served until term limits made him ineligible to continue, acting as council chair for his final two years in office.
Rapozo owns and operates a private investigation company and works at Timbers Resort at Hokuala as night auditor. He submitted an application for county auditor last December and is rumored to be among the candidates being considered for the position. He did not respond to phone calls about his new job.
•••
Caleb Loehrer, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cloehrer@thegardenisland.com.
