LIHU‘E — The County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Police Department had no comment on a $1.84 million lawsuit settlement against the county concerning a current assistant chief.
Assistant Chief Mark Begley was put on paid administrative leave in March 2012 when he filed a stress-based worker’s compensation claim, citing a hostile work environment. He was reinstated in June 2019.
In 2016, Begley initiated a federal lawsuit against the county, KPD and several senior officers, claiming that the now-retired KPD Chief Darryl Perry and his successor, former Acting Chief Michael Contrades, harassed and retaliated against him for reporting allegations that another assistant chief acted inappropriately toward a subordinate female officer.
Perry, who could not go into detail about the lawsuit because of non-disclosure agreements, said he felt the allegations by the assistant chief were inaccurate.
“The fact that I retaliated against the assistant chief was not correct,” Perry said. “The counties’ insurance company wanted this issue settled because that has been going on for eight years.”
Perry said the majority of the settlement amount will most likely go to the attorneys.
“A number of attorneys hired by the other parties cost them a lot of money,” Perry said. “Most of the settlement money went to the cost of the attorneys, and some went to the plaintiffs.”
In a lawsuit filed on Aug. 9, 2019 in the Fifth Circuit Court, documents state that Perry was hired as a “‘change agent’ and faced leading a department that was divided.”
“To this day, I believe what I did was correct because I tried to hold the people accountable and responsible for what they did,” Perry told The Garden Island Tuesday afternoon. “I tried to do the best I could, and hopefully this never happens again. I had great expectations and high hopes, and I still have confidence in the police department. I was so naive about the ramifications, and I suffered the consequences.”
Perry reiterated that he didn’t retaliate against any member of the force.
“It’s been settled, and the only thing I want to assure is that the people of Kaua‘i know I absolutely did not retaliate,” Perry said. “I did the best I could do for the county, and we did a bunch of good things when I was chief.”
Last year, Perry asked the County of Kaua‘i for $2 million dollars in damages after what has been “a nine-year vendetta of continuous harassment.”
Perry alleges a protracted and public dispute between Perry and former mayor Bernard Carvalho began during a July 2010 meeting where Carvalho allegedly became “hostile, angry and yelled out offensive curse words at Perry,” the lawsuit stated.
Following the meeting, two assistant chiefs accused in the complaints were placed on paid leave, and the Police Commission gave Perry permission to work from home until an investigation into the matter was completed.
According to that lawsuit, Carvalho ordered Perry to come into his office the following day, where his managing director reprimanded the chief for failing to show up to work. Perry was suspended for dereliction of duty and insubordination the next day.
The Police Commission ordered Perry to return to work, but the county attorney and managing director ordered the acting police chief not to allow Perry to get his police equipment or access his office. About a month later, Perry was reinstated.
Perry is now retired, building a house on Hawai‘i Island in Hilo with his wife. He sells paintings for charity.
“The portion of the proceeds that I make from selling my paintings goes to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and children who have cancer,” Perry said. “I am not doing anything now besides painting and cleaning the yard.”
Carvalho could not be reached for comment as of press time.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com. Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, contributed to this article.
Perry and his minions has cost the county of Kauai millions.
This by far shows a preponderance of evidence that during his years as chief, none of work he did could be trusted in good faith.
Perry wants to SUE Kauai after all of his shenanigans?
Kauai should sue Perry for all his coverups.
Many has suffered from Perry and his dirty cops.
This is the reputation that KPD has had for decades because their actions does not go unnoticed.
Kauai must know that there is someone working to solve all the unsolved murders and hold their leaders accountable.
That person has been targeted for retaliation by the most powerful people on Kauai and in the state of Hawaii.
That person has exposed public corruption on Kauai and kpd ties to criminal organizations for over a decade.
Kpd has leaked information to criminals and their criminal organizations to retaliate for exposing their rackets.
You all think the Oahu Chief of Police (Kealoha) and his Prosecutor wife was bad, you all don’t even know how bad it is on Kauai.
One day this will be exposed like kpd blue but until then the fight to get the people who set up Aurero Moore’s murder and all the murders that were covered up by kpd to see the light of justice will be priority.
Any information that the public has, send to the Federal Investigators on Oahu.
Wait, what? How did this go from Begley to Perry? Did I miss something?
Go back to reading and comprehension class lol
You’re probably the reporter all butthurt and such. Ok, so I re-read the article. But I have to ask, why so much waha from Perry and not Begley. @Debra Kekaualua, no talk bubble granny LOL
Those that continue to try to profess their integrity, are the very ones that are full of it! You and Contrades were always a problem for KPD and cost the County so much $$ with your actions, and how you tried to protect Asher and yourself during your tenure, You truly have shown you were a big mistake by the County by hiring you in the first place.
Congratulations AC Begley, you stood up to terrine and won!!
What a shameful, pilau mess.
And Kauai wants Carvalho as a council member now….?? WHY?!!
Ocean Safety department will be heading in the same direction. Didn’t Kalani Vierra, cost the county more with all his lawsuits against him? Sad how these department heads let their position get to their heads
Right On Chief Begley, Congradulations! You and your legal team were found to be right on Point. All i have to offer is that there is much more, so much more truths that should be brought forward.
Chief P, Ive got a Kokee NASA bridge for sale and want folks to know that i also won my case, when i received five vehicle ticket violations and Judge Trudi dropped the charges because she and we all knew as a rookie, who you really were. That day in civilian clothes you thought you would act out, managed to chase me in your private vehicle from where you stopped mid-lane at Kipu road intersection, then proceeded to chase me to spouting horn, where officer Scribner, known to me through regular ER staff interactions and who at that parking lot eggress, scribner was coming out from recognized my fear, intercepting me, then civilian perry. This incident was 43-years ago, and many more of your caliber has screwed the community worse than any other time in the COK back stories, past to current.
EXcellent! Finally another whistle blower who has persevered above all odds. Right On Chief Begley, Congradulations! There is still hope the rest of thos groms Resign before they are tagged. Problem is, everyone of the COK has done wrong to thei family community and must fess up? Officer Begley and his legal team were found to be right on Point. All i have to offer is that there are many and much more, so much more truths that should be brought forward.
Chief P, Ive got a Kokee NASA bridge for sale and want folks to know that i also won my case, when i received five vehicle ticket violations and Judge Trudi dropped the charges because she and we all knew as a rookie, who you really were. That day in civilian clothes you thought you would act out, managed to chase me in your private vehicle from where you stopped mid-lane at Kipu road intersection, then proceeded to chase me to spouting horn, where officer Scribner, known to me through regular ER staff interactions and who at that parking lot eggress, scribner was coming out from recognized my fear, intercepting me, then civilian perry. This incident was 43-years ago, and many more of your caliber has screwed the community worse than any other time in the COK back stories, past to current.
Yup Tunnels you have to be in your 70s at least to have observed these circus clowns that continues to prevail, the ol’boy network and pointy-figered criminals that permeate ALL counties and state law enforcment or most other departments! If you know you know, If you dont, aole pilikia