LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department captain who alleged KPD Chief Todd Raybuck had broken policies against discrimination and created a hostile work environment based on race has filed a new lawsuit against the county, KPD, Police Commission and Raybuck.
Paul Applegate, who is of Japanese descent, alleges past and ongoing racial discrimination, retaliation, violation of the state’s Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, intentional inflection of emotional distress and negligent hiring and supervision within KPD.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu Friday.
Due to pending litigation, Raybuck and KPD are unable to provide comment, a KPD spokesperson said Saturday morning. A county spokesperson said in an email Saturday that the county would also have no comment, also due to the pending litigation.
Applegate, a 21-year employee with KPD and current Investigative Services Bureau captain, made an internal complaint last September, which prompted a Police Commission investigation that found Raybuck guilty of violating discrimination ethics on two occasions.
In a November 2019 incident, Raybuck met with command staff and told a story about an Asian customer in a fast-food restaurant, making facial gestures and using an accent.
In a July 2020 incident, Raybuck made broad stereotypes about Japanese culture paired with squinting and bowing. These comments, according to the September 2020 complaint, were said during a meeting in which Raybuck was explaining why Applegate was not chosen for a promotion.
“He (Raybuck) then stated that the Western culture ‘tells it like it is,’ whereas the Japanese culture says ‘yes, yes, yes’ to your face even when they think the person’s idea is stupid,” the lawsuit filed Friday states. Raybuck, the suit alleges, had previously inquired about Applegate’s heritage.
“Plaintiff left the July 29, 2020 meeting believing that Chief Raybuck did not choose Plaintiff for the A/C (Assistant Chief) position because he was part-Japanese, and he did not like or trust Japanese people,” the lawsuit continues.
The lawsuit cites
Applegate’s involvement and cooperation in the report of a female KPD employee’s complaint of sex discrimination, harassment and hostile work environment against Raybuck.
“The investigator acknowledged Plaintiff’s facts and indicated that Chief Raybuck’s conduct constituted discrimination and created a hostile work environment,” the lawsuit reads.
A county Department of Human Resource investigation concluded that favoritism and non-selection for promotion in retaliation were not corroborated.
At the end of April, Raybuck faced a five-day, unpaid suspension, and was required to take Equal Employment Opportunity and cultural-sensitivity training, according to a KPD statement at the time.
“I value and appreciate diversity in the workplace and within the community,” Raybuck said in a statement then. “I accept responsibility for my comments and will continue to use this experience to expand my cultural awareness and increase my knowledge and understanding of different cultures.”
However, the lawsuit alleges hostility continued.
“After returning from leave, Chief Raybuck continued to discriminate against Plaintiff by deviating from policy and past practices with regard to transferring others within the department,” the lawsuit reads.
In one June 2021 instance, the lawsuit alleges that Raybuck denied Applegate’s request for a detective to be transferred to his department, “when this had not been done to other similarly situated requests.” Other instances include denying other temporary assignments.
The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission and Equal Employment Opportunities Commission gave Applegate the right to sue on July 28, according to public records.
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Sabrina Bodon, editor, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
As wot haps when chief is hired from LV, but then again, these issues are a long retroactive and fake state of affairs since the late 1800’s. Pay Attention Lahui!
Police chief Raybuck has been great for Kaua’i and this island is very lucky to have him. I give him my support.
So you’re okay with his racist remarks?
Chief should have been fired back then. You know Chief have immense power within the Department and will continue to undermined the complainant intentionally or subconsciously. It is difficult to get rid of biases learned in early life once one reaches middle age.
Disappointed in our Police Commission, if Todd did this to an African American officer, there would have been very loud protests.
Unfortunately the silent majority does not do the same, we should so the Commission would see how Disappointed we are with the selection they made, and it needs to be corrected.
Todd is not the right person to lead our department, or any department for that matter.
The only reason HCRC gave the officer the GO SUE, because they can’t prove their was any wrong doing or their too incompetent to gather the evidence to prove any wrong doing.
HCRC is a waste of tax payers monies. DO NO go to the! Go to Federal EEOC if you have a complaint that they can handle.
Get rid of HCRC!
Poor Paul, sounds to me if he doesn’t get his way he makes up the best story he can to get it. 21 years on the force and I’m sure he has heard & used the word “haole” plenty of times. Is that Discrimination?? Total hypocrite if you ask me.
Easy to make assumption’s when you dont know the person. I have known Paul for many years, from when he arrived here from the Big Island. He is a very humble and honorable man, and I have never heard him use “haole” or any other ethnic names.
He is always mindful of others, and his fellow employees.
So if you dont know the person(s) of whom your talking about, dont say anything
I’ve know Officer Applegate for about 20 years from when he taught my son DARE. He’s a good guy and good officer thats been involved with the schools and community for many years. Based on knowing him for 20 years and seeing the Instagram Facebook Chief FAKE Raybuck, I tend to let actions sway my opinion so I can’t help but believe Officer Applegate and not side with the the fake new guy who’s had a whole lot of problems from the get go. And I’m not anti outside hiring because I’m all for the Vegas Fire Chief who’s apparently doing a great job. Just saying…