LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department Deputy Chief Stan Olsen announced last week that he would be resigning from the Kaua‘i Police Department effective Aug. 26, citing personal reasons.
“The deputy has a son and daughter-in-law who are both in wheelchairs and from time to time they require extra assistance,” said KPD Chief Todd Raybuck. “Therefore, while he had hoped to have a longer tenure with KPD, he and his wife decided that their family needs come first.“
Olsen began his tenure as deputy chief last August after a 35-year career in the Las Vegas Police Department and a brief stint as a Nevada state senator. Prior to his appointment to KPD, the role had been vacant since 2019, and will be vacant again after Olsen’s departure. KPD reported that there is no timeline for when it may be filled.
Olsen became the subject of State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers criticism after airport security discovered a loaded, department-issued handgun in his carry-on bag at Lihu‘e Airport in April.
Documents obtained from the Transportation Security Administration and the federal Department of Homeland Security through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Olsen did not appear to have known the gun was in his bag, and that he was apologetic and compliant with airport security.
Airport security did not refer the situation to KPD at the time. Olsen was allowed to continue on his flight and his firearm was returned to him when he arrived back on island.
SHOPO President Bobby Cavaco filed two complaints related to the situation with the Kaua‘i Police Commission — one aimed at Olsen and the other alleging that Raybuck displayed favoritism and preferential treatment towards Olsen in the matter.
Cavaco said Tuesday that he plans to continue pursuing the complaints following Olsen’s resignation.
“The chief, and Deputy Chief Olsen as well, still need to be held responsible for the handling of that whole situation,” said Cavaco.
Cavaco said that he sees the fact that Olsen — who is not a member of the union — was not disciplined by KPD as a double standard.
“He wasn’t put on any kind of restricted-duty status,” said Cavaco. “We know for a fact that if it was a regular officer, nine times out of 10 that officer would be put on restricted duty.”
Law-enforcement officers are permitted by state law to carry weapons on airport property outside of the TSA-designated sterile areas. Inside sterile areas, which include the airport checkpoint, law-enforcement officers are only allowed to carry weapons if in compliance with TSA regulations.
The TSA is the governing authority for the enforcement of violations of federal airport regulations and reported that Olsen may face fines from TSA of at least $3,000.
An internal investigation into the situation conducted by the county Department of Human Resources is ongoing.
The county would not release the investigative report, stating that it must be kept confidential to “avoid the frustration of a legitimate government function,” and did not provide a timeline for when it will become available.
SHOPO has also criticized the way the investigation has been handled.
In a June 30 letter sent to Human Resourses Director Annette Anderson in response to a communication about the investigation, Cavaco expressed concerns about the “lack of urgency” in pursuing the investigation, the fact that SHOPO was not contacted during the investigation, and that the report had not adequately addressed the complaints’ allegation of preferential treatment.
He reported that the union has since been contacted and will meet with DHR investigators later this week.
SHOPO Kaua‘i Chapter Chair Kennison Nagahisa released the following statement to The Garden Island Tuesday:
“We respect Deputy Chief Olsen’s more than 35 years of service as a law enforcement officer and wish him well in his future endeavors. Moving forward, we are hopeful that Chief Raybuck seeks the input of our rank-and-file officers on the type of leader needed to improve our department and bring concrete ideas on how we can work collaboratively to keep Kaua‘i residents, businesses and visitors safe.”
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
