Division to greet
Kauai police chief

The county attorney says Freitas
can go back to work with
3 complaints pending

---

By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

LIHUE >> Following a five-month paid suspension and with a cloud still over his head, Kauai Police Chief George Freitas goes back to work Monday to head a deeply divided police department.

"It's a challenge," Freitas said yesterday. "I'm going to have to talk to the senior staff right away. If all the bridges haven't been destroyed, they will need to be repaired."

The Kauai County Attorney's Office informed Freitas on Thursday that he could return to work. The decision did not come from the Kauai Police Commission, which suspended him and still plans to consider three charges remaining against him.

Freitas sued the police commission last week, asking the U.S. District Court to rule that the commission's action violated his rights to due process.

Two members of the senior staff -- Assistant Chief Melvin Morris and Lt. Alvin Seto -- filed the accusations against Freitas. Morris has since retired but Seto remains.

Freitas said he has not talked to acting Chief Willie Ihu for more than four months after Ihu informed him that the county attorney's office told him not to speak to Freitas. Ihu will remain as deputy chief, his previous title.

"I think I'll wait until I go to work Monday to talk with him," Freitas said.

He added he has no plans to countermand any of the changes Ihu has made, including numerous promotions of sergeants to lieutenants and patrolmen to sergeants.

The police commission voted on Aug. 10 to place Freitas on involuntary paid leave. He was informed of the suspension on Aug. 13, when he returned from a trip to the mainland.

Freitas still faces charges that he committed a crime while serving as a police officer, used his unmarked police car to house-hunt with his girlfriend and was disrespectful to a subordinate.

The crime allegation involves a charge that he hindered the prosecution of police officer Nelson Gabriel by telling Seto to not interview Gabriel's wife. Freitas has denied any wrongdoing and said the woman's attorney already made it clear she would not talk to police.

Gabriel was tried on charges of sexually molesting a young girl in his family. Gabriel's wife supported him and testified the girl has a long history of lying. The trial was without a jury, and Circuit Judge George Masuoka has not yet issued a verdict.

County Prosecutor Michael Soong has stated publicly that he does not believe Freitas did anything illegal and that he does not plan to pursue any charges against the chief.

Freitas also has denied the other two charges against him.

Freitas attorney Margery Bronster said she was pleased county officials had granted one of her requests -- to put Freitas back to work -- but that she still plans to pursue the remaining issues in the lawsuit.

A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14 before U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway on an argument by Kauai County that the lawsuit does not belong in federal court.

Bronster has said if it is dismissed in federal court, it will be refiled in state court.