Kauai Council trying to remove deputy police chief

Venneman was found in violation of ethics for soliciting support for the chief at work

LIHUE » The Kauai County Council is trying to remove Kauai Deputy Police Chief Ron Venneman after an independent hearings officer found that he violated ethics rules.

The Council voted last week to start proceedings.

The hearings officer found that Venneman violated ethics rules by asking Kauai police officers and employees to sign a petition to support K.C. Lum's bid to become permanent chief of the department while on duty.

Venneman did not deny that he circulated the petition, and argued that it was well within his right to free speech.

But hearings officer E. John McConnell decided that Venneman violated ethics rules, securing an advantage for Lum and then himself by entering areas closed to the public and using his knowledge gained as a police officer.

Lum made Venneman his deputy chief shortly after receiving the top cop position, thanks partly to the petition with more than 100 signatures sent to the Police Commission.

The Council also decided to request a $1,000 fine and return of pay for the period of time spent collecting signatures while on duty, to be collected through the County Attorney's Office.

"It was a gross violation, inappropriate, and terrible that this happened," said Councilman Jay Furfaro at the Council meeting Wednesday.

Council Chairman Kaipo Asing, who made the recommendations to the Council, said the decision "wasn't easy, but I feel it's important" to maintain the integrity of the county government.

The Council decided to send the recommendation for removal to the Kauai Police Commission, which already is in the process of deciding whether to remove Lum.

Asing said the Council could have sent the recommendations to the chief for a decision, but "the chief is not available. Another reason is there is a conflict because the chief is involved in this issue."

Lum is on vacation until Friday but might not have a job when he returns.

County Attorney Lani Nakazawa said she "couldn't say" whether he would have a job when asked Wednesday night. That is because she has yet to decide whether Lum's contract is still valid, after separate ethics violations by then-Kauai Police Commissioner Michael Ching led to a recommendation to rescind Lum's contract.

According to the Kauai County Charter, it is up to the Police Commission to hire and fire the chief.

The Venneman case is similar to the one that cost Ching his position last month. In April, McConnell decided that Ching violated ethics rules by using his place on the volunteer board to get Lum the interim chief position and then solicited the police union's support.

The complaints against Ching and Venneman were made by the same officer, Lt. Scott Yagihara.