The Maui Police Commission has picked Deputy Chief Gary Yabuta to be the county's new police chief.

Yabuta will succeed Tom Phillips, who is retiring June 1. The 55-year-old Phillips has been chief for more than a decade.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares said, “;For over 27 years, Deputy Chief Yabuta has been dedicated to public service as a member of our police force, and I look forward to working with him as our new chief of police.”;

Yabuta joined the Maui Police Department in 1983.

He has previously served as bureau commander for investigative services. He also was a police captain in the Criminal Investigation Division.

Yabuta graduated from the University of California, Northridge.