The Kauaʻi Police Commission has selected a retired Las Vegas police captain as the island's new police chief starting in April, it was announced yesterday.
Todd Raybuck, formerly with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was chosen from a field of 130 applicants.
"Not only was Todd the best qualified candidate, he was also the best fit for our Kauaʻi community," said Mary Kay Hertog, police commission chair, in a news release. "He has more than three decades of law enforcement experience, and we are confident he will take KPD to the next level of excellence."
Raybuck retired from the Las Vegas police department after 27 years of service.
"I look forward to working with Mayor [Derek] Kawakami, the Police Commission and the community to address public safety concerns and improve the quality of life on Kauaʻi," Raybuck said.
He served as bureau commander of one of Las Vegas' nine patrol substations and led patrol and investigative services for 250,000 residents in the southwest Las Vegas valley.
Raybuck also worked as commander of the organized crime bureau, executive lieutenant to the Clark County Sheriff, lieutenant/shift commander of the Las Vegas "Strip," traffic bureau sergeant, Homeland Security sergeant, and detective in the vice section, narcotics section and criminal intelligence section. He also filled roles as a field training officer, community patrol officer and patrol officer.
He began his law enforcement career as an Air Force police law enforcement specialist while stationed at Wheeler Air Force Base on Oʻahu.
A graduate of Liberty University in Virginia with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, Raybuck also graduated from the FBI's National Academy.
He will be moving to Kauaʻi with his wife, Kelly, also a retired Las Vegas police officer, and their two sons.
A change of command ceremony is scheduled for April 22.
“Our team will work actively and diligently with Chief Raybuck to ensure a smooth transition of leadership," said Acting Chief of Police Michael Contrades, who stepped in to head the department after the retirement of Police Chief Darryl Perry last year.
