WAILUKU, Hawaiʻi — A police captain from Nevada has been selected to be chief of the Maui police force.
The Maui Police Commission voted unanimously on Las Vegas police Capt. John Pelletier over four other candidates from within the Maui department — Everett Ferreira, Lawrence Hudson, John Jakubczak and Victor Ramos.
Pelletier's selection is subject to pre-employment requirements including background and credit reports, drug tests and a psychological examination. The commission will hold a final vote on Pelletier on Nov. 3.
He would replace Tivoli Faaumu, who retired May 1. Faaumu served as police chief for seven years. Deputy Chief Dean Rickard has been the acting chief since Faaumu's retirement.
Tuesday's vote came after candidate interviews were held in an open, public session that was aired online last week.
Pelletier told The Maui News he applauds the transparency of the process. In his interview, he said wants to create a multicultural advisory council with monthly meetings.
He's a 22-year veteran of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. One of his leadership assignments included heading the command that includes the Las Vegas strip.
"I wish to become the chief because I understand tourist-based policing and community-based policing at the highest level," Pelletier wrote in a first-ever required written exam. "I have led the most critical tourist destination (43 million visitors a year) for three years and reduced violent crime each year."
He said he's been visiting Hawaiʻi for more than 20 years and has kept tabs on the Maui chief job for years.
Applicants were previously required to be Hawaiʻi residents for at least a year, but the law was changed to eliminate the requirement. Leading the department of 416 employees comes with an annual salary of $158,851.
Maui Mayor Michael Victorino congratulated Pelletier on his selection Tuesday.
"I wish him all the best as he completes his final round of pre-employment requirements. We look forward to welcoming him to Maui County from the ninth island of Las Vegas," he said.
