The chief of police of the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i has a history of racist and discriminatory acts, a recent discrimination investigation has revealed. The Kaua’i Police Commission investigation found that the Chief of the Kaua’i Police Department, Todd Raybuck, violated anti-discrimination policies through a number of questionable actions, including “Squint and tilt your head up and down” and imitating a Japanese accent when telling stories, reports the Garden Island. The findings, written by committee chairwoman Catherine Adams on February 26, also noted that Raybuck created a hostile work environment for an officer based on race. The complaint, submitted to the commission in September 2020, was divided into an investigation of human resources in a recruitment and promotional selection process, and another through the commission focused on allegations of discrimination. Although Director of Human Resources Annette Anderson discovered that the complaints investigated in that investigation were not sustained, the commission’s investigation found two incidents that violated the county’s anti-discrimination policy. In audio recordings of a meeting on July 29, 2020, Raybuck can be heard making broad stereotypes about the Japanese while explaining why an employee of Japanese descent was not chosen for a promotion. “So, someone in Japanese culture, if they think your idea is absolutely stupid and the dumbest thing they’ve ever heard, what’s the typical answer for you? ‘Yes Yes Yes.'” Raybuck said supposedly squinting and bowing. “That’s why Western businessmen, when they go to Japan, go home and think, ‘Man, I get it! I got the deal! ‘and then it doesn’t happen because the Japanese don’t want to hurt their feelings, ” Raybuck said. “Japanese business people are not going to say, ‘This is the stupidest idea we’ve ever heard, I’m not interested’.” The complainant said he felt “Very offended and humiliated” for Raybuck’s actions. “I felt that he was telling me this as a reason why I was not selected, because he believes that not all Japanese people tell the truth”, observed the complainant. In a separate incident on November 13, 2020, Raybuck reportedly told his command team a story about an Asian customer at a fast-food restaurant while preparing “Facial gestures and accent, and commented on an employee’s haircut like something out of a Kung Fu movie.” The commission concluded that both incidents violated the county’s policy against discrimination and are allegedly cause for “Appropriate corrective action.” The document did not reveal the details of said corrective action, as they are “Confidential personal affairs”. It was last year when Raybuck was seen trying to bridge the gaps between police and minorities after George Floyd’s protests, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat. At the time, he said he wanted his officers to discuss institutional racism with Kaua’i residents. Main image via Hoike TV (left), Kaua’i County (right)
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