Trouble in Paradise – The Sequel: Hawaii captain’s TV interview in defense of 2 battalion chiefs brings new investigation
It’s heating even further up on the Big Island. Chief Darren Rosario is now investigating critical comments a captain made in March 19th telephone interview with a TV reporter about the chief’s four month suspension and investigation of two battalion chiefs who criticized Chief Rosario’s leadership. Last Wednesday Captain Sean Sommers was sent a letter from the chief informing him of the investigation into the comments Sommers made to Hawaii News Now.
Watch interview that got
The 21-year veteran of the Hawaii County Fire Department also received this pretty clear warning in the letter from Chief Rosario:
do not discuss this matter with anyone as it is confidential; any discussion about the aforementioned will be viewed as interfering with the administrative investigation.
It’s a warning Captain Sommers is ignoring, telling West Hawaii Today about the chief’s latest actions, “This is exactly the reason you don’t hear from other personnel in the fire department. They fear retribution, and I don’t blame them. … I truly am risking everything right now.”
Nancy Cook Lauer, West Hawaii Today:
Among the rules Sommers allegedly violated, Rosario said in the letter that was obtained by West Hawaii Today, is a regulation stating, “no member shall publicly criticize or ridicule the department, its policies or the members … when such action tends to impair the good order or efficiency of the department, interferes with the ability of officers to maintain discipline or it’s made with reckless disregard for truth or falsity.”
Battalion Chiefs Steve Loyola and Ty Medeiros were suspended in November. Loyola told Hawaii News Now they were suspended for criticizing how Rosario was running the department. Rosario, a 25-year veteran of the department, has been fire chief since September 2011.
