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Posted: Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 8:48 AM HST

Lawsuit filed to define power of Kauai mayor

By Associated Press

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — The Kauai County Police Commission will leave it to the court to define the mayor's powers to suspend or discipline the police chief. The question stems from Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. placing Chief Darryl Perry on leave earlier this year while the county investigated an employee complaint. Perry claimed only the police commission had the authority to do so, while the mayor insisted that authority belongs to him. The mayor later allowed Perry to return to his job. The Garden Island reported Tuesday the lawsuit seeks a ruling that the commission has sole authority to suspend or discipline the chief. County spokeswoman Beth Tokioka says the mayor still believes he has legal authority over commission-appointed department heads. But she says he welcomes judicial review of the issue.