The Maui police chief is John Pelletier, who was sworn in on December 15, 2021 and continues to lead the department as of 2026.1County of Maui. Maui County Staff Directory – John Pelletier The chief is appointed by the Maui Police Commission, not elected, and runs law enforcement across Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.2County of Maui. Police Department
Who John Pelletier Is
Pelletier spent 25 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department before coming to Maui. He led its SWAT team, K-9 unit, and Narcotics and Major Violators Section, and was the incident commander for the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival near Mandalay Bay.3IACP 2024. John Pelletier – Maui Police Department Chief That crisis command background figured heavily in his hiring.
His appointment broke a long pattern. He was the first chief hired from outside the department in more than two decades, a deliberate choice by the Police Commission to bring in an outside perspective. Since taking over, he has focused on modernizing operations, integrating new technology into patrol work, and addressing a persistent staffing shortage. As of early 2024, the department had roughly a 25 percent vacancy rate among its 400 authorized sworn positions and 165 total vacancies across its combined 550 sworn and civilian roles.
Pelletier’s tenure has included significant controversy. He has been the public face of the department’s response to the August 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire, which killed over 100 people and drew criticism of police road closures that survivors said funneled evacuees into bottlenecks. In 2025, a civil lawsuit unrelated to the fire prompted Mayor Richard Bissen to ask the Police Commission to place Pelletier on leave. The commission voted to take no action, and he remained in the role.
How the Chief Is Chosen
The Maui police chief is appointed by the Maui Police Commission. Voters do not elect the position, and the mayor does not pick it.
Under the county charter, a candidate must have at least five years of law enforcement experience, with at least three of those years in an administrative or supervisory role.4County of Maui. Charter County of Maui 2021 Edition The charter does not require a four-year college degree, though commissioners have debated adding that requirement during past hiring cycles.
The commission runs the entire recruitment process. It reviews applications, which may come from candidates nationwide, conducts interviews, and votes to confirm the appointment. The 2021 search that produced Pelletier was a national one, a departure from the department’s long preference for internal candidates. Once selected, the chief serves under a formal contract with the commission rather than at the pleasure of the mayor or county council. That structure insulates the job from direct political pressure and places sole responsibility for hiring and firing with the commission.
The Police Commission’s Role
The Maui Police Commission is the chief’s boss and the public’s main check on department leadership. Section 8-12.3 of the county charter gives the commission authority to investigate charges brought against the chief and, if warranted, to remove the chief from office.4County of Maui. Charter County of Maui 2021 Edition Removal requires a formal hearing and cause; it cannot happen on a whim.
The commission currently has nine members, with staggered terms expiring between 2027 and 2031.5County of Maui. Police Commission Staggering the terms prevents complete turnover at any one time. The chief reports to the commission on departmental activities, spending, and crime data, which gives commissioners the information they need to set policy direction and evaluate performance.
The commission’s independence from the mayor’s office has real consequences. When Mayor Bissen asked commissioners to place Pelletier on leave in 2025, they had full authority to refuse, and they did. Because the public does not vote on the chief, the only avenue for influencing police leadership runs through who gets appointed to the commission itself.
What the Chief Does
The chief’s authority comes from Section 8-12.4 of the Maui County Charter, which designates the chief as the administrative head of the department.4County of Maui. Charter County of Maui 2021 Edition Core duties include keeping the peace, protecting people and property, and commanding all police personnel across the county’s three islands. The chief also holds rulemaking power, meaning internal policies on use of force, evidence handling, and patrol procedures can be updated without county council approval for each change.
Budget management is a significant piece of the job. The chief oversees procurement of equipment and allocation of departmental resources within the budget the county council approves, deciding how the department’s share is spent on staffing, vehicles, technology, and training. The chief commands more than 400 sworn officers and civilian employees and answers to the Police Commission rather than to voters or the mayor.