Watchdog group launches social media campaign publicizing details on Maui police commission meeting

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A government watchdog group is now running ads on social media in an effort let the community know about an upcoming Maui Police Commission meeting. This comes amid a push for the commission to publicly question Chief John Pelletier about apparent missteps the department made while recovering the remains of Lahaina fire victims.

The ads went live Tuesday on both Common Cause Hawaii’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

In bold font, the posts read: Seeking Public Transparency on Maui Wildfires — while advertising a meeting scheduled for next week Wednesday.

“We’re doing a concerted effort to push community engagement at the November 20th Maui Police Commission Meeting,” said Common Cause Hawaii Program Manager Camron Hurt.

This comes after recent statements provided by Maui police show the department didn’t always follow county protocols while recovering remains of people who died in the Lahaina fire.

Records reveal MPD leadership ordered officers and officer recruits to do the work — despite not having proper training.

HNN Investigates confirmed identification numbers that were supposed to be issued immediately upon each victim’s discovery weren’t assigned until those victims had been moved at least two different times.

Department leadership also admits scene photographs and GPS coordinates weren’t obtained in every case. MPD says there were also instances where body bags were not used to move decedents from their final resting place.

Meanwhile, concerns raised by Greyson Abarra, MPD’s former morgue contractor, cast doubt on whether all the ashes families received are those of their loved ones.

In an interview Abarra told HNN Investigates, “None of this information (ID numbers, GPS coordinates, photographs) was available beforehand. Prior to the triage of these cases which made everything extremely difficult to untangle.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• New Maui police statement reveals county protocol violations in Lahaina fire victim recovery
• Maui PD boasts ‘Coroner’s Office’ award following reports it mishandled fire victims’ remains
• Watchdog group demands answers from MPD chief amid reports department mishandled Lahaina victims’ remains
• Mishandling of human remains: Local forensic company breaks silence on Lahaina disaster response

To date, Chief Pelletier has refused every HNN Investigates request for an on camera interview on the issue. While his spokesperson has maintained through written statements, families were given accurate information.

The Maui Police Commission is one of the only agencies that has the authority to call in Chief Pelletier and have him answer questions in a public forum.

Hurt said, “I think that it’s time that the people get to hear directly from Maui PD.”

He’s now encouraging community members to attend the meeting in person. “It’s important that as many voices, diverse voices, be there as possible to ask their questions,” he said.

“This should be led, of course, by Lahaina residents, by Maui residents, but this is very much a chance for all of us in the state to join together and amplify those voices,” Hurt said.

HNN Investigates has repeatedly asked the police commission if it plans to address reports that the department mishandled remains at its next meeting. We’re still waiting for a response.

At last check, no agenda had been posted.

The meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. at the County of Maui Service Center on Alaihi Street in Kahului.

If you can’t attend in person, you can submit testimony electronically here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and under contact information, you’ll find an email for the Maui Police Commission.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.