Hawaii police officer who alleged racial discrimination by chief settles for $350K, agrees to retire

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A county in Hawaii has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the police chief discriminated against a captain for being Japanese American. That included an alleged episode when the chief squinted his eyes, bowed repeatedly and said he couldn’t trust Japanese people. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu in 2021 against the Kauai Police Department and county. Paul Applegate, who is part Japanese, alleged that Chief Todd Raybuck mocked Asians on multiple occasions. Under the settlement there is no admission of fault or liability. Also under the terms, Applegate has agreed to retire from the department.