Maui Police Chief Application Deadline TODAY

Unveiling and Retiring of Flag Ceremony for Maui Police Chief Gary Yabuta, Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Photos by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Today is the deadline set to apply for the chief of police vacancy on Maui. The recruitment notice indicates that the job pays $135,000 per year.

Applicants must be a citizen of the US, a resident of the state for at least one year, and have 15 years of experience as a law enforcement officer—at least five of which were in the administrative capacity.

Chief Gary Yabuta retired from the post on July 31 and has since taken on employment at the federal level as the director of the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program in Honolulu.

Yabuta was selected as chief of police in May of 2009, filling the post left by the retirement of former chief Tom Phillips.

Since joining the Maui Police Department in 1983, Chief Yabuta’s career with the Maui Police Department has encompassed a broad range of duties including a previous role as deputy chief of police immediately prior to his selection for the department’s top job. He served for five years at the helm of the department.

The department’s Deputy Chief Clayton Tom began serving as acting chief on Aug. 1 as the Police Commission continues its efforts to narrow its selection for chief of police.