Elliott Kalani Ke Promoted to Assistant Chief

The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) held a special ceremony last week to honor the promotion of Elliott “Kalani” Ke to the rank of Assistant Chief of the Administrative & Technical Bureau.

“I am grateful and honored to receive this promotion,” said Ke. “I am very excited about my new assignment and I am looking forward to working closely with the staff and personnel in continuing to advance the department.”

Ke started his career at KPD in 1999 as an officer in the Patrol Services Bureau (PSB). For the next 13 years, he served as a Patrol Officer and Traffic Safety Officer while working within the PSB, as well as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer and Vice Officer within the Investigative Services Bureau (ISB).

In 2012, Ke was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Chief’s Office, Internal Affairs section. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant two years later and continued to work within the Chief’s Office in the Criminal Intelligence Unit. In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Chief’s Office, a position he has held for the last four years.

Ke has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bethel University. He is also a 2015 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, and in 2008 held the honors of KPD’s Employee of the Year, Top Cop and Hawaiʽi State Law Enforcement Officials Association’s Officer of the Year.

“I believe that Kalani is well-suited for this honorable position, as he has proven himself to be committed, diligent and one of the most hard-working individuals I know. He’s almost always the first one in the office and the last one to leave,” said Chief of Police Todd G. Raybuck. “I know that he will accomplish many great things and I look forward to his achievements that I am confident will enhance the department’s role within the community.”

As head of the Administrative & Technical Bureau, Ke will oversee the team and its critical support functions for the police department that include recruiting and hiring, training, payroll, procurement, contract and grant management, police records, issuing equipment and supplies, firearms registration, evidence control, community relations and school resource officers.

A small and socially distanced promotion ceremony was held for Ke last week at KPD Līhuʽe Headquarters and his badge was pinned on by family.