LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i's new acting police chief, Assistant Chief Clayton Arinaga, says he's not going to simply be a place-holder while the Kaua'i Police Commission goes through the months-long process of hiring a new leader for the department.

"I plan to utilize and exercise the authority of this office. I think we need to move forward and take care of business," Arinaga said yesterday.

An immediate concern is a backlog of employee grievances and citizen complaints that needs to be dealt with, he said. That may result in a flurry of disciplinary actions, but they'll be processed only after review by a disciplinary review board made up of the deputy chief, the three bureau commanders and another ranking officer, normally the supervisor of the officer being investigated.

During the past two years, no disciplinary review boards have been empaneled, Arinaga said.

Another key issue for the department is staffing. Nearly 20 percent of the 157 uniformed officer positions are vacant. Every unit in the department is short-staffed. Arinaga said he hopes to bring eight new officers on duty during the summer, and to put six to eight new recruits into training shortly thereafter.

"We're doing continuous recruitment," but at the same time, officers are retiring and being recruited by other law enforcement agencies, he said.

One of the department's main goals under former Kaua'i Police Chief K.C. Lum was drug enforcement, and that will continue, he said.

While Arinaga said he welcomes the responsibilities of being Kaua'i's top cop, he won't accept the permanent position because as a high-ranking and veteran employee, he's making close to $20,000 more than the police chief's salary of $75,000, which is set by ordinance.

"I've got two kids in college, and my wife has gone back to school. I can't afford the pay cut," he said.

With 30 years of service, he is the second-most senior person on the force after acting Assistant Chief Fred DeBusca. Arinaga was assistant chief in command of the Patrol Services Bureau before being named acting chief.

Arinaga said he is committed to bringing a deeply fragmented police department together.

Lum retired this month after the county determined that the police commission erred in the appointment process, and that he should be removed.

Lum's deputy, Ron Venneman, was cited by the county Ethics Board for having circulated a petition during work hours in support of Lum. As a result, the police commission passed him over for the acting chief's position and selected Arinaga.

Arinaga filed a complaint earlier this year alleging he was punished by being placed on paid leave for a month in November and December 2005, and later ordered to take vacation time for days when he was on administrative leave.

The punishment, according to Arinaga, followed his repeated requests that the department investigate a case in which three vice squad officers used government funds to fly to Maui for a conference, then never attended the conference. Arinaga's complaint said his superiors never investigated and ordered him not to initiate his own investigation.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.