John Pelletier, Maui County’s Police Chief since December 2021, has once again proven himself unfit for leadership. His career, spanning over two decades with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department before his appointment in Maui, is now overshadowed by a revolting scandal tied to Sean “Diddy” Combs. A civil lawsuit filed in March 2025 alleges that Pelletier, while posing as a sheriff deputy in California in 2018, participated in a cover-up of an alleged gang rape. The accusations are sickening: he reportedly served as security for Combs, refused aid to the victim, and even handed an envelope—presumed to contain hush money—to a neighbor. Pelletier denies these claims, calling them “completely false,” yet his refusal to take administrative leave, despite Mayor Richard Bissen’s demand, reeks of arrogance and self-preservation.
This latest disgrace is not an isolated incident but a continuation of Pelletier’s shameful legacy. His handling of the 2023 Lahaina wildfires was an infuriating display of incompetence. Over 100 lives were lost, and Maui’s residents were left to suffer under his leadership—or lack thereof. The response was a chaotic mess, marked by poor coordination and an utter absence of compassion. Pelletier’s decisions prioritized protocol over people, leaving families desperate for answers and support. It’s maddening to think that a police chief could fail so spectacularly in a crisis, yet here we are, still grappling with the fallout of his negligence.
Pelletier’s tenure in Las Vegas offers no redemption. As a captain during the 2017 mass shooting—the deadliest in U.S. history—his role in the aftermath was equally deplorable. Questions linger about his ability to manage such a catastrophic event. Did he provide the clarity and resolve needed? Hardly. His presence in yet another tragedy raises damning suspicions. As one observer on X noted, Pelletier’s involvement in the Las Vegas shooting, the Lahaina fire, and now the Combs scandal defies coincidence. It’s a pattern of failure that should enrage anyone paying attention.
The public’s reaction has been swift and justified. Outlets like Hawaii News Now and the NY Post have laid bare the allegations, while social media erupts with fury over Pelletier’s refusal to step aside. His insistence on clinging to power, despite the stench of scandal, is an insult to Maui’s people. They deserve a leader with integrity, not a man whose every move breeds distrust.
Pelletier’s actions are a betrayal of his oath. His denials ring hollow against the mounting evidence, and his leadership—tainted by the horrors of Lahaina and Las Vegas—offers no hope for redemption. It’s beyond comprehension that he remains in office. Maui cannot endure another moment of his disgraceful tenure. He must resign, or be forced out, before his failures claim more than just his reputation.
