Maui Police Department Concludes Investigation Into Employee Who Allegedly Masturbated In Public

The Maui Police Department has finished investigating a department employee who is accused of flashing people and masturbating in front of them while driving a car with an obstructed license plate. The investigation has been sent to the county's prosecutor's office for review, Maui Police Sgt. Audra Sellers told The Huffington Post.

Sellers would not reveal the suspect's identity or whether he was a police officer, but MPD confirmed last month the suspect is a department employee.

The individual has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, she said. He originally placed himself on personal leave, according to local news site Maui Now.

After receiving calls from witnesses, MPD opened five sexual assault cases against the suspect, who allegedly drove around two different parking lots flashing his genitals and masturbating in front of various people.

Witnesses have alleged that the flasher was a Maui police officer, according to Hawaii News Now.

"He should be held to a higher standard because he is the keeper," an anonymous caller told the outlet. "He's here to protect the community. He's here to uphold the law."

MPD has been under scrutiny since two cops were arrested for DUIs on two separate occasions in June, shortly after news broke of the MPD employee flasher.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa recently responded to the incidents in the "Ask the Mayor" section of Maui Now's website.

"It should also be noted that our officers receive ongoing training to make sure their law enforcement duties are carried out judiciously and with great care," Arakawa said when a reader asked if the mayor was "worried" about how the department would be perceived following the recent scandals.

"Yes, some may make poor decisions, but problem employees can be found in any workplace," he added. "Police officers are not above the law, and those who have broken the law themselves have been disciplined and in some cases terminated. Please do not hold the actions of a few to represent the majority of our officers, who work diligently to serve and protect this community."