Maui Police chief Gary Yabuta is leaving the department to take over as director of the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas initiative for Hawaii.

Yabuta announced his retirement from the Maui police department to senior staff members earlier Friday, according to a press release.

He will leave the department for his new position within the next two months.

Yabuta joined the Maui Police Department in 1983 and will be leaving with more than 31 years of service.

Maui police have recently come under criticism for the handling of two missing persons cases.

Moreira "Mo" Monsalve, 46, was last seen  Jan. 12, and Carly "Charli" Scott, 27, was last seen Feb. 9.

Friends and families of the women complained about the handling of the back-to-back missing-person cases.