Kauai deputy police chief stopped at airport after issued firearm found in carry-on bag

Kauai Police Department Deputy Police Chief Stan Olsen was stopped at Lihue Airport after his department-issued firearm that he “failed to remove” was found in his carry-on bag.

KPD in a news release Tuesday said that Olsen was passing through a security checkpoint Friday morning when Transportation Security Administration representatives stopped him after finding the firearm in his bag.

The news release said Olsen carries a backpack to work with a safe-keeping pocket that holds his firearm, based on preliminary information. He failed to remove the firearm before checking in at the airport.

Olsen was released to travel to the mainland for a personal matter, KPD said. The TSA said that he was headed to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The firearm was held for safekeeping and released to the police department.

TSA is investigating the incident and will levy a civil penalty against Olsen. The recommended penalty for a firearm starts at $2,050 and can go up to $10,000 per violation.

An internal KPD investigation will determine if department policies were violated.