A fight between Maui's mayor and its police chief is escalating, and it looks bad for public trust in county government.

• Maui County told suspended police chief John Pelletier he cannot simply return to work — only a vote by the full police commission can reinstate him.
• Pelletier's lawyer, Eric Seitz, says the chief was put on leave as payback because the mayor is under criminal investigation.
• The county denies Mayor Richard Bissen had any role in the suspension and says no active investigation targets him.
• Council chair Alice Lee asked police to look into fraud and money mismanagement claims against the mayor's administration, but the case was handed to the state attorney general instead.
• Lee says a second, separate matter involves a felony with the mayor as the suspect, and she is frustrated by the lack of transparency.

Outlook: The chief stays sidelined until the police commission puts his reinstatement on its agenda and votes.