A public fight between Maui's top law enforcement officials is escalating, which is bad news for public trust in the county government.

• Maui's prosecuting attorney, Andrew Martin, says Police Chief John Pelletier told the public something untrue when he claimed Mayor Richard Bissen was the target of a criminal investigation.
• Martin's point: agencies do not name people under investigation unless there is enough evidence for an arrest or charge, and naming the mayor broke that basic rule.
• Pelletier was put on paid leave last week after a vote by the police commission.
• Pelletier says the leave is payback for two investigations involving the mayor.
• His attorney stayed silent on the prosecutor's rebuttal.

Outlook: Expect more public sparring and pressure on the police commission to explain the leave decision as both sides dig in.