LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i Police Chief Darryl Perry said he has withdrawn his name from consideration to be the Honolulu police chief.

"Family comes first," and a family decision was made to remain on Kaua'i, Perry said in a letter this week to the Honolulu Police Commission.

"The reason for this decision is because there has been an outcry from the public about my application, but more importantly, my wife and I had a heartfelt talk and she expressed not wanting me to leave Kaua'i if I was fortunate enough to be offered the position," Perry said in his letter.

Perry, 59, served 26 years in the Honolulu Police Department, retiring in 2002 as a major in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division. He was selected as Kaua'i police chief in 2007.

Also in the letter, Perry outlined some of his accomplishments on Kaua'i (his three-year contract expires in October 2010), including creation of an Internal Affairs Unit and Administrative Review Board, and provisions of "extensive leadership training for senior staff."

Perry said a four-hour written examination for qualified candidates for the Honolulu job is scheduled for early October, with in-depth assessment set for early November, and interviews with the Honolulu Police Commission in mid-November.

The commission received applications from 36 people to succeed former Chief Boisse Correa, who was not offered a new five-year contract by the commission. Correa's last day was Aug. 26 and Deputy Police Chief Paul Putzulu is serving as acting chief until a new chief is sworn in.