Four Hawaiʻi County police officers with Puna Patrol were honored as Officer of the Month by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i. Every month the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i honors a police officer in East Hawaiʻi as their officer of the month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from the police districts in Area I, including Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo, and Puna, and a winner is selected. All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be selected as the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i Officer of the Year.
The officers honored include:
Officer Rodney DelimaA three-year veteran of the department, Officer Rodney Delima was recognized as Officer of the Month for January 2022 for his de-escalation of a domestic abuse incident involving a person in crisis suffering from mental health issues.
On January 9, Officer Delima and other officers responded to a domestic abuse incident in lower Puna involving a husband and wife. Arriving on scene, officers determined that the male suspect was in the bedroom with the door closed. Calling out to the suspect, the officers opened the bedroom door and saw the man in an agitated state sitting on the bed holding two knives to his throat. The man’s behavior became increasingly erratic. Officer Delima spent 40 minutes talking with the suspect resulting in a peaceful resolution. The suspect was eventually transported to Hilo Medical Center for an emergency evaluation and received the necessary treatment.Officer Calvin FurtadoWith the department for just two-and-a-half years, Officer Calvin Furtado was honored as Officer of the Month for February 2022 for investigation of a Puna robbery in which a 2021 Skytrak forklift had been stolen from a quarry.
On February 25, Officer Furtado responded to the burglary and determined that someone had cut the lock to the gate and removed the forklift, which was owned by an equipment rental company and valued at more than $244,000. In the course of investigation, he learned that the equipment was trackable by an onboard GPS system and determined that the stolen equipment was at a residence in Leilani Estates. Officer Furtado and other officers responded to the Leilani Estates location and contacted a 46-year-old male suspect who was subsequently arrested for first-degree theft. This is Officer Furtado’s fourth nomination for officer of the Month, and one of many investigations where he has displayed his work ethic, persistence and dedication to duty.Officers Bryson Miyose and Terrence ScanlanCommunity Policing Officers Terrence Scanlan and Bryson Miyose were honored as Officers of the Month for March 2022 for their work during the apprehension of a wanted fugitive in Orchidland.
On January 21, Officers Scanlan and Miyose were patrolling Orchidland Drive when they observed a primer painted sedan with a cracked windshield, dark tinted windows, and no front license plate parked at a gas pump at a gas station/convenience store. Upon parking their police vehicles, the male suspect ran from the convenience store, got into his car, and started the engine. The two officers recognized the suspect as someone who was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was known to be possibly armed and using methamphetamine. The Officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to shut off their vehicle but the suspect refused, and accelerated the vehicle as Officers Scanlan and Miyose approached, slamming into the officers’ police vehicles in an attempt to flee the area. Officer Scanlan was thrown backwards from the impact of vehicle striking him in his leg and torso and was able to keep his balance, avoiding being run over by the suspect.Officer Miyose deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) at the suspect in an attempt to neutralize the situation and stop the suspect from fleeing. Then the suspect’s girlfriend, who had been hiding in the backseat, sprang up and pulled the CEW wires off the suspect, who again tried to start the vehicle. As Officer Miyose distracted the suspect, Officer Scanlan quickly reached into the vehicle and removed him from the car. Once out of the vehicle, the suspect unsuccessfully tried to flee on foot and was arrested. The suspect’s girlfriend was also arrested for interfering with the arrest and an outstanding warrant.Upon conducting a pat down of the male suspect, officers found a zip lock bag containing 8.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine in his waistband. The male suspect was ultimately charged with a probation violation, first-degree criminal property damage, two counts of second-degree criminal property damage, first-degree assault of a police officer, resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, and drug paraphernalia. The female suspect was charged with hindering prosecution and criminal contempt of court.
Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Police Department