When the Kona Crime Prevention Committee deemed it time to honor West Hawaii Vice Officer Kalae Lee for a major methamphetamine bust in North Kohala, Lee was quick to pass the credit on.
When the Kona Crime Prevention Committee deemed it time to honor West Hawaii Vice Officer Kalae Lee for a major methamphetamine bust in North Kohala, Lee was quick to pass the credit on.
“My role was very small,” he said. “I just happened to be the arresting officer.”
Lee worked with the North Kohala Community Policing section last summer on an investigation that culminated in the confiscation of 126 grams of crystal meth and drug paraphernalia. Investigators searching the residence of a 28-year-old woman also found a 6-month-old baby, which they turned over to Child Protective Services.
The meth, worth $15,750, was just hours from hitting the streets.
“Many people were involved in the case,” Lee said. “Working with officers across districts exemplifies what we try to do.”
Lee was Officer of the Month in December 2013 and was selected for the Officer of the Year Award from a field of 11 candidates who demonstrated exemplary work in areas ranging from drug arrests to credit fraud investigations and time off spent helping the needy.
Officers were recognized for such pavement-pounding work as traffic accidents, DUI arrests and the tedious interviews and follow-up needed to build a case around missing jewelry.
“The police have a thankless job. I think it’s important for the community to recognize the work they do,” said Shery Henderson, a member of the crime prevention committee board.
One officer, out of uniform at the time, even handled the unusual case of a man with an aluminum bat chasing a naked man down Kuakini Highway on March 15.
“All of the officers are so deserving. It really is a difficult choice,” said Dave Wagner, also on the crime prevention committee board. “Some of the officers have been candidates multiple times. We might have to have a lifetime achievement award at some point.”
Lee, a 1997 Konawaena High School graduate, played football at the University of Hawaii and also at Konawaena, where he now coaches.
“They put in a lot of time, a lot of days and nights,” said Kalei Andrade, Lee’s fiancee, holding their 18-month-old son Haa at Friday’s luncheon at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
“They sacrifice a lot,” she said.
Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha said the impact of drugs on small communities like those in Kohala are the reason the department needs to keep such enforcement efforts in focus.
About the Officer of the Year, Kealoha said Lee’s reference to teamwork says it all.
“That tells me he gets what’s important to us,” Kealoha said. “They’re all worthy of it, though. Sad that only one can win.”