The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized South Hilo Patrol Officer Murray Toledo on Thursday as the East Hawaii “Officer of the Month” for December, 2017.
Officer Toledo, a 12-year veteran with the Police Department, was honored for his “outstanding application of his investigative and interrogation skills” while investigating a theft case that occurred on the Big Island but stemming from a burglary that took place on Maui.
On Oct. 5, Officer Toledo was assigned to a theft of services cases that occurred at a hotel on Banyan Drive in Hilo. It was reported that the suspect, after a stay at the hotel, attempted to use a stolen check to use as payment for his hotel stay. Officer Toledo was able to confirm that the suspect was a former employee of the business from where the check was stolen.
Officer Toledo also contacted Maui Police and learned that the stolen check was taken during a burglary that occurred on Maui, and they were also investigating the series of stolen checks in their jurisdiction.
Officer Toledo arrested the suspect and obtained a confession, and he was subsequently charged with theft, forgery, and unauthorized possession of personal/confidential information. In addition, the suspect also confessed to being responsible for the burglary that occurred on Maui.