KAILUA-KONA — It is that time of year again, to honor Kona’s finest at the Hawaii Police Department.
On Sept. 12, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee will host its annual Officer of the Year luncheon at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The group has been honoring Hawaii police officers since 1984.
Diane Blancett-Maddock, committee president, said she didn’t know why the group started honoring officers in the 1980s, however, they continued the tradition as a way to support and honor the officers in Kona.
“We’re just trying to motivate the everyday working guy or gal who’s doing their job well,” Blancett-Maddock said.
The committee also hosts monthly luncheons to recognize an officer of the month. The officers are nominated by their supervisors. Finalists for Officer of the Year are those officers recognized from July 2017 to July 2018.
Since there typically isn’t major crime in Kona, a lot of the nominations this year were for officers who work well with others and have mentored younger officers.
“They do their investigative work really well and they go the extra step,” Blancett-Maddock said.
The officers nominated this year are Adam Roberg, Adam Cho, Coley Rowe, Levon Stevens, Christopher Fukumoto, Bradley Llanes, Stephen Kishimoto, Robin Crusat, Len Hamakado and Aron Tomota.
The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the hotel’s ballroom. RSVPs will be accepted until Tuesday. Cost per person is $45, per keiki is $30 and parking is $3 with validation. Up to 100 people had signed up for the luncheon as of Friday afternoon.
For reservations contact Liz Holey at lholey@hawaii.rr.com or call 443-7708.