Hawai‘i State Law Enforcement Officials Association honors officers of the year from Kaua‘i
Hawai‘i Island – At its 67th annual conference last week at Waikoloa, Hawai‘i Island, the Hawai‘i State Law Enforcement Officials Association named three personnel with the Kaua‘i Police Department as Officer of the Year recipients.
“Every day, our police officers make great sacrifices in service to our community,” said Kaua‘i Police Chief Todd Raybuck. "I am proud to honor each of the Officers of the Year who have gone above the call of duty to save a life, conduct proactive drug investigations, and perform focused policing efforts that have made our neighborhoods safer.”
The following KPD officers were honored:
- Officer Jason Scalzo, 2021 Officer of the Year,
- Officer Kalani Apilado, 2022 Officer of the Year, and
- Lt. Philip Banquel, 2023 Officer of the Year.
The conference, last held in Maui, has been on hold since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Chief Raybuck, installed at this year's conference, will serve as HSLEOA President.
"I look forward to the opportunity to host next year's Officers of the Year award ceremony here on Kaua‘i to celebrate and honor the distinguished work of our law enforcement officers from across the state and federal partners,” added Chief Raybuck.
The Hawai'i State Law Enforcement Officials Association has a long history of collaboration between agencies, starting with a conference in 1946. They've been honoring Officers of the Year since 1982.
Other officers honored included the following:
2020 Officers of the Year
Officer Charles Caldwell-Kaai – Hawai‘i Police Department
Officer Thomas Billins – Honolulu Police Department
Officer Erik Matsuo – Maui Police Department
Supervisory Special Agent Reyn Yoshinaga – Homeland Security Investigations
2021 Officers of the Year
Officer Lisa-Marie Like – Honolulu Police Department
Officer Seanelle Esperanza – Maui Police Department
Special Agent Ryan Faulkner – Homeland Security Investigations
2022 Officers of the Year
Officer Michael Sailer – Hawai‘i Police Department
Officer Romar A. Lagamo – Honolulu Police Department
Officer Lucas Hetzler – Maui Police Department
Special Agent Gabriel Gray – Drug Enforcement Administration
Supervisory Special Agent Jason Seth – US Army Criminal Investigation Division
Deputy Sherrif Kaipo Giltner – Department of Public Safety Sheriff’s Division
2023 Officers of the Year
Officer Wyattlane Nahale – Hawai‘i Police Department
Officer Jarret Atkins – Honolulu Police Department
Officer Aasin Torricer – Maui Police Department
Special Agent Genevieve Leong – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Special Agent Robert Arcand – US Army Criminal Investigation Division
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