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Officers Recognized for Empowering Keiki Through Sports and Mentorship
LĪHUʻE – Six officers were honored as Employees of the Month for September during this morning’s Kaua‘i Police Commission meeting, in recognition of their community outreach efforts throughout the year.
School Resource Officers Kaulana Renaud, Maria Himongala, and Johnathan Anderson, Kaua‘i Police Activities League (K-PAL) Officer Anthony Gayagas, Sergeant Morris Unutoa, and Lieutenant Matthew Tavares of the Kaua‘i Police Department’s Community Engagement Section were recognized for their exceptional leadership and hands-on coordination of three community initiatives: the K-PAL Flag Football Program, the relaunch of the Junior Police Academy, and the fourth annual Touch-A-Truck event.
The K-PAL Flag Football Program served over 800 keiki during a six-week summer season. Officers were on-site from early morning setups through long days managing equipment, hydration stations, coaching, and overall logistics. Officer Gayagas played a key role in planning and executing the program, ensuring that both participants and volunteers received meals, supplies, and seamless coordination. Throughout the season, officers went above and beyond, with some coaching multiple teams and several of their children volunteering alongside them to support the program. The team also provided hands-on planning, staffing, and supervision for other K-PAL programs throughout the year including boxing, pickleball, wrestling, and jujitsu.
The Community Engagement Section also revived the Junior Police Academy, a five-day immersive summer program for high school students that had been on hiatus for six years. The academy gave students a comprehensive overview of the criminal justice system, covering crime scene investigation, forensic science, firearms safety, and first aid. Officer Anderson played a key role in relaunching the program, taking on the responsibilities of coordination and planning. Several participants expressed interest in pursuing careers in law enforcement as a result of the experience.
The fourth annual Touch-A-Truck was a free community event that offered families the opportunity to explore emergency and municipal vehicles up close and meet the everyday heroes who operate them. The event fostered positive interactions between the community and various emergency service professionals. As the section supervisor, Lieutenant Matthew Tavares was instrumental in planning Touch-A-Truck and provided strong leadership and skillful management across multiple community programs. His operational coordination and commitment to youth development were vital to the success of each initiative.
“The members of this section are passionate about shaping the next generation,” said Chief Kalani Ke. “Their dedication goes far beyond what the public sees, with countless hours spent planning, preparing, and carrying out these programs. We extend our thanks to the families who support them and commend this team for their dedication to mentoring tomorrow’s leaders.”
Ready to make a real difference in your community? The Kaua‘i Police Department is hiring police officers, dispatchers, public safety workers, and other civil service positions. Officer salaries range from $76,000 to over $118,000, with a robust benefits package. To qualify for officer roles, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver’s license, be at least 20 years old, and have no misdemeanor, felony, or domestic violence convictions. Visit joinkauaipd.com for details and to apply.
From left to right: School Resource Officer Kaulana Renaud, K-PAL Officer Anthony Gayagas, School Resource Officer Johnathan Anderson, School Resource Officer Maria Himongala, Lieutenant Matthew Tavares, and Sergeant Morris Unutoa of the Kaua‘i Police Department’s Community Engagement Section.
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