Winston Churchill, president of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii, right, presents an 'Officer of the Month' certificate to Officer Keith Nacis.

MEDIA RELEASE

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i recognized Hilo Patrol Officer Keith Nacis as “Officer of the Month” on Thursday (February 26).

At a luncheon ceremony at Coqui’s Hideaway Restaurant in Hilo, Nacis was recognized for arresting a man responsible for a burglary at a food mart in Hilo on January 28.

The officer responded to a report of an alarm and found a broken window. After viewing a security surveillance tape, Nacis determined that the suspect had broken a window with a rock, stolen a box of beer and fled the scene in a dark van. Later that night, Officer Nacis spotted a man, who was dressed like the suspect, next to a dark van. The van had a box of beer in the rear. The 23-year-old suspect was arrested and later confessed to the burglary.

In nominating Nacis for the award, Lieutenant Lucille Melemai, described him as “extremely conscientious” and said he maintains a high degree of professionalism and a positive attitude.

As “Officer of the Month” Nacis is eligible for “Officer of the Year.”

The East Hawaii “Officer of the Month” award is a project of the Aloha Exchange Club of Hilo.