MEDIA RELEASE

Police Week festivities on the Big Island will be held during the second full week of May.

Police Week is a nationally recognized week of activities in support of police work and in recognition of officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. In 1962 President John F. Kennedy proclaimed every May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as Police Week. In Hawai’i County, Police Week activities this year are scheduled from Monday, May 10, to Friday, May 14.

Formal Police Week ceremonies on the Big Island will be held on Monday, May 10, at 9 a.m. at the Hilo Police station and on Tuesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. at the Kona police station.

Both ceremonies include entertainment, a tribute to Hawai’i County police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. Refreshments will be served. The public is welcome.

Police will pay tribute to Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918, Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936, Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990 and Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997.

Police week activities also include DARE Day 2010, at which elementary school students will be recognized at a ceremony at the Kekuaokalani Gymnasium in Kona on Thursday, May 13, for completing Drug Abuse Resistance Education. The students will take a pledge to remain drug free.

Also during Police Week, police will hold station tours at the Hilo and Kona stations on Friday, May 14.