MEDIA RELEASE

Sgt. Christopher Gali, MADD Executive Director Jennifer Dotson, Police Chief Harry Kubojiri and, from MADD's Hilo Office, Lisa Onorato.

The Hawai’i Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit has received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii 2010 Law Enforcement Award. The Traffic Enforcement Unit was recognized—along with individual officers from the Hawai’i, Honolulu, Maui and Kauai police departments—for their exceptional contributions in the fight against drunk driving and preventing underage drinking.

Two students, one from Kapolei High School and the other from Maryknoll High School were given the Youth Award.

The awards were presented May 6 at the 18th Annual Law Enforcement & Youth Recognition Awards Ceremony held at The Pacific Club in Honolulu.

In 2009, Traffic Enforcement Unit officers from the Hawai’i Police Department arrested 386 drivers for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Officers also conducted 105 DUI Sobriety checkpoints throughout the Big Island.

During 2009, the members of the Traffic Enforcement Unit were its commander, Sergeant Christopher Gali, and Officers Robert Pauole, Andres Fojas, Jr., Clarence Davies, Michael Molnar, Marvin Troutman Sr., Joshua Lewis and Thomas Koyanagi.

Officers from the island’s eight police districts and Traffic Enforcement Unit were recognized with awards for having the highest number of DUI arrests in their respective districts. They were:

• Officer Erhard Autrata, South Hilo Patrol, 32 arrests
• Officer Andres Fojas, Traffic Enforcement Unit, 81 arrests
• Officer James Waiamau, Puna District, 46 arrests
• Officer Robert Border, Hāmākua District, 3 arrests
• Officer Richard Nery, South Kohala District, 14 arrests
• Officer Chere Rae Lyons, North Kohala District, 6 arrests
• Officer Jason Tominaga, Ka Å« District, 12 arrests
• Officer Aaron Loges, Kona Patrol, 46 arrests