MEDIA RELEASE

Seated: Justin Gaspar, May Lee, Clifford Antonio, Clive Okino, Blayne Matsui, Kupono Mata. Standing: Josiah Coe, Corey Kaneko, Jeremy Riddle, Daniel Murray, Michael Abran, Donovan Hegarty, Peter Roan.

The 13 members of the Hawai’i Police Department’s 78th Recruit Class were recognized Friday (August 13) during ceremonies held at the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.

The police recruits, who just completed six months of intensive training, will now undergo four months of on-the-job field training with veteran police officers before they are qualified to work alone.

During Thursday afternoon’s ceremony, Chief Harry Kubojiri told the recruits to treat the public with respect and to never compromise on integrity. He read two letters of commendation written by the public but said that kind of recognition will be the exception and not the rule. “I expect you to perform your job well enough to warrant a letter like these every day—even though the letter may never come,” he said. “If you do that, you can go home at the end of your shift knowing you represented our department to the best of your ability—and the pride of a job well done will be all the recognition you need.”

Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida, who appeared on behalf of the mayor, told the recruits to ask themselves every day, “What have I done to make this county a better place?”

Police Commissioner Carol Ignacio read a poem on the importance of a positive attitude.

County Councilman J Yoshimoto stressed the importance of professionalism, integrity and compassion.

The keynote speaker, Deputy Corporation Counsel Brandon Gonzales, told the recruits that the public will hold them to a higher standard. “You’re expected to perform perfectly even though you are humans just like the rest of us,” he said. He added that a major part of their job will be to change the public’s perception of police by establishing trust.

Class President Justin A. Gaspar noted that the recruits come from backgrounds that include school teachers, salespersons, construction workers, students, security guards and Marines. Some already knew each other, he said, while others came from as far away as Washington State and Connecticut.

Three of the recruits received special recognition for their excellence in training. They were Class Secretary May Lee, who excelled in physical fitness training, Clive Okino, who excelled in academic training, and Clifford Antonio, who excelled in firearms training.

The other recruits recognized were Gaspar, Michael Abran, Josiah Coe, Donovan Hegarty, Corey Kaneko, Class Vice President Kupono Mata, Blayne Matsui, Daniel Murray, Jeremy Riddle and Peter Roan.