Officer Andres Fojas, Officer Clarence Davies, Traffic Enforcement Unit Sergeant Christopher Gali, Officer Joshua Lewis and Mayor Billy Kenoi

Officer Joshua Dumont, Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison, Officer James Waiamau, Erhard Autrata Jr. with his three children, Mayor Billy Kenoi

MADD representative Ashley Drake, Traffic Safety Coordinator Dieter Blattler, Traffic Service Sergeant Robert Pauole and Mayor Billy Kenoi

MEDIA RELEASE

Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored eight Big Island police officers Thursday (June 9) for their efforts in arresting motorists for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

At a luncheon ceremony at Encore restaurant in Hilo, sponsored by Big Island Toyota, certificates of appreciation were handed out to the following officers for the following number of DUI arrests during 2010:

• Officer Andres Fojas, Traffic Enforcement Unit, 86
• Officer Clarence Davies, Traffic Enforcement Unit, 78
• Officer Josh Lewis, Traffic Enforcement Unit, 80
• Officer Erhard Autrata Jr.,South Hilo Patrol, 60
• Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison, South Hilo Patrol, 30
• Officer James Waiamau, Puna District, 32
• Officer Joshua Dumont, South Kohala District, 12
• Officer Sharon Yoon, Kona Patrol, 21

MADD also honored Captain Samuel Kawamoto, commander of Kona Patrol, for heading the unit with the largest number of DUI arrests. Sixty officers under his command contributed to 492 arrests in 2010.

Also honored were three MADD community partners:

• The Police Department’s Traffic Safety Coordinator Dieter Blattler for promoting “creative and innovative projects” to raise public awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving
• Deputy Prosecutor Mitch Roth for his efforts at reducing underage drinking through the “Shattered Dreams” project at high schools
• Retired Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura for his role in prosecuting offenders and providing support to the victims

Mayor Billy Kenoi thanked all the police officers for their “tireless efforts” in keeping the public safe. He said it gives him comfort when he sees police officers on the side of the road. “Everybody grumbles when they get busted,” he said, “but everybody’s grateful when somebody ends up safe.”