MEDIA RELEASE

Aloha Exchange Club member Joey Estrella presents an ‘Officer of the Month’ award to Officer Jared Cabatu.

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi recognized Officer Jared Cabatu on Thursday (May 26) as the East Hawaiʻi “Officer of the Month” for May.

Cabatu was honored for his outstanding accomplishment in patrol operations that led to the recovery of a stolen federal vehicle.

On April 26, three pickup trucks were stolen from the University of Hawaiʻi Institute of Astronomy. In the days that followed, Cabatu worked to solve the case and learned that a vehicle matching the description of the ones stolen had been seen in the upper Hilo area. Following that lead, he located the vehicle in the Waiākea Uka area and determined that its license plate had been stolen from another vehicle. When he attempted to contact the occupants, they fled.

Officer Cabatu immediately communicated information about the vehicle and the suspects to his fellow South Hilo Patrol officers, leading to the recovery of the vehicle and the arrest of two men and a woman. As a result, detectives assigned to the case were able to develop additional leads and information.

Cabatu was previously named “Officer of the Month” In March 2013 and October 2015. As “Officer of the Month,” he is eligible for “Officer of the Year.”

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