MEDIA RELEASE

Captain Randal Medeiros, Hawaiʻi Island Safety and Security Professionals Association Vice President Bill King and Sergeant Richard Toledo

The Hawaiʻi Island Safety and Security Professionals Association recognized Sergeant Richard Toledo as “Kohala Officer of the Quarter” for April-June during a ceremony on July 10.

Toledo, a South Kohala supervisor and 24-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, was honored for actions that brought a dangerous situation under control and avoided potential serious injury to officers and citizens.

On May 26, police responded to a report of a behavioral disorder in a Waimea neighborhood, where a man was standing in the roadway swinging an object.

When officers tried to reason with him and gain his compliance, the man became agitated and confrontational. He made threats and pointed what appeared to be a flare gun at an officer. As officers retreated from him and called for backup, Sergeant Richard Toledo, the on-duty supervisor, immediately headed to the scene.

Meanwhile the agitated man obtained a wooden staff about 6 feet long and attempted to charge officers and their vehicles. He then went out on the roadway and began yelling incoherently at a passing jogger. During this period, Sergeant Toledo arrived at the scene and, upon seeing the suspect, swiftly exited his vehicle and tackled the man to the ground. Toledo was able to subdue the struggling man, who was resisting arrest, while officers restrained and cuffed him.

Once the man was secured, police confirmed that he was armed with a loaded flare gun. He was arrested for resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, carrying a deadly weapon, promoting a detrimental drug and two counts of terroristic threatening.

“The decisive actions of Sergeant Toledo prevented a potential deadly encounter or serious injury to those involved, as he swiftly brought the situation under control, also preventing injury to the suspect,” said Lieutenant Juergen Canda, who nominated Toledo for the award. “This outstanding accomplishment of Sergeant Richard Toledo is indicative of his experience and capabilities, and reflects credit upon himself and the Hawaiʻi Police Department.”

The Hawaiʻi Island Safety and Security Professionals Association is an organization of hotel and airport security managers and visitor industry professionals. Its “Kohala Officer of the Quarter” program is an opportunity to recognize outstanding officers from the North Kohala and South Kohala Districts.