This is Police Week, a time to salute fallen members of the law enforcement team.  Normally there are two public ceremonies, one in Hilo, one in Kona.  But because of COVID-19, Hawaii County Police Chief Paul Ferreira made the decision to cancel the public ceremonies to avoid potentially spreading the virus and ensure he and his team were adhering to the requirements to maintain a physical distance.  He and top command officers did a private ceremony on Monday, May 10,  to honor the Hawaii County law enforcement officers who fell in the line of duty.  It was held at at the “Ka Malu Aloha” police memorial wall just outside Police Headquarters in Hilo.

Tribute was made to Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918, Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936, Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990, Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997, Park Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who gave his life in 1999, and Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18, 2018, and whose loss is still very fresh for the Hawaii County Police Department.

Police Week began in 1962.   President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. National Police Week is being observed this week thru May 16, 2020.

Photo is Officer Bronson Kaliloa.

A video of the ceremony is below: