On Friday, July 17, 2020, Officers Patrick Robinson, Adam Hanes, Preston Paglinawan, Justin Uresti, Kayli Carr, and former Officer James Rome III each were recognized by Chief Paul Ferreira at the Kealakehe Police Station with a Certificate of Merit for their quick actions and lifesaving skills.

Officer Robinson was also awarded the Bronze Medal of Merit.

The awards stemmed from a Sunday, November 10, 2019, incident where the officers responded to a head-on traffic collision on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway around 2 p.m.  The officers assisted in helping parties exit a burning vehicle and applied basic life support techniques, including a tourniquet applied by Officer Robinson, to a severely injured party.

A 35-year-old Kailua Kona woman, Cassandra Lynn Ellis, died in the crash.  She had three children in the car with her, a 10-year-old girl and two 15-year-old girls, both of whom suffered severe injuries.   Both those girls had to be airlifted to O’ahu.  A healthcare professional who was involved with treatment said without the help of the officers, especially Officer Robinson, the girls might have lost life or limbs.  The 10-year-old girl was treated at Kona Community Hospital and released.

According to Acting Assistant Police Chief Sam Jelsma, the responsible driver in this crash, Nicholas Abarcar,  was charged with Negligent Homicide, and three counts of Negligent Injury, Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and Reckless Driving.  The case was sent to the Prosecutors office, Abarcar was charged by Grand Jury, and the case is expected to go to trial later this year (maybe around September timeframe).