Officer Taylor Cruz was recently honored by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi as the October 2022 Officer of the Month.
 
A patrol officer for over two years, Officer Cruz responded to an active burglary in the Nanawale subdivision in Pāhoa, on October 8, 2022 where the victim reported that an unknown masked male and female forcibly entered his residence and removed his surveillance camera. The pair then took the keys to his vehicle and fled the area after the victim gave chase.
 
After reviewing the surveillance footage, Officer Cruz determined that he knew the female suspect and based on his past contacts with her, he also suspected he knew the identity of the masked man.
 
Upon contacting the female suspect and advising her of her rights, Officer Cruz was able to get the female to identify the male suspect, who was the man he had suspected.

While interviewing the female, Officer Cruz was able to obtain her full confession. She also revealed other crimes committed by her accomplice, including another burglary that included the theft of a firearm.
 
With this new information, police were able to quickly take the male suspect into custody.
 
The female suspect was charged with burglary and one count of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle (UEMV). The male suspect was ultimately charged with burglary, two counts UEMV, and ownership/possession prohibited of ammunition.
 
Every month the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i honors a police officer in East Hawaiʻi as their officer of the month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from the police districts in Area I, All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be selected as the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i Officer of the Year.

HPD Photo