Two Hawai‘i County Police Department (HPD) sworn personnel and a clerical staff member were recognized for their outstanding service during the County of Hawai‘i’s annual Employee Recognition ceremony. Manager of the Year Nominee: Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins24 year department veteran, Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins is commander of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and was one of seven county employees nominated for Manager of the Year.
Amon-Wilkins oversees 36 employees within the Area I Juvenile Aid, Vice, and Criminal Investigation Sections, as well as the Crime Lab. This Division is charged with investigating the most heinous of crimes, ranging from child abuse to sexual assault and murder. In November 2022, Captain Amon-Wilkins also received the County Council Haweo Award for Outstanding Leadership.Supervisor of the Year Nominee: Todd PatarayLieutenant Todd Pataray, a 22-year veteran of the department, is assigned to HPD’s Area I Operations Bureau, Hilo District. He has worked in several capacities within the department during his tenure, including Hāmākua and Hilo patrol, Community Policing and the Criminal Investigation Section. In addition to supervising two sergeants, Lieutenant Pataray oversees a number of administrative responsibilities, such as handling the district’s disaster planning efforts, inventory management, and tracking of accreditation progress. Earlier this year, Lieutenant Pataray helped coordinate the addition of fallen Captain Simeona to HPD’s Memorial Wall. Captain Simeona was killed during a shootout in North Kohala in 1890. Employee of the Year Nominee: Karen Hamada Police Investigative Operations Clerk Karen Hamada was among the 15 nominees for County of Hawai‘i Employee of the Year. Hamada is the bedrock of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, and with 44 years of service, she is the longest-tenured employee in the entire police department.Providing administrative and clerical support to 36 personnel, Hamada is known for her positive attitude, work ethic, and integrity.
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