Hawai‘i Island Police Department Detective John Balberde was recently honored with the Haweo Award. A 15-year veteran of the department, Detective Balberde is currently assigned as the supervisor of the East Hawaiʻi Area I Criminal Investigation Division’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU). Detective Balberde was recognized for his overall body of work while leading the CRU, as well as for the determination and compassion he exhibited as the lead detective assigned to a Hilo double-homicide in January 2023. Prior to being promoted to Sergeant/Detective in August 2020 and being assigned to the Area I Criminal Investigation Section in East Hawai‘i, Balberde worked as a patrol officer in Kona and Hilo, an officer in the CRU, as well as Vice and the Criminal Intelligence Unit in Kona.
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