Ka‘ū Patrol Officer Taylor Au was honored as Officer of the Quarter for Q2 2025
A member of the department’s 98th recruit class, Au has served the Ka‘ū community since May 2024.
On April 19, 2025, to a suspicious vehicle report in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision. During Au’s investigation, he located the vehicle’s operator hiding in nearby brush and discovered a loaded firearm under a tree. The suspect was arrested and charged with multiple firearm-related offenses.
On May 5, 2025, Officer Au again distinguished himself when he responded to a dropped 911 call near the 41.5-mile marker on Māmalahoa Highway in Pāhala. There, he encountered a man holding a box cutter to his wrist while speaking with the Veterans Crisis Line. Remaining calm and compassionate, Officer Au established rapport with the individual and persuaded him to surrender the weapon, safely resolving a potentially life-threatening situation.
Without Officer Au’s investigative diligence and compassion, an illegal firearm might still be on the streets, and a life could have been lost. His actions reflect the highest standards of the Hawai‘i Police Department and his commitment to serving the Ka‘ū community.
HPD Photo