The Hawaii Police Department announced Thursday that two East Hawaii patrol officers shared the “Officer of the Month” award for March.

The award was given during a luncheon at Coqui’s Hideaway, hosted by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii.

Patrol Officers Luke Watkins, who serves the Puna district, and Keith Nacis, who serves South Hilo, were honored for various reasons by their peers. Both are eligible for “Officer of the Year.”

Sergeant Dayne Bolos said that Watkins was deserving of the award for his “dedication to duty and diligent investigation” in investigating a burglary suspect last November. Watkins encountered the suspect in the Orchidland Estates subdivision, and when the suspect left behind tools that he had his hands on, the patrol officer used that to link the suspect to his role in a burglary.

Nacis was recognized by Lieutenant Miles Chong, who called him “a focused, self-motivated and goal-oriented employee who consistently carries a higher-than-average workload in both investigations and traffic enforcement.”

Nacis’ workload in January included investigations into 51 incidents and 19 traffic accidents. He also arrested 29 citizens and issued 303 traffic violations, while also answering a large amount of calls for service.