On-Duty Officer Involved in Waikoloa Bicycle Fatality

An on-duty police officer struck and killed a 63-year-old Michigan man early Sunday morning.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, Jeffery C. Surnow of West Bloomfield, Mich. was riding a bicycle on Waikoloa Road near the 11-mile marker when he was struck by a vehicle being driven in the same direction. The vehicle was operated by on-duty police officer Jody Buddemeyer, 30, assigned to the South Kohala District.

HPD says that Buddemeyer reported the crash at about 6:25 a.m.

Surnow was pronounced dead at 10:25 a.m. after being taken to North Kohala Community Hospital.

A negligent homicide investigation has been initiated by Traffic Enforcement Unit officers and Buddemeyer was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide.

Buddemeyer was released later Sunday pending further investigation.

An administration investigation will be conducted by the Office of Professional Standards, which is standard practice in an officer-involved fatality. Pending the outcome of the investigation, Buddemeyer has been placed on administrative leave.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is advised to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, extension 229.

Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can call the Big Island Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.