Coley Rowe Named Kona Officer of the Month

Officer Coley Rowe has been named Officer of the Month for September 2017.

Officer Coley Rowe has been recognized as “Officer of the Month” for September 2017 by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee.

Rowe’s outstanding efforts were recognized following an incident on June 30 around 5 p.m. Hawai‘i Fire Department Rescue personnel reported a man sitting atop a Kona-area Harbor building roof and threatening to jump off. The man also threatened to harm anyone who might try to stop him. To make matters worse, an event was scheduled at the building and between 100 and 200 people had gathered to attend.

After HFD Rescue and Police unsuccessfully tried to convince the man to come down, Office Coley Rowe volunteered to climb up the roof and talk the man down. Officer Rowe was instructed not to physically engage him, and then climbed on the roof and put himself in a non-threatening position to communicate with the troubled man.

After starting a dialogue and talking with the man for about 30 minutes, the man reached his hand out to Officer Rowe. Rowe safely assisted the man down off the roof to awaiting first responders. The man was then transported and admitted to the Kona Community Hospital.

Officer Rowe’s tactful action resulted in a peaceful resolution to a tense and unpredictable situation. Rowe is a nine-year veteran of the Hawai‘i Police Department.