Officer Sugata Named ‘Officer of the Month’

Kona Patrol Officer Kaea Sugata was named “Officer of the Month” for the month of October by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee.

A traffic accident investigation on Dec. 29, 2014 led Officer Sugata to the award.

Officer Sugata was the first officer to respond to the scene of a traffic accident involving a motorcycle and a motor vehicle. Upon his arrival, Officer Sugata found the driver of the motorcycle with severe injuries and was losing a large amount of blood.

Immediately, Officer Sugata applied a tourniquet to the victim’s arm to stop the bleeding. A second officer arrived on the scenen and used a belt to apply a tourniquet to the victim’s leg. The victim was treated for his injuries at The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu.

Sergeant Akira Edmoundson, who nominated Sugata for the award, noted that Sugata was a new officer and had proven to be an asset to the Police Department.

“Officer Sugata demonstrated a high level of competence and initiative, and his quick and immediate actions resulted in the life of a member or our community being saved,” Edmoundson wrote.

Now that he has received an “Officer of the Month” award, Officer Sugata is eligible to become “Officer of the Year.”

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee encourages community involvement in aiding and supporting police in West Hawaiʻi.