Wyatt Kaili-Leong Named Officer of the Month

Officer Wyatt Kaili-Leong. Courtesy photo.

Officer Wyatt Kaili-Leong, a 6-year police veteran, has been named the officer of the month by the East Hawai‘i Aloha Exchange Club.

On July 14, 2017, at approximately 6 p.m., Officer Kaili-Leong was flagged down by a female in Keaʻau who reported the theft of a purse from her parked and unlocked vehicle. She reported that her purse contained identification cards, bank cards, a checkbook, personal items and $2,100.00 in U.S. currency generated primarily from her farmer’s market sales for the day.

After interviewing witnesses, Officer Kaili-Leong discovered that an unidentified male wearing a baseball cap had been at the residence two days prior and sold the witness orchid plants. This same male party was seen reversing from the driveway in an older model white Saturn or Mercury just prior to the discovery of the crime.

Two days after he initiated the investigation, Officer Kaili-Leong was on patrol when observed the suspect vehicle on North Kūlani Road with an expired safety and weight tax emblem and immediately conducted a traffic stop.

Officer Kaili-Leong arrested the 38 year old male suspect and recovered numerous items taken during the theft.

He is to be commended for his work ethic and determination, keeping with the highest standards of the Hawai‘i Police Department. Officer Kaili-Leong’s actions demonstrate his commitment to the Hawai‘i Police Department core values of integrity, professionalism, compassion, teamwork and community satisfaction.