Hawaiʻi Island police officers authorized to use pickup trucks while on duty

Effective immediately, Hawaiʻi Island police officers are authorized to use pickup trucks with an open bed as subsidized police vehicles.

In the coming weeks, more officers will be using pickup trucks while on patrol. When they are on duty, the trucks will be equipped with blue lights and sirens and the officers should be in uniform.

Officers are authorized to use “crew cab” configurations with four full sized doors, including the following models:

• 2021-2023 Ford F150 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2021-2023 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
• 2019-2023 Chevrolet Silverado, 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 Ram 1500 (5th Generation/non-classic) Crew Cab short bed

“Given that Hawai‘i Island encompasses vast swaths of rural and very rugged terrain, we anticipate our police officers will be able to serve the community better, faster and most importantly safer,” Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz said in a news release.   

If motorists see one of these police pickup trucks in their rear-view mirror with blue emergency lights illuminated, please slow down and pull over.

If you are unsure about a police vehicle, slow down, pull over and call the police non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 to verify the officer’s license plate.