Former Big Island police officer dies from heart attack at 36

A former Hawai‘i Police Department officer died of a massive heart attack on Sunday night, while on duty in Post Falls, Idaho.

Nicholas McDaniel, a Post Falls Police officer, was found slumped over in his patrol car after failing to reply to a “status check.” He was 36.

Hawai‘i Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said McDaniel joined the department on Feb. 1, 2011.  After academy and field training, he was promoted to Police Officer 2 and worked in the Kona Patrol District.

McDaniel was later promoted and worked in the Area 2 Vice section. He resigned on Aug. 26, 2022.

“The Hawai‘i Police Department mourns the tragic loss of Officer Nicholas McDaniel,” Moszkowicz said. “We honor and respect his life-long dedication to serving his community, both on the Big Island and in Post Falls, Idaho.

“The grief from his loss is being felt by many in Hawai‘i, especially his classmates and former beat partners. We have reached out to Nick’s family to work with them on providing whatever support we can.”

McDaniel worked in Post Falls for less than a year after spending 13 years in Hawai‘i.

“We are proud of the time that Officer McDaniel gave serving our citizens and fellow colleagues at the city of Post Falls,” Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said in a news release. “There are no words that can make this loss easier to bear for Officer McDaniel’s family and colleagues. As a city, we mourn Officer McDaniel’s death deeply and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”