Hawai‘i Police Department honors fallen officers during National Police Week

The men and women who serve the Big Island as law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every time they go to work to make sure their community is safe.

Unfortunately, some of them don’t make it home.

The public is invited to show support for law enforcement and honor officers killed or disabled in the line of duty throughout this week as the Hawai‘i Police Department observes National Police Week.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1962 proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as National Police Week.

Big Island police hosted a Police Week ceremony Monday at the Hilo police station and will conduct another at 11 a.m. Friday at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center in Kailua-Kona. The West Hawai‘i event is open to the public and will include pre-ceremony entertainment.

Both ceremonies pay tribute to officers from Hawai‘i County who gave their lives in service to their community. They are:

• Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918.
• Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936.
• Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990.
• Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997.
• Park Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who gave his life in 1999.
• Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18, 2018.
• Police Captain T. Simeona, who was killed in the line of duty on September 25, 1890.

Hilo Police Officer Michol Octobre, who died Dec. 8, 1916, in a shootout in Kalopa with a suspected serial killer, was added to the Ka Malu Aloha police memorial wall outside the Hilo police station during Monday’s ceremony.

Octobre, undercover as a laborer, embarked on a dangerous mission to locate the suspect Maxime Bondad. The officer’s work led to locating Bondad’s suspected hiding place.

With Deputy Sheriff Rickard by his side, Octobre bravely ascended the Kalopa hillside. Despite the risk, he attempted a peaceful resolution by calling out to Bondad.

His courageous act went tragically unanswered when a single gunshot shattered the quiet. Bondad, who was hiding in the brush, shot and fatally wounded Octobre. Officers returned gunfire and killed Bondad where he hid.

Members of the public can visit the memoiral wall in Hilo and attend station tours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Hilo and Kona police stations. Call Sgt. Amy Omaya at 808-961-2264 to schedule an appointment.