Hawaiʻi Police Department recognizes the second Kaʻū Officer of the Quarter

Officer Taylor Au has been named as Kaʻū’s second Officer of the Quarter for his initiative over the past few months and throughout his tenure in Kaʻū.

Au, a member of the department’s 98th recruit class, has served the Kaʻū community since May 2024. A two-year veteran of the department, he has demonstrated an exceptional work ethic and commitment to public safety, establishing himself as a dependable and proactive officer, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

“Officer Taylor Au is a valued member of our division who continuously seeks to improve himself while making significant contributions to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Acting Captain Pernell Hanoa.

Au was honored with Officer of the Quarter during a ceremony in Nā‘ālehu on Monday, as the department recognized two of his accomplishments from the last few months.

Au was recognized for his response to a suspicious vehicle report in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision on April 19. During his investigation, he located the vehicle’s operator hiding in nearby brush and discovered a loaded firearm under a tree. The suspect was arrested and charged with multiple firearm-related offenses, and an illegal, unregistered firearm was removed from the community.

On May 5, Au again distinguished himself when he responded to a dropped 911 call near the 41.5-mile marker on Māmalahoa Highway in Pāhala. There, he encountered a man holding a box cutter to his wrist while speaking with the Veterans Crisis Line.

Remaining calm and compassionate, Au established rapport with the individual and persuaded him to surrender the weapon, safely resolving a potentially life-threatening situation.

Without Au’s investigative diligence and compassion, an illegal firearm might still be on the streets, and a life could have been lost.