Amaral, Kerr Honored as ‘Officer of the Month’

Detective Scott Amaral was honored on Thursday by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i as one of two East Hawai’i “Officers of the Month” for June.

The second “Officer of the Month,” Detective Jesse Kerr, was unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony but will be officially recognized at a later date.

Both detectives are members of the Juvenile Aid Section and are honored for assisting the FBI in locating a fugitive who was wanted in Colorado for kidnapping a nine-year-old family member.

Detectives Amaral and Kerr were assigned to provide assistance to the FBI after the FBI learned that the man and girl might be on the Big Island. With investigative skills, the pair learned the whereabouts of the fugitive and girl. The man was arrested in a small Texas town, just 11 hours after the detectives received the assignment. After the arrest, the girl was returned to her family.

“Both detectives deserve equal recognition for collaboratively getting the job done,” said Lieutenant Lucille Melemai, who nominated Amaral and Kerr. “They represent our department well.”

Now that Amaral and Kerr have each received an “Officer of the Month” honor, they are each eligible to become “Officer of the Year.”

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i conducts the monthly East Hawai’i “Officer of the Month” honors.