Office Jelsma Honored as ‘Officer of the Month’

Aloha Exchange Club member Joey Estrella presents an ‘Officer of the Month’ award to Officer Christopher Jelsma. HPD photo.

Officer Christopher Jelsma was recognized as the East Hawai’i “Officer of the Month” on Thursday.

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i recognizes Hawai’i Police Department officers serving the East portions of the island on a monthly basis

Officer Jelsma was honored for his efforts during the arrest of an armed man who was wanted for escape and a furlough violation.

On Dec. 5, just after 1 a.m., Officer Jelsma attempted to arrest a man, along with a wanted woman, in a parking lot on Rainbow Drive.

The male suspect, who police described as 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds, challenged Officer Jelsma to shoot him before reaching under the seat for a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Officer Jelsma warned the other officers on the scene and struggled with the man for control of the gun. Office Jelsma was noted to have “put himself at substantial risk to his personal safety.”

After wrestling the firearm away from the suspect, Officer Jelsma chased down the suspect on foot down an embankment and detained him.

“Officer Jelsma’s mindset and manner in which he reacted to the events brought this incident safely under control just as rapidly as it had escalated with the arrest of a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm,” said Lieutenant Miles Chong, who nominated Jelsma for the honor. “In successfully disarming the suspect, Officer Jelsma’s actions prevented the probability of death or serious bodily injury to himself, the assisting officers, as well as the suspects.”

Now that he has received the “Officer of the Month” honor, Office Jelsma is eligible for “Officer of the Year.”