Hawai‘i Island police welcome graduates of 103rd recruit class

The Hawai’i Police Department swore in four new officers on Wednesday, Jan. 28, following the recognition ceremony for its 103rd Police Recruit Class.

The newly sworn-in officers are: Ethan J. Castillo (the class president), Roberto F. Lopez, Dayton K. Fukunaga and James R. Skizewski.

The graduation was held in Hilo, and it included a badge-pinning ceremony in which each officer was honored by a loved one.

The 103rd Recruit Class began training on April 1, with six months of academic instruction followed by four months of field training under the supervision of veteran officers across the county’s districts.

Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna commended the officers for their dedication and perseverance.

“As you begin your careers in law enforcement, remember that the foundation of your service must always be rooted in our Hawaiian values: aloha in how you treat others, kuleana in the responsibility you carry, pono in doing what is right even when no one is watching, and lokahi in working together with the community you serve,” Mahuna said.

“These values should guide every decision you make, on and off duty.”

During the ceremony, special recognition was given to recruits who excelled in training. Castillo received the Firearms Award for demonstrating the highest proficiency in weapons handling and the Physical Fitness Award for maintaining top conditioning throughout training.

Skizewski earned the Academic Award for achieving the highest overall average on weekly academy examinations.