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Officer of the Month: Rocha 12-23-10

Hawai’i Police Department
Office of the Chief
Harry S. Kubojiri
Phone: 961-2244
December 23, 2010

(See larger image here)
Aloha Exchange Club Representative Joey Estrella presents an ‘Officer of the Month’ award to Officer Joseph Rocha

Media Release

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i recognized Officer Joseph Rocha on Thursday (December 23) as “Officer of the Month” for December.

Rocha was honored for what Sergeant Juergen Canda referred to as his “diligent investigation” of a burglary that identified a convicted felon suspected of numerous burglaries in the Puna District.

In July, police received a report of glass breaking and a man fleeing in a pickup truck from a house in the Ainaloa subdivision. During his investigation, Officer Rocha obtained fingerprints from the broken window and tied the attempted burglary to a career criminal responsible for up to 20 burglaries and possibly having knowledge of more. The investigation led to a “major break” in solving crimes in that area, Canda said.

As “Officer of the Month,” Rocha is eligible for “Officer of the Year.”

The East Hawaii “Officer of the Month” award is a project of the Aloha Exchange Club of Hilo.