The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized two officers for “Officer of the Month” in a luncheon ceremony Thursday (February 28). Hilo Patrol Officer Joel Field was named “Officer of the Month” for January and Hilo Patrol Officer James Correa earned that distinction for February.

Field was recognized for talking a man out of jumping off the roof of a building in downtown Hilo. Acting Lieutenant Richard Maiyamoto, who nominated Field, said the man on the roof was a suspect in a car break-in just before he fled to the roof, was wanted on an all-points-bulletin for another case and had a dagger in his pocket when he came down from the roof. “Due to the efforts of Officer Field, the life of the male suspect was possibly saved and also the life of a police officer,” Miyamoto said.

Correa was recognized for demonstrating what his supervisor described as his “dedication, diligence and instinct” when he arrested six individuals and recovered three stolen vehicles on two separate dates while working the midnight shift in October. Acting Sergeant John Stewart noted that Correa is a Field Training Officer, who was training a new officer on both dates. The new officer “had the opportunity to be part of excellent police work through the outstanding efforts of Officer Correa,” Stewart said.

As “Officer of the Month,” both Field and Correa are eligible for “Officer of the Year.”