Officers of the Month: Jackson and Akina

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Office of the Chief
Chief Harry S. Kubojiri
Phone: 961-2244
May 4, 2011


Media Release

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee recognized Officers Erich Jackson and Carrie Akina as “Officers of the Month” for May in a luncheon ceremony on Wednesday (May 4) at Huggo’s restaurant in Kailua-Kona.

Jackson and Akina were honored for arresting a man who was carrying two concealed weapons, crystal methamphetamine and another person’s ID.

On November 12, Jackson and Akina were on foot patrol on Ali’i Drive. Jackson was aware that police had received a report of a man with two firearms, and that the man was someone Jackson had arrested previously for “ice” offenses.

The two officers saw that man walk to a shielded area that is known for drug distribution. They approached him to ask about the firearms report and informed him that they were going to conduct a pat-down search for their safety. During the pat down, Officer Akina observed the barrel of a firearm protruding from a hole in a backpack the man was wearing. When they told him he was under arrest, he struggled with the officers and attempted to flee. Jackson wrestled the man to the ground while Akina placed him in handcuffs.

A search warrant for the backpack led to the discovery of a loaded .38 caliber pistol, a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, 3.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine packaged for distribution, drug paraphernalia, a Vicodin tablet and an identification card belong to another person. Police also recovered $3,217 in cash for forfeiture.

The man was charged with 12 firearms offenses, 5 drug offenses, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

Sergeant Grad Elarionoff, who nominated the officers for the honor, said the incident epitomizes the Police Department’s core value of teamwork. “They were able to work together as a team to successfully arrest and charge the suspect for methamphetamine distribution and weapons offenses,” Elarionoff wrote in his nomination papers. “Their proactive investigative approach to the information they received prevented those firearms from potentially being used to commit crimes against our community.”

As “Officer of the Month,” Jackson and Akina are each eligible to become “Officer of the Year.”

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee is an organization that encourages community involvement in aiding and supporting police in West Hawai’i.


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