- Hawaii Police Department - https://www.hawaiipolice.com -

Police Week 05/05/99

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY RELATIONS SECTION
OFFICER GRACE CASTILLO
PHONE: 961-2264
MAY 5, 1999

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii County Police Department will celebrate Police Week this month with a ceremony at its Hilo headquarters and tours of all police stations on the Big Island.

Mayor Stephen Yamashiro has proclaimed the week of May 9-15 as Police Week to honor the men and women of the Hawaii County Police Department. The department will kick off the occasion at 10 a.m. Monday (May 10, 1999) with a ceremony to be held at the Public Safety Building in Hilo. Local entertainers will perform, and the public is invited.

This year’s Police Week is not only dedicated to officers who have fallen in the line of duty, but it also recognizes the work of the department’s eight police chaplains. The theme of this year’s ceremonies is “Serving Those Who Protect and Serve,” and the chaplains will receive a presentation at the kickoff ceremonies.

Among the entertainers scheduled to perform are Maile Canario’s Hula Group; the Hilo High School Band; Lisa Taylor, 1997 Miss Aloha Hawaii and 1998 Miss Kona Coffee; and The New Crew. Vice Section personnel will also demonstrate rappelling from a helicopter.

After the ceremonies, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., police will offer free Keiki ID services to identify children in case they become lost or an emergency occurs.

During the week, all district police stations on the Big Island will be open for conducted public tours. Anyone interested in scheduling a tour of a police station should call Officer Grace Castillo, Community Relations Section, at 961-2264, or his or her district police station.

In the Traffic Services Section of the Hilo Police Station, old uniforms and photographs of the past will be on public display.

Police Week has been celebrated since 1962, when President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 of each year as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the calendar week on which May 15 falls as Police Week.

Peace Officers’ Memorial Day is in honor of all federal, state and municipal officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Also, in 1994, Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-322, requiring that the American Flag be lowered to half-mast on May 15 as a special tribute to more than 14,000 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Three officers have died in the line of duty on the Big Island. They are Officers Manuel Cadinha in 1918, Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku in 1990 and Kenneth Keliipio in 1997.

In honor of fallen police officers both on the Big Island and nationally, the department is distributing blue ribbons to residents who are interested in displaying them from their vehicle antennas during the week, especially on May 15, National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. The blue ribbons are available at each district station.

# # #