Hawaiʻi Police Department
Office of the Chief
Chief Paul Ferreira
Phone: (808) 961-2244
Media Release
The Aloha Exchange Club honored two police officers as “Officers of the Month for January” today at a luncheon in Hilo. They are Officer Christopher Fukumoto and Officer Gibson Kahele. Fukumoto has four years of service and Kahele has six years of service with the Hawaiʻi Police Department
Both Officers are being jointly honored based on their observations and investigative skills on a traffic stop, which led to a male party being arrested and charged for gun and drug offenses.
In the late evening of (January 22), Officer Fukumoto was on duty and patrolling Kanoelehua Avenue when he observed a vehicle stopped in the left turn lane near Kekuanaoa Street. Officer Fukumoto observed that the operator was asleep and that the vehicle was in neutral and engine running. Officer Fukumoto then made contact with the male operator and learned his identity. He conducted a driver’s license check and found that the male party had a Revoked Hawaiʻi Driver’s License.
The male party exited the vehicle and was placed under arrest. Officer Gibson Kahele, who responded to provide back-up assistance, then observed what appeared to be the handle of a revolver under the front driver’s seat. The vehicle was recovered, and the investigation was continued by a Detective from the Criminal Investigation Section.
Detective Wendell Carter, of the Criminal Investigation Section, then executed a search warrant on the vehicle. A loaded and operable .22 caliber revolver was recovered from within the vehicle. Detective Carter also located and recovered over two pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine, over 21 grams of dried marijuana, and other paraphernalia used in the distribution of illegal drugs.
Officer’s Fukumoto and Kahele have been recognized for their diligence in this case. Officer Fukumoto could have contacted the sleeping male party, woke him up, and told him to be on his way. Instead, he contacted the male party, checked his driver’s license and warrant status, arrested him and took him off the street. Officer Kahele looked within the vehicle for unlawful items that could be seen from the exterior of the vehicle and located a revolver hidden under the driver’s seat. The outcome of the search warrant yielded a large amount of drugs and paraphernalia that will not poison our families or other members of our community. Also, getting the revolver, even if it is one revolver, out of the hands of a convicted felon who was on parole, makes everyone safer. It was very fortunate that no one was hurt.
Officer’s Fukumoto and Kahele clearly demonstrated their commitment to the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism, Compassion, Teamwork, and Community Satisfaction.
