Hawaiʻi Police Department
Office of the Chief
Harry S. Kubojiri
Phone 961-2244
Media Release
The Kona Crime Prevention Committee recognized Officer Stephen Kishimoto as “Officer of the Month” for November in a luncheon ceremony Wednesday (November 6) at Huggo’s restaurant in Kailua-Kona.
Kishimoto was honored for his persistence in tracking down a suspect in a theft case.
In December, Officer Kishimoto responded to a report from an elderly victim who reported that two rings were missing from a lockbox. The woman was in the process of moving, had hired a moving company and acknowledged that the missing rings could have been misplaced in the shuffle. Nevertheless, Kishimoto was determined to uncover the truth. He conducted 19 interviews and made numerous checks at purchasers of jewelry in town. A fifth return check to one of the dealers led to a suspect. Further investigation by detectives confirmed the suspect’s responsibility.
Sergeant Grad Elarionoff, who nominated Kishimoto for the award, commended his diligence. “Officer Kishimoto exhibits the traits of empathy and persistence, putting himself in victims’ shoes and continuing on with an investigation he would appreciate if he were a victim,” Elarionoff wrote in nomination papers.
This is the second time this year Kishimoto was named “Officer of the Month.” He earned that distinction in April for his successful investigation of a burglary.
As “Officer of the Month,” Kishimoto is 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 Hawaiʻi.