Making the pledge

KAILUA-KONA – The Hawaii County Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) apprehended “bad guys” Friday in front of 500 West Hawaii fifth to seventh grade students at Kona Community Aquatic Center. The demonstration was part of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation bash for four area schools.

Community Policing Sgt. Roy Valera provided the narrative of a hit and run accident in which one of the suspects fled on foot. SRT was called in to arrest the noncompliant driver, and Hawaii Fire Department personnel used the jaws of life to extract the “victim.” The other suspect was subsequently arrested and the K-9 unit called in to sniff out drugs.

The demonstration was the last lesson taught to the students about making good choices.

“We wanted to participate and show kids our capabilities and demonstrate why you need to stay away from drugs.” said Fire Department Captain Sean Sommers. “We want to demonstrate our support for the Police Department and their efforts to keep our community safe.”

“Keiki go through a 10 week curriculum,” said graduation coordinator and Community Policing Officer Chere Rae Kalili.

“We are trying to make connections to each lesson with a fun carnival atmosphere” she said pointing to games, a dunking booth, rock climbing wall and bouncing castle set up in the parking lot behind the pool.

“We teach the kids responsibility, making safe decisions about health, risks and consequences, stress management, effective listening and communication, bullying, safe reporting, being good citizens by helping others, identifying a help network with safe people to go to with problems or concerns” continued Kalili.

The graduation is a way to give back to the kids after months of studying according to Community Policing Officer and “bad guy” Kuhi Dela Cruz.

A host of prizes were raffled off including a night stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.