Officer of the Month awarded for exemplifying aloha
Officer Joseph Passmore, an 11-year police veteran, has been named as the Aloha Exchange Club’s October Officer of the Month.
The award is based on the compassion and professional commitment he demonstrated in assisting a family who experienced a tragic house fire, a Hawaii County press release Friday said.
On Sept. 9, Passmore responded to a residential fire in a Volcano subdivision, and upon arrival, he observed a house completely engulfed in flames. He approached to determine if anyone was still in the residence and subsequently located two young children and a male adult in an ambulance nearby. He learned the children had escaped the fire uninjured. However, the father had been severely burned. He was rushed to the hospital and later flown to the Straub Burn Center on Oahu, where he succumbed to his injuries within the following weeks.
As the family had lost all their possessions and had no place to stay, Officer Passmore immediately offered to take the mother and children to his own home to stay with his family. Officer Passmore assisted the traumatized mother in arranging a more permanent place for the family to stay and have their needs met.
This selfless act of compassion and caring is indicative of the character and integrity of an officer who will take the extra step in helping a family in their hour of need, and is the highest example of aloha.
Kauai mayor bids for Lt. Gov.
HONOLULU — Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has announced he will run for lieutenant governor of Hawaii in 2018.
Carvalho’s announcement on Wednesday at the state capitol adds him to a field of four others. His current opponents are Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Democrat Sens. Will Espero, Joshua Green and Jill Tokuda.
Carvalho has been Kauai’s mayor for a decade — the longest term in the island’s history — but he’s termed out.
Current Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui announced Monday he will not seek reelection.
Carvalho said his main goal would be to connect the people of Hawaii.
Kauai council members Derek Kawakami and Mel Rapozo have announced they are running to replace Carvalho as mayor.
Firefighter’s son files suit against city
HONOLULU — The son of a Honolulu firefighter who died in training last year has filed a lawsuit against the city.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the son filed the lawsuit Monday on behalf of his father, Cliff Rigsbee.
Rigsbee was on a sled being towed by a water rescue craft on June 14 last year, at which point, the Honolulu medical examiner says, he suffered blunt force injuries to his head and neck, fracturing vertebrae and injuring his spinal cord.
The lawsuit states Rigsbee was towed over the top of three waves 8 feet high or taller before the driver turned and saw him floating motionless.
The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division issued the fire department two citations for the incident.
The city did not respond to requests for comment.
Police looking for three wanted people
Hawaii Island police are searching for the following wanted individuals:
Joshua Barros, 27, part Hawaiian, tan complexion, 6-feet, 200 pounds with brown eyes short brown hair. He is believed to frequent the Hilo and Kailua-Kona areas. He is wanted on several warrants and in connection with ongoing investigations.
Nathan C. Ahloo, 38, part Hawaiian, tan complexion, 5-feet-11-inches, 212 pounds, brown eyes with black hair and a tattoo on his right hand, arms and back. He is believed to be in the Honokaa area. He is wanted for an arrest warrant and in connection with ongoing investigations.
Courtney L. Uchima, 37, part Japanese, tan complexion, 5-feet, 127 pounds, brown eyes, brown hair with tattoos on both hands. She is wanted for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Police ask anyone with information on any of these individuals whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Captain Andrew Burian at (808) 775-7533.
Fom wire sources