National Police Week — a time to honor, remember and celebrate law enforcement officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice — is upon us.
However, festivities are quite different this year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home/safer-at-home order. Normally, the Hawaii Police Department would hold a public event and even offer tours of its police stations, but the coronavirus has changed that.
Instead, a small private ceremony was held Monday at Ka Malu Aloha police memorial wall located in Hilo. It was attended by Police Chief Paul Ferreira and his command staff. The ceremony can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/8u1U1uECz7c.
“Traditionally, National Police Week is a time when all police departments and communities across the nation pay tribute to the officers that have died or been disabled while performing their duties as law enforcement professionals,” Sgt. Jason Grouns said. “This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, cities across the nation, like ours, face a new reality that restricts how we engage in social gatherings. But this shouldnot prevent us from commemorating National Police Week and honoring those fallen officers, especially those from within our department.”
Tribute was made to Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918; Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936; Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990; Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997; Park Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who gave his life in 1999; and Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18, 2018.
“During our small ceremony here today, we want to pay tribute and remember the five members of the Hawaii Police Department that lost their lives while serving to make Hawaii a better place to live,” Ferreira said.
President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as National Peace Officer Memorial Day in 1962 and in 1994 President Bill Clinton directed the American flag on all government buildings be displayed at half-staff in remembrance of those killed. The week surrounding May 15 is known as National Police Week, a nationally recognized week of activities in support of police work and in recognition of officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty.
This year, 307 names will be added nearly 22,000 already on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington. The 307 additions this year includes 135 officers who were killed during 2019 and 172 officers who died in previous years.
National Police Week’s signature event will take place this year virtually in response to COVID-19 public health crisis. The 32nd annual Candlelight Vigil from Washington, D.C., will be live streamed at 2 p.m. Hawaii time at www.nleomf.org.
No officers from the State of Hawaii will be added to the memorial this year.
So far in 2020, two officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Hawaii. Honolulu Police Department officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama were shot and killed Jan. 19 when responding to a reported stabbing that ended with the suspect setting fire to the home, killing himself and the home’s owner.
“With the death of our own brethren, Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa in 2018 still fresh in our hearts, we can definitely empathize with our brothers and sisters in the Honolulu Police Department,” Ferreira said.
