Officer Conrad Bidal was named the Hawaii Police Department’s 2017 Top Cop on Oct. 26 during the 33rd annual Law Enforcement and Security Coalition Awards Banquet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki.

Officer Conrad Bidal was named the Hawaii Police Department’s 2017 Top Cop on Oct. 26 during the 33rd annual Law Enforcement and Security Coalition Awards Banquet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki.

Bidal, a one-year patrol officer assigned in the Puna District, was described in nomination papers by Capt. Samuel Jelsma as an officer who displays steadfast dedication to the job and a diligent work ethic, maintaining perfect work attendance from his date of hire.

Bidal was recognized for his decisive and heroic actions at the scene of a Jan. 16 structure fire of the Luquin’s Mexican restaurant building in Pahoa, which undoubtedly prevented loss of life or serious bodily injury to the occupants. At the time, he was just two weeks into his solo assignment.

Disregarding his safety, he ran into the building solo and began a methodical search for anyone inside. Upon his first search of the building, he located four people still within their upstairs apartments apparently unaware of the fire; he alerted and safely evacuated each of them.

He then conducted a secondary search to ensure it was empty and while doing so encountered previously evacuated residents who had re-entered the building in an attempt to gather personal belongings. Bidal was forced to re-evacuate the residents and as he completed this task the building became fully engulfed in flames.

Officer Conrad Bidal was named the Hawaii Police Department’s 2017 Top Cop on Oct. 26 during the 33rd annual Law Enforcement and Security Coalition Awards Banquet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki.

Bidal, a one-year patrol officer assigned in the Puna District, was described in nomination papers by Capt. Samuel Jelsma as an officer who displays steadfast dedication to the job and a diligent work ethic, maintaining perfect work attendance from his date of hire.

Bidal was recognized for his decisive and heroic actions at the scene of a Jan. 16 structure fire of the Luquin’s Mexican restaurant building in Pahoa, which undoubtedly prevented loss of life or serious bodily injury to the occupants. At the time, he was just two weeks into his solo assignment.

Disregarding his safety, he ran into the building solo and began a methodical search for anyone inside. Upon his first search of the building, he located four people still within their upstairs apartments apparently unaware of the fire; he alerted and safely evacuated each of them.

He then conducted a secondary search to ensure it was empty and while doing so encountered previously evacuated residents who had re-entered the building in an attempt to gather personal belongings. Bidal was forced to re-evacuate the residents and as he completed this task the building became fully engulfed in flames.