Police week marked

Members of the Hawaii Police Department and the public celebrated Police Week on Monday at the Hilo police station. A 21-gun salute, “Taps,” and a candle-lighting ceremony were part of the tribute to the four Big Island officers killed in the line of duty since 1918: Manuel Cadinha (1918), William “Red” Oili (1936), Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku (1990), and Kenneth Keliipio (1997).

During the ceremony, Chief Harry Kubojiri said that Momi Cazimero, the sister of Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, has been working to erect a memorial for the Police Department’s fallen officers and that she is optimistic construction will commence soon.

Chief Kubojiri said Cadinha, Oili, Jitchaku and Keliipio are among 20,000 law enforcement officers nationwide who have been killed in the line of duty.

“The sacrifice of our four brother officers will never be forgotten,” he said.

The chief also acknowledged Officers Joshua Gouveia and Garrett Hatada, who were shot and injured last year while responding to a report of gunshots in Hilo. Both officers have since returned to work.

County Managing Director Wally Lau, representing Mayor Billy Kenoi, said in his opinion every day should be Police Week.

“We should remember and we should say thank you,” he said.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week.