East Hawaii police officer honored

Police Officer Duane Rapoza Jr. was selected as the East Hawaii Aloha Exchange Club’s June 2017 Officer of the Month.

Rapoza, a four-year police veteran, was selected for singlehandedly locating and arresting two individuals in high-profile cases, the most recent being a person who fled the scene of a fatal traffic collision, the other being a highly elusive car thief in a new stolen vehicle.

At about 9 p.m. May 17, Rapoza and other officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 130 near Pohaku Drive. Upon Rapoza’s arrival he confirmed it was a fatal traffic crash with a 1990 Toyota pickup laying on its side, and that the driver of the responsible 2003 Mazda sedan was observed walking away and leaving the area.

An investigation led Rapoza to the home of the vehicle’s registered owner and successfully located the 26-year-old male, apprehending him before any other officer’s arrival.

In the other case, at about noon Jan. 21, Rapoza was dispatched to a suspicious vehicle report on Amaumau Road in Volcano. Proceeding solo, Rapoza observed a new white Subaru WRX sedan within the carport of a vacant home and a male and female loading items into the trunk of the vehicle.

Rapoza apprehended the male after a brief chase on foot and short struggle, but the female suspect escaped.