Wounded police sergeant’s wife is thankful

Swipe left for more photos

OFFICER BRYAN TINA (Facebook photo)
Hawaii Police Department photo Officer Bronson Kaliloa displays the plaque bearing his name as "Puna Patrol Officer of the Year" for 2014.
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

CORRECTION 4:19 p.m. July 23: The date of services for Officer Kaliloa is Saturday, Aug. 4. A previous version had an incorrect date. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error.

UPDATE 1:10 p.m. Monday, July 23 : Sgt. Bryan Tina was released from Hilo Medical Center Sunday, police Maj. Robert Wagner said today.

Three officers discharged their weapons Friday afternoon during the South Point incident and have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of internal administrative and criminal investigations, Wagner added.

All three alleged accomplices made their initial appearances today in Kona District Court. Judge Margaret Masunaga denied all bail and ordered them to return Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Funeral service for fallen Officer Bronson Kalikoa is Saturday, Aug. 4 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Family-only visitation is from 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Visitation for the general public is 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

The service is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Kaliloa family has opened the event up to the public. Following the service, there will be a funeral procession leaving the Civic, traveling out to the Pahoa police station, and then back into Hilo, passing Hilo police station and ending at Homelani Memorial Park for burial.

The funeral procession will be limited to family members and first responders. The burial service, however, is open to the public.

—————————————————————————

The wife of Hawaii Police Department Sgt. Bryan Tina, who was shot in a violent shootout on South Point Road Friday afternoon that left fugitive Justin Waiki dead, expressed her gratitude and said her husband is recovering.

“Words cannot express how thankful me, Bryan, and our entire ‘ohana are for the massive outpouring of love and support we received …,” Tara Tina posted on Facebook. “Bryan is strong and doing well and will recover from his gunshot wounds. Thank God for watching over him … and thank you for all your prayers.”

Police said Tina, a 12-year department veteran and member of the Special Response Team — the department’s SWAT unit — was struck in the chest and arm after Waiki emerged from under a blanket and shot as Tina searched a Toyota 4Runner at a checkpoint during a manhunt for the 33-year-old Waiki, wanted for the fatal shooting of Puna patrol Officer Bronson Kaliloa Tuesday night in Mountain View.

Other officers returned fire, killing Waiki.

Police say Tina, who was shot from an angle that allowed the bullet to go beneath his protective vest, is recovering at Hilo Medical Center.

Tina’s duties have included community policing officer and school resource officer at Hilo Intermediate School. He was nominated for “Hawaii County Employee of the Year” in 2016. He is also a past host of the Crime Stoppers public-access cable television program “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted.”

Tara Tina thanked Tina’s fellow officers, Hawaii Fire Department medics and medevac team and the staff of Hilo Medical Center “for taking the absolute best care of my husband and for bringing him home to all of us!”

She also gave thanks that Waiki “has been taken off the streets and our community is much safer.”

To the fallen patrolman, she wrote, “Rest in Love Officer Kaliloa.”

Public memorial services for the 46-year-old Kaliloa are set for Aug. 4 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Three individuals in the SUV who allegedly aided and abetted Waiki are facing charges that could put them behind bars for the rest of their lives, if convicted.

Jorge Pagan-Torres, 35, of Hilo, Malia Lajala, 30, of Hilo, and Krystle Ferreira, 29, of Waimea, were charged Sunday with accomplice to attempted first-degree murder, accomplice to illegally carrying a revolver and first-degree hindering prosecution.

In addition, Pagan-Torres was charged with two counts of violating probation and Lajala was charged with two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the third-degree.

All three alleged accomplices are being held without bail pending their initial appearances this morning in Kona District Court.

The accomplice to attempted first-degree murder charge carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole upon conviction.

Another woman in the 4Runner, who police have not named, was shot and the leg and suffered a broken thigh bone. She was also being treated at Hilo Medical Center.

Detectives confiscated the SUV and executed a search warrant on it. According to police, officers recovered numerous rounds of unspent ammunition, 0.9 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin, 0.1 grams of a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine and about $620 in cash.

The stolen .38-caliber revolver allegedly used by Waiki was recovered, as well.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4646 ext. 262 or Jerome.Manuel@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.