The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii on Thursday honored Bryson Miyose as “Officer of the Month” for November and Kaeo Drummondo as “Officer of the Month” for December.
Miyose, a Puna patrol officer, was recognized for chasing down two suspects after a report of a burglary in progress. Drummondo, a South Hilo patrol officer, was recognized for his response to a vehicle break-in that turned into a robbery.
On Nov. 12, Miyose responded to a report that a man and woman were trying to break into the home of an elderly woman and attempting to steal her car. As officers converged on the scene, they learned the intruders had fled.
Miyose anticipated their path of escape and located the pair running through the brush near the street below the victim’s house. The man was carrying a can of gasoline.
Miyose ran after the man, keeping his fellow officers informed of his location by portable radio. After chasing the man over a fence, he caught up with him two blocks away from the victim’s home. When it was clear that the suspect was unable to outrun the police, he stopped, turned toward Officer Miyose, and suddenly doused himself with gasoline and began reaching into his pockets.
Disregarding his own safety, Miyose took immediate action and secured the suspect, who was found to have a knife in his pocket. A backup officer took control of the male suspect, while Miyose doubled back and located the female suspect in bushes a block away.
Both were arrested. The man later was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, attempted burglary of a dwelling during an emergency declaration and an unrelated outstanding warrant. The woman was released pending further investigation.
Officer Drummondo’s award stemmed from an incident Nov. 20, when an unknown man was discovered breaking into a truck and trying to hot-wire it. The owner struggled with the suspect, who overpowered her and fled the area.
Drummondo made thorough checks of the area, including at nearby businesses. As a result, he learned that a man matching the suspect’s description had rushed into a store and asked to use the telephone.
Drummondo’s investigation led to the phone number the suspect called, the identity of the suspect and identification of his location. In addition, Drummondo recovered critical DNA evidence from the store, as well as surveillance video of the suspect.
Drummondo coordinated with other officers and they arrested the suspect, who was a wanted felon who had violated parole. The suspect was arrested for parole revocation and for an unrelated burglary and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, in addition to three felonies from the attempted car theft.
As “Officer of the Month,” Miyose and Drummondo are eligible to named “Officer of the Year.”
The East Hawaii “Officer of the Month” award is a project of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii.
