The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii saluted Community Policing Officer Paul Mangus on Thursday as the East Hawaii Officer of the Month for January.
The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii saluted Community Policing Officer Paul Mangus on Thursday as the East Hawaii Officer of the Month for January.
Mangus was honored for his commitment to improving relationships between the Police Department and the community. During the past year, he organized two Coffee with a Cop get-togethers and a Shop with a Cop event, all in Hilo.
His first Coffee with a Cop was Aug. 25 at the Puainako Starbucks. The second was Oct. 7 at the downtown McDonald’s. The most recent community event, Shop with a Cop, took place Dec. 17 at the Target store.
Lt. Robert Fujitake Jr., who is in charge of the Community Policing unit in Hilo, said coordinating events that make connections with members of the public “is the reason that barriers can be broken and positive relationships can be formed between police officers and the community.”
The East Hawaii Officer of the Month award is a project of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii.