Hawaii police Officer Wyatt Kaili-Leong, a six-year veteran, was named the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii’s Officer of the Month for August.
Hawaii police Officer Wyatt Kaili-Leong, a six-year veteran, was named the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii’s Officer of the Month for August.
On July 14, Kaili-Leong was flagged down by a woman in Keaau who reported the theft of a purse from her parked and unlocked vehicle. She reported that her purse contained identification cards, bank cards, a checkbook, personal items and $2,100 generated primarily from her farmers market sales for the day.
Kaili-Leong, through his witness interviews, learned that an unidentified man was at the residence two days before and sold the witness orchid plants. The same man was seen reversing from the driveway in an older-model white Saturn or Mercury just before the discovery of the crime.
Two days later while on patrol, Kaili-Leong observed the suspect vehicle on North Kulani Road. Kaili-Leong arrested the 38-year-old male suspect and recovered numerous items taken during the theft.
Kaili-Leong’s actions demonstrate his commitment to the Hawaii Police Department core values of integrity, professionalism, compassion, teamwork and community satisfaction.