The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii honored Officer Chris Jelsma as the East Hawaii Officer of the Month for February.
Jelsma, a six-year veteran, was selected based on his dedication to duty and proactive approach to patrol.
On Feb. 19, Jelsma was on routine patrol when he spotted a suspicious vehicle with an unidentified occupant parked in front of a known drug house.
While making checks on the vehicle, he discovered it was associated with a known individual who was wanted on a no-bail warrant with a cautious code “considered armed and dangerous.”
When additional units arrived, Jelsma made contact with the individual seated in the vehicle, who provided his name. He was informed he had a warrant and was under arrest.
The suspect then attempted to start the vehicle while Jelsma and backup officers extricated the man from the vehicle after a brief struggle. The man was subsequently arrested for his warrant and resisting arrest.
After the suspect was sent to the Hilo cellblock for processing, another officer spotted what looked like drug paraphernalia. As a result, the Hilo Vice unit was contacted, and a K9 drug screen was conducted alerting positive to narcotics in the vehicle.
Because of Jelsma’s proactive approach to patrol and his tenacity, he was able to get a wanted person and drugs off the street.