Jelsma honored as Aloha Exchange Club’s Officer of the Month for October

The East Hawaii Aloha Exchange Club named Hawaii Police Department Officer Christopher Jelsma as its Officer of the Month for October.

The club awarded Jelsma because he demonstrates going above and beyond in his duties with keeping the community safe by his relentless and proactive actions in locating wanted people, keeping dangerous illegal drugs and firearms off the streets and working with other units.

On Oct. 21, Jelsma and his partner stopped a stolen vehicle and noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view as they questioned two males inside. The investigation was continued by the Criminal Investigation Section, which executed a search warrant and recovered a rifle and multiple packets with a white substance and glass smoking pipes with residue. The two suspects were arrested for outstanding warrants and the promotion of dangerous drugs, with other charges pending.

On Oct. 22, Jelsma made another traffic stop that resulted in two more arrests and firearms and drug charges, as well as outstanding warrants.

During the month of October, Jelsma made more than 20 arrests resulting in nearly 50 criminal cases that demonstrate an outstanding work ethic. In addition to keeping the community safe, he takes responsibility as a field training officer and is the only firearm instructor for his watch.

The Officer of the Month award shows that Jelsma exemplifies the core values of the Police Department: integrity, professionalism, compassion, teamwork and community satisfaction.