Correia named East Hawaii Officer of the Month for September

For his proactive police work in two cases, Hawaii Police Department Officer Cody Correia was honored Oct. 27 as Officer of the Month for September 2022 by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii during a ceremony in Hilo.

The first case for which Correia, a 2 1/2-year veteran of HPD, was recognized occurred Sept. 17 in Mountain View. The Puna patrol officer was the first on scene at an active domestic dispute. Correia learned that the victim’s ex-boyfriend had threatened her and her family and was riding a motorcycle with a firearm in his backpack.

While talking to the victim, Correia saw the suspect ride up on a motorcycle, wearing a backpack that matched the victim’s description. The suspect was confrontational, police said, and as additional officers arrived, Correia arrested the suspect. The suspect was charged with two firearms offenses and the firearm was taken off the street.

Later that month, Correia acted quickly to help save a gunshot victim’s life.

On Sept. 26, Correia responded to a report of a man shot in the face in Mountain View. Responding with another officer, Correia noticed that the victim, a 42-year-old man, was bleeding heavily from his left forearm and face.

Correia quickly applied his department-issued tourniquet and stopped the bleeding from the man’s arm. It was determined at Hilo Medical Center that the bullet struck a main artery in the victim’s forearm. A nurse said the injury could’ve been fatal had Correia not applied the tourniquet.

Every month the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii honors a police officer in East Hawaii as its Officer of the Month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from the police districts in Area I, including Hamakua, North Hilo, South Hilo, and Puna, and a winner is selected.

All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be selected as the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii Officer of the Year.