When former Hawaii Police Department officer Nicholas C.K. McDaniel was laid to rest Saturday in Post Falls, Idaho, numerous Big Island officers attended his funeral.
“I miss you already. You were a lot of things to me,” HPD Sgt. Aron Tomota said during McDaniel’s memorial service.
McDaniel — a Hilo High School graduate who was honored as HPD’s Officer of the Month three times before leaving the department after 11 years — died on duty Oct. 22 after suffering a massive heart attack while at the wheel of his Post Falls Police Department cruiser.
The 36-year-old McDaniel was pronounced dead at the scene, less than five minutes away from the Post Falls Police Station.
McDaniel also was one of four HPD officers honored in 2013 by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii for his “outstanding efforts and dedication to preventing impaired driving and reducing underage drinking.”
“There was about a dozen or so of us that came up (from the Big Island) to pay respect and to say goodbye to Nick,” Grad Elarionoff — a sergeant who twice nominated McDaniel for Officer of the Month recognition — told KREM-TV of nearby Spokane, Wash., his voice cracking with emotion.
“He was very charismatic. And from that first week working with Nick, he knew that he was going to make an impact in the community,” Elarionoff added. “He was the kind of guy who was your kids’ favorite uncle.
“He’s everyone’s favorite uncle.”
After graduating from HPD’s 79th recruit class on July 15, 2011, McDaniel spent his entire HPD career in West Hawaii in Kona Patrol and the Area II Vice Section.
“He was hardworking and dedicated. He had a knack for being able to talk to people, which I think led to a lot of successful drug investigations. Big, big drug investigations,” HPD Capt. Reynold Kahalewai, who as a lieutenant was McDaniel’s commander in the vice section, told the Tribune-Herald on Tuesday.
“He was pleasant, always positive. I don’t recall him ever being upset or angry with anybody,” Kahalewai added.
McDaniel had been a part of the department in the northern Idaho city of about 40,000 for about eight months, and according to the Post Falls Police Department was the first officer among its ranks to die while on duty.
According to North Idaho News, Saturday’s funeral procession drew “hundreds gathered in the rain saluting, holding flags, and paying final respects as Officer McDaniel was escorted by an endless wave of flashing lights from his brothers and sisters in blue.”
McDaniel is survived by his fiancée, Paige, two young sons, his parents, Danny and Heather, and two brothers, Cameron and Ryan.
Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said the Big Island’s department “mourns the tragic loss” of its former officer.
“We honor and respect his lifelong dedication to serving his community, both on the Big Island and in Post Falls, Idaho,” Moszkowicz said. “The grief from his loss is being felt by many in Hawaii, especially his classmates and former beat partners.
“We have reached out to Nick’s family to work with them on providing whatever support we can.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
