Tag: honoree

Officer Eric C. Fontes

Assignment: Patrol District 8
Date of Birth: August 26, 1966
Appointment Date: August 2, 2004
End of Watch: September 13, 2011

Officer Eric Fontes was struck and killed by an automobile while conducting a traffic stop with other officers on Farrington Highway at about 10:30 pm.

The stopped vehicle was located along the median in the left hand lane. Another car entered the scene and struck one of the patrol cars, Officer Fontes, and a second officer.

Officer Fontes succumbed to injuries while being transported to a local hospital. The other injured officer was transported in critical condition.

The driver who struck Officer Fontes was arrested and charged with negligent homicide and other charges.

Officer Fontes served with the Honolulu Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Sergeant Harry J. Coelho

Assignment: Records and ID Division
Date of Birth: June 28, 1958
Appointment Date: August 27, 1985
End of Watch: May 20, 2007

Sergeant Coelho was born in Honolulu. He graduated from McKinley High School and Linfield College before joining the Honolulu Police Department in 1985.

On May 20, 2007, while off-duty attending an outdoor church service held at Haleiwa Beach Park, Sergeant Coelho observed two males involved in a physical confrontation. With no hesitation he immediately stepped into the middle of the confrontation identified himself as a police officer and called for back up as he attempted to separate the males.

While attempting to break up the confrontation to protect others in the area, Sergeant Coelho suffered a heart attack. He was given medical attention at the scene and later died at Wahiawa General Hospital.

Officer Steve B. Favela

Assignment: Traffic Division, Solo Bike
Date of Birth: April 18, 1976
Appointment Date: February 19, 1998
End of Watch: November 26, 2006

November 21st, 2006 at approximately 7:10 am, while escorting President George W. Bush’s motorcade onto Hickam Air Force Base on O’Malley Blvd., Solo bike officer, Steve Favela and two other motorcycle officers skid on the wet pavement shortly after entering through the main gate and lost control of their motorcycles. Officer Favela was ejected from his motorcycle and suffered serious injury. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died 5 days later from his injuries.

Officer Issac Veal

Assignment: Patrol District 2
Date of Birth: December 9, 1945
Appointment Date: May 1, 1979
End of Watch: August 16, 2004

On August 16th, 2004 at 9:20 p.m., Officer Issac Veal was responding to a call of about 10-15 people fighting. As Officer Veal proceeded to the fight call, he lost control of his police vehicle on the freeway causing it to collide and flip. Officer Veal died as a result of the injuries he received in the accident.

Officer Ryan Keith Goto

Assignment: Traffic Division, Solo Bike
Date of Birth: March 27, 1968
Appointment Date: October 18, 1990
End of Watch: July 23, 2003

On July 23, 2003 Officer Goto was riding in formation with his motorcycle squad to the leeward coast for traffic enforcement.

A vehicle traveling in the opposite direction swerved to avoid a falling box in the roadway and was struck from behind. The collision caused the vehicle to cross over the grassy center median into the pathway of Officer Goto and his motorcycle squad traveling in the opposite direction.

The vehicle collided into the formation of motorcycle officers, terminally injuring Officer Goto. Officer Goto later died from his injuries sustained in the crash.

Officer Glen A. Gaspar

Assignment: Criminal Investigation Division
Date of Birth: January 22, 1963
Appointment Date: January 17, 1991
End of Watch: March 4, 2003

Officer Gaspar was born in Honolulu and graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1981.

On March 4th, 2003 Officer Gaspar and officers from the Criminal Investigation Division’s Career Criminal Unit staked out an establishment for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred several days prior.

The officers observed the suspect walk by cautiously past the establishment before finally entering prior to 1:00 p.m. The officers then proceeded into the store to confront the suspect. Officer Gaspar approached the suspect and identified himself as a police officer and asked the suspect to step outside. The suspect reached for a handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants as Officer Gaspar grabbed to restrain him and wrestled the suspect to the ground. While on the floor the suspect was able to retrieve the handgun and fire 3 shots at Officer Gaspar. Assisting officers managed to control the weapon after the shots were fired and arrest the suspect.

Officer Gaspar was transported to St. Francis West where he later died from his wounds.

Officer Gaspar physically restrained the suspect instead of drawing his weapon to protect others from errant gunshots. His actions protected the lives of his partners and others in the store.

Officer Dannygriggs Padayao

Assignment: Patrol District 4
Date of Birth: March 7, 1955
Appointment Date: November 18, 1982
End of Watch: April 30, 2001

Officer Dannygriggs Padayao was born in Laupahoehoe, Hawaii.

On Monday, April 30th, 2001, at about 1025 p.m., Officer Padayao was on Kamehameha Highway investigating a two-car accident and setting flares when he was hit by an impaired driver. The driver then fled the scene.

Officer Padayao was taken to the Castle Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries.

The driver was later apprehended at his home and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, first degree negligent homicide, and failure to give information and render aid.

Officer Tate D. Kahakai

Assignment: Specialized Services Division
Date of Birth: December 1, 1960
Appointment Date: May 18, 1989
End of Watch: July 21, 1995

On July 21, 1995 a collaborative search involving the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department was underway in the Sacred Falls Valley area searching for a missing hiker.

Officers Tate Kahakai and Bryant Bayne were assigned to the Specialized Services Division Task Group. They were part of the search team to be suspended in a basket by a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter into the valley. While in transport near the search site the aircraft lost control and crashed into a steep slope.

Both Officers Kahakai and Bayne and HFD helicopter pilot Peter Crown were killed in the crash.

Officer Bryant B. Bayne

Assignment: Specialized Services Division
Date of Birth: March 30, 1964
Appointment Date: March 11, 1985
End of Watch: July 21, 1995

On July 21, 1995 a collaborative search involving the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department was underway in the Sacred Falls Valley area searching for a missing hiker.

Officers Tate Kahakai and Bryant Bayne were assigned to the Specialized Services Division Task Group. They were part of the search team to be suspended in a basket by a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter into the valley. While in transport near the search site the aircraft lost control and crashed into a steep slope.

Both Officers Kahakai and Bayne and HFD helicopter pilot Peter Crown were killed in the crash.

Officer Randal N. Young

Assignment: Traffic Division, Solo Bike
Date of Birth: September 19, 1945
Appointment Date: January 30, 1986
End of Watch: August 28, 1991

On August 28, 1991 at 8:45 p.m., Officer Randal Young was on a traffic stop with a vehicle on Pali Highway when he was struck by a drunk driver that then fled the scene.

Officer Young died from the injuries he received from the collision.