Walter Jennings Fowler is not trained in martial arts, and as the set prop master for the "Hawaii Five-0" TV series, he’s not part of the action.

But the 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound Fowler learned enough through observation to be able to disarm and restrain a man trying to rob a popular sushi bar last year.

Fowler, 36, of Kaneohe, was recognized Wednesday for his bravery by the Honolulu Police Department with the Civilian Medal of Valor, HPD’s highest award for civilians.

The incident happened about 11:10 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Sushi King restaurant on South King Street. Fowler said he and his wife, Michele, had gone to visit their post office box nearby, and then decided to have some sushi before a lengthy holiday trip to the mainland that was to begin the following morning.

While the Fowlers were dining at the sushi bar, a man walked in with a towel wrapped over his face and holding a large knife, demanding money from the 63-year-old owner, said Maj. Michael Thomas, East Honolulu district commander. As the owner tried to protest, thereby distracting the would-be robber, Fowler sneaked up from behind the attacker, disarmed him and then held him with the help of another customer until police arrived minutes later, Thomas said.

"The owner was kind of swatting at him with a menu," Fowler said. "He had a towel over his head so he couldn’t really see behind him."

Fowler said he disarmed the man by grabbing his wrist and forearm "because it kind of made sense to go for the weapon." The would-be robber "didn’t seem to be quite right" and might have been on drugs, he said.

There were between 20 and 30 customers in the restaurant at the time, Fowler said.

After talking to police and finishing their meal, "we got on a plane at 6 in the morning," he said. "Sushi will never be the same."

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Fowler has lived in Hawaii about eight years and has been set prop master for "Hawaii Five-0" since the series returned in 2010.

Thomas said that while HPD doesn’t encourage citizens to put themselves in harm’s way, "Mr. Fowler’s heroic actions are commendable and worthy of recognition."

HPD also recognized officer Jeffrey Fleigner as its fourth-quarter employee of the quarter. Fleigner, 34, is assigned to the Pearl City district. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Fleigner made 98 arrests, including 23 felony arrests, and issued 337 citations.

Fleigner was a trader at the New York Stock Exchange before deciding to come to Hawaii in 2005 to become a police officer. His first assignment was the Waianae patrol district, where he still lives.

HPD’s Warrior Silver Medal of Honor, the department’s second-highest honor, was given to Cpl. John Dorsey of the Kapolei district. Dorsey pulled an unconscious man from a burning vehicle by forcing open the car door on Farrington Highway near Kualakai Parkway on Dec. 2.

Ten members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Planning Group, led by now-Assistant Chief Clayton Kau, received the Bronze Medal of Merit, while six members of the group received certificates of merit. The Waikiki district bicycle unit was named unit of the quarter.

Sgt. Henry Roberts received a certificate of merit for saving the life of a man who threatened to jump from a building.