Sergeant named top officer for planning of APEC security

A key member of the team that planned the Honolulu Police Department’s large-scale security activities at November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum was named HPD’s 2012 Officer of the Year at a ceremony held at Waialae Country Club on Wednesday.

Sgt. Ben Moszkowicz, 35, was tasked with coming up with the logistical plan for coordinating the APEC training of 2,000 officers and civilian personnel. Among his duties was managing overtime expenses and ordering equipment.

A 12-year veteran of HPD, Moszkowicz also created databases for tracking and forecasting operating budgets, overtime and training schedules. HPD spent $13 million over two years on APEC activities, far less than the $18 million that had been budgeted.

Assistant Chief Clayton Kau, APEC group supervisor, said Moszkowicz was instrumental in developing a system of time sheets to coordinate work shifts, taking into consideration regular duties and overtime necessary to cover the international event attended by leaders of 21 countries and their entourages.

Now assigned to the Traffic Division, Moszkowicz is also statewide director of the Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which raised $500,000 last year.

Others honored Wednesday by Police Chief Louis Kealoha and Mayor Peter Carlisle were:

» Reserve officer Joseph Becera, Reserve Officer of the Year. An HPD volunteer for 35 years, Becera is assigned to the Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit.

» Sgt. Michael Cannella, Police Parent of the Year. A 27-year HPD veteran assigned to Leeward patrol, Cannella and his wife have three children, two of whom have special needs. The couple is instrumental with Easter Seals Hawaii and Sprouts Therapy.

» Marilyn Matsuda, Civilian Employee of the Year. Matsuda has been secretary for HPD’s Specialized Services Division for the past eight years.

» Alice Kanae Hewett, Citizenship Award. Hewett has volunteered with HPD’s Police Activities League for more than 50 years.

The awards were handed out as part of Police Week at an annual breakfast hosted by the 200 Club, which is composed of business and community leaders dedicated to supporting police and fire department personnel.

Kealoha thanked the club for helping the families of officers Eric Fontes and Garret Davis, both of whom died in the past year during traffic stops.