Three Honolulu Police Department patrol officers were recognized for defusing a volatile situation when a teenage boy in January pulled out a kitchen knife at Roosevelt High School, threatening school officials.
Cpl. Paul Lee, a 10-year veteran, was awarded the department’s Bronze Medal of Valor for his part in the Jan. 28 incident in which the 17-year-old boy he was trying to arrest allegedly pulled out a large kitchen knife. Lee fired twice; one shot wounded the suspect’s hand. The suspect stabbed one of the officers in his protective vest, cutting his uniform, police said.
Also responding were officers Steven Fong and Brent Furoyama, who tried to de-escalate the situation and calm the boy, but the teen allegedly made stabbing and other threatening motions toward the officers. Fong and Furoyama received Certificates of Merit.
Police said the shooting was justified.
The three men were among the 14 officers and civilians recognized at a ceremony Wednesday.
In the Roosevelt incident the teen’s mother said her son has been diagnosed under a broad spectrum of psychiatric illnesses that includes schizophrenia, and that for the past year she has been trying to get him treatment.
The boy was taken by paramedics in good condition to the hospital. He was arrested on three counts of attempted murder, police said. The case was turned over to the Family Court where all matters are handled behind closed doors because he is a minor.
Police said the boy was at Roosevelt High to try to register for school. Police were summoned to pick him up because he had been reported as a runaway. When three police officers arrived at the counselor’s office on the Punchbowl campus, the teen brandished a kitchen knife, police said. At that point a counselor and an aide fled the room. The school was placed on lockdown. The students were released and classes canceled at 10 a.m.
Other awards presented this week included Certificates of Merit to:
» Officers Troy Kadota, Kenji Swenson and Glenn Chong, who disarmed a man chasing two women with a large kitchen knife Aug. 20 around a car in the parking lot of a Kapahulu supermarket. Arriving first at the scene, Kadota distracted the suspect until Swenson and Chong arrived. Swenson ordered the suspect to drop the knife, but the suspect refused. Swenson drew his Taser, but the suspect charged toward him. Chong fired his weapon, incapacitating the suspect.
» Officer Nicholas Tiglao and FBI Special Agent Grant Knorr, who helped capture a man who escaped from a police car Aug. 4 during rush hour on the H-1 freeway. The suspect was being taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation when he broke free from his restraints and climbed out the window of the vehicle. The suspect ran onto the road, dodging several vehicles before trying to climb over the center median. Tiglao, Knorr and another male left their vehicles and stopped the suspect, who was then transported to the hospital.
» Cpl. Darryl Jones, who on Sept. 7 stopped and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of shooting another man following an argument in a downtown bar. Jones happened to be in the area and heard the gunshot. He spotted the suspect running on Bethel Street and apprehended him. The suspect’s loaded weapon was found nearby.
» Civilian William Lezzer, whose quick actions saved a teenage girl who was being sexually assaulted Aug. 27 at a bus stop. Police said a man approached the girl, grabbed her hair, hit her and began sexually assaulting her. Lezzer, who was riding his bicycle, jumped off his bicycle, pulled the suspect off the victim and detained him until police arrived.
» Theresa Inouye, a senior clerk typist in the Professional Standards Office, who has helped to save many lives through her blood donations. She gives four times a year and overall has donated at least 106 pints to the Blood Bank of Hawaii.
A Letter of Commendation was awarded to officer Michael Tui, who was off duty when he intervened July 8 in a fight where a man threw an object at a woman and grabbed her hair. After identifying himself as a police officer, Tui ordered the suspect to release the woman. The suspect refused and assumed a fighting stance, challenging Tui, who grabbed the suspect and quickly subdued him before another officer arrived.
Officer Ross Borges of District 6 (Waikiki) was named the Employee of the Third Quarter. He made 21 driving under the influence arrests and 45 warrant arrests. In a month and a half, he made 106 arrests, including 11 felony arrests, and issued 146 citations.
The Glock Transition Team was recognized as the department’s Unit of the Third Quarter. The team was formed to develop and implement the department’s transition to the Glock 17 pistol. Team members were chosen for their extensive firearms knowledge and proficiency as well as their communication and teaching skills. The team comprises Sgts. Clifford Ramson and Bryan Hew; Detectives Stuart Leong and Darren Nihei; Cpls. Raymond Craig, Thomas Darley, Brad Beck and Robert Feigenspan; officers Roger Wong, Christopher McTague, Keola Kopa and Christopher Kornegay; and reserve officers Jerry Won and Peter Nakagawa.
