Day of Remembrance: Police Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa
HIRSC Team today (Saturday, July 18th) remembers Fallen Hawaii Police Department (HPD) Police Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa.
Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Holualoa and Hilo) Team
info@hiradioscannercommunity.com
On this day 2 years ago, July 18th, 2018: Hawaii Police Department (HPD) Police Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa was fatally wounded following shooting at a traffic stop on Highway 11 (Volcano Highway) in the area of Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View, Puna.
In remembrance of the 2nd anniversary of Officer Kaliloa, everyone is asked to join in a moment of silence 4:44 pm (Officer Kaliloa Badge # 444) Saturday afternoon (July 18th) to remember the ultimate sacrifice Officer Kaliloa made and also to honor and thank the Men and Women of the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) who continue to serve and protect the residents on the Island of Hawaii.
Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa (Badge # 444), you may be gone from our sight, but you will never be forgotten from our hearts. So today in your honor, we salute you for your service and dedication to the Island of Hawaii, as you continue to protect all of us from up above.
Rest in peace, love, and aloha - Officer Kaliloa from the entire HIRSC Team.
Today, HIRSC Team has changed its Facebook cover photo and profile picture in remembrance of Officer Kaliloa.
Details on the incident (From the Hawaii Police Department):
On July 17, 2018, approximately 9:47 p.m., Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle bearing Hawaiʻi license plate number ZGG 879, being operated by a 33-year old male identified as Justin Waiki, of a last known Las Vegas address, who was wanted on an outstanding no-bail warrant and multiple All Points Bulletins.
Upon officers approaching the vehicle the suspect Justin Waiki, exited the driver front seat and fired multiple shots from what is believed to be a handgun, striking Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa in the neck and leg area. Other Officers at the scene immediately returned fire; however, the suspect Waiki was able to flee into the brush on foot.
Highway 11 was closed down, while police searched for the suspect and processed the scene for evidence.
Officer Kaliloa was then transported by the Hawaiʻi Fire Department Medic Unit to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room where the medical trauma team began treating his life-threatening injuries and prepared him for surgery. Officer Kaliloa underwent surgery; however, lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:45 a.m.
Officer Kaliloa, a 10-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, leaves behind his wife and three small children.
A three-day-long islandwide manhunt for Justin Waiki ensued shortly after the initial incident occurred on July 17th, 2018, and involved multiple law enforcement agencies from across the State of Hawai'i.
On Friday, July 20th, 2018, the manhunt ended for Justin Waiki, after he was fatally shot following a stop at a checkpoint set up on South Point Road in Ka Lae, Ka'u.
Details on the incident on July 20th, 2018:
At about 2:45 p.m., police officers established a checkpoint where officers stopped an SUV. Members of the Department’s Special Response Team, (SRT), were conducting checks within the vehicle when the suspect, Justin Waiki opened fire wounding an officer. Officers present returned fire resulting in the death of Waiki.
The wounded officer, an SRT Sergeant, is a police veteran with 12 years of service. He was taken by Fire Rescue to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
During the gunfire, a female who was hiding in the SUV was shot and also taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.
Three other individuals, who are suspected in aiding the suspect were arrested at the scene for Hindering Prosecution in the first degree and remain in custody at this time.
Photos from the Final Salute at the Pahoa Police Station in Puna
(Photos Courtesy of Benjamin Agdeppa)
On Saturday, August 3rd, 2018, Members of the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) along with the Hawaii Fire Department (HFD), community members from the around the island, and numerous public safety agencies from across the State of Hawai'i and United States paid their final respects to Officer Kaliloa at his funeral at the Hilo Civic Auditorium.
Community Members also lined up along Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo and Kea'au-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) in Puna to pay their respects to Officer Kaliloa as the funeral procession had traveled through the South Hilo and Puna districts, where it made one final pass of the Pahoa Police Station, where Officer Kaliloa worked out of while working in the Puna District, Police Officers on duty and HFD personnel from the Pahoa Fire Station gave their final salute as the procession passed by.
The procession then continued to the Hilo Police Station for one final pass and review at the main police station and finally ending at the Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo, where he was laid to rest.