The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi recently recognized Hawaiʻi County Police Department (HPD) Puna Patrol Officer Rodney De Lima Jr. as 2024 Officer of the Year and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department (HFD) Battalion Chief Patrick Springer as 2024 Firefighter of the Year.
Officer De Lima was honored for his role in the apprehension of several armed and dangerous fugitives while Battalion Chief Springer was honored for elevating HFD’s Training Section.
On Dec. 5, 2024, Officer De Lima located a stolen vehicle at a Leilani Estates residence.Inside the vehicle, he located a shotgun and 19-year-old Layla Subica, who was arrested without incident. Officer De Lima recognized Subica as the girlfriend of wanted fugitive, Malani Tavui, who was known to be armed and dangerous and the subject of multiple investigations. Coordinating with officers from the Area I Crime Reduction Unit and the U.S. Marshal Service, De Lima and his fellow officers located Tavui within the house on the property, bringing a months-long manhunt to an end.
The next day, Officer De Lima and fellow Puna Patrol Officer Chance Lunsford responded to a report a suspicious vehicle parked on Rose Street in Mountain View, with a man sleeping in the driver seat. The man was later identified as 31-year-old Alexander Ikieolagarcia Kauwe of Puna, a wanted fugitive also considered armed and dangerous.
As the two officers arrived in the area and attempted to contact the sleeping Kauwe, he immediately drove off in an attempt to evade officers. The vehicle struck a tree a short distance away and overturned. Kauwe was identified as the driver and was subsequently arrested.
Battalion Chief Springer began his career with the Hawai’i County Fire Department in 2004 and he currently oversees the HFD’s Training Section. He previously served in many different roles, such as firefighter, paramedic, fire equipment operator, fire captain, and battalion chief of emergency operations. Under his leadership, the Training Section has modernized and enhanced programs such as the firefighter recruit program, fireground operations, the driver improvement program, rescue and hazmat operations, company-level fireground skills for new and veteran firefighters, and command-level training for captains and chief officers. Additionally, Battalion Chief Springer has elevated the credibility of the Training Section by pursuing fire and emergency service instructor certifications for dozens of firefighters. With the support of the Support Services Section – Battalion Chief Springer has secured more than $700,000 in grant and County funding.
Photos courtesy of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department
