21 Recruits Join Ranks of Maui Police Department

Front row left to right: Ofc. Joy Mederios, Erik Tabucbuc, Justin Julian, Ronald Simon Rodney Haia, Ruzzle Fabito, Emmett Kawahara, Ofc. Surendar Singh; Middle row left to right: Sgt. John Foster, Michael Meredith, Clayton Agbisit, Tyson Baza-Triulzi, Landin Gilkey, Matthew Segault, Kamaiki Anakalea, Kahiapo Kauhaahaa; Rear row left to right: Jonathan Green, Thomas Brennan, Leighton Cox, Adam Akau, Pedro Cacho Jr., Mitchell Pombrio, Michael Balangitao.

By Wendy Osher

Twenty-one individuals joined the ranks of the Maui Police Department as members of the 79th Recruit Class took their professional oaths during a graduation ceremony held Friday, May 30, at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapū.

During the graduation ceremony, recruit Matthew Segault received the department’s Outstanding Recruit Award.

Other awards were issued to recruits: Michael Meredith for Scholastic Achievement; Jonathan Green received the Neil T. Endo Firearms Award; Kahiapo Kauhaahaa won the M. Cecil “Rusty” Dickson Award for Physical Fitness; Emmett Kawahara took home the award for Best Notebook; and Michael Meredith received the Sensei Shinichi Suzuki Arrest Defense Tactics Award.

Members of the 78th Recruit class included: Clayton Agbisit, Rodney Haia, Adam Akau, Justin Julian, Kamaiki Anakalea, Kahiapo Kauhaahaa, Michael Balangitao, Emmett Kawahara, Tyson Baza-Triulzi, Michael Meredith, Thomas Brennan, Mitchell Pombrio, Pedro Cacho Jr., Matthew Segault, Leighton Cox, Ronald Simon, Ruzzle Fabito, Erick Tabucbuc, Landin Gilkey, Luke Waters, and Jonathan Green.

The officers were sworn in after passing eight months of physical and academic requirements, before achieving their badges, according to Sergeant Audra Sellers.

The Maui Police Department also gave special recognition and appreciation to Chief Gary Yabuta who will be retiring this summer. This was Chief YABUTA’s last Recruit Class to graduate under his command.

This was the latest recruit class to graduate since 10 recruits joined the department in November, 2013.