Seven Maui Police Officers Promoted to Rank of Sergeant

Maui Police Department Sergeant promotions, as of April 23, 2015. Top row: (l to r) Duke Pua, Nathan Pellazar and Rockwell Silva; middle row: Joy “Kanani” Medeiros; bottom row: Heather Gilroy, Tanya “Kehau” Dods and Surendar Singh.

By Maui Now Staff

Seven officers with the Maui Police Department were promoted to the rank of Sergeant on April 16, 2015 including: Surendar Singh (23 year veteran), Rockwell Silva (23 year veteran), Nathan Pellazar Jr. (22 year veteran), Tanya “Kehau” Dods (17 year veteran), Heather Gilroy (12 year veteran), Joy Kanani Medeiros (10 year veteran), and Duke Pua.

The Maui Police Department released the following career highlights of the recently promoted officers:

Surendar Singh began her career with Maui Police Department in 1992 as a member of the 43rd recruit class. After the academy, she worked in Lahaina and Wailuku patrol divisions. In 1993 she was assigned to the Hāna patrol district where she served for two years. She returned to Wailuku Patrol District in 1995. In 2001, she was transferred to the Plans, Training, Research, and Development section and was assigned as a training officer. During her time with the division, Singh mentored numerous recruit classes. Most recently, Singh has been coordinating the Maui Police Department’s five Crisis Intervention Team training session. In her personal time, Singh likes to spend time with her son Zion.

Rockwell Silva: is currently assigned to the Wailuku patrol division. He began his career with the Maui Police Department in 1992, as class president for his recruit class. After graduating from the academy, he worked in Wailuku patrol where he was a Field Training Officer. In November of 2010, he was transferred to the Vice Narcotics Division, and in January of 2013, he transferred to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division. During his tenure in the Maui Police Department, Silva has been a member of the Crime Reduction Unit, Clandestine Laboratory Team and Special Emergency Enforcement Detail. He is also a Firearms Instructor and Glock Armor instructor.

Nathan Pellazar Jr. began his career with the Maui Police Department in 1993. Shortly after graduating from the academy, in 1994, he was assigned to the Hāna patrol division. He returned in 1995 and worked in the Wailuku patrol division. In 2002 he was assigned to work in the Kīhei patrol division and during his tenure there he was a Field Training Officer. In 2009, Officer Pellazar was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division’s Domestic Violence Unit where he served as a Domestic Violence instructor for the recruit classes. He is also a Command Vehicle Operator. Pellazar is married to Tracy who is an Emergency Service Dispatcher, with the Maui Police Department. He has a daughter, Tamara, currently in the 82nd recruit class, a son, Jarrett, who is a Senior Airman with the US Air Force and a step-daughter Sadie Ansai who is a student at Baldwin High School.

Tanya “Kehau” Dods began her career with Maui Police Department in 1998, in the 52nd recruit class. After graduating, she worked in Lahaina and Wailuku patrol. In 2000 she was assigned to Lānaʻi District where she served three years in patrol before transferring to Molokaʻi in 2003 where she served another three years as a patrol officer. In 2006, Dods was transferred to the Wailuku Patrol Division until April 2007, when she was promoted to Police Officer III and assigned to the Community Relations Section. In January 2014, Dods transferred to the Juvenile Criminal Prevention Division as a Juvenile Investigator. During her tenure in the Maui Police Department, Dods has been involved in recruit training with Arrest Defense Tactics, Physical Training, Active Shooter Training, and Baton & Taser. Dods is a former Maui Police Department Recruiter, D.A.R.E. Mentor and Instructor.

Heather Gilroy began her career with the Maui Police Department in 2003, as a member of the 62nd recruit class. After graduating from recruit class training, she was assigned to Alpha Watch within the Wailuku Patrol. In 2006 she served as a Field Training Officer, working with newly graduated officers. In November of 2014, Gilroy was assigned as Acting Sergeant of Alpha Watch, also within Wailuku Patrol. She lives in Kahului with her son Tommy.

Joy Kanani Medeiros began her career with the Maui Police Department on September 16, 2005. Her career started in Wailuku Patrol in 2005, took her to Hāna in 2007, and then back to Wailuku Patrol in 2008. Immediately following her successful completion of the recruit academy, she began assisting with physical fitness training, arrest defense tactics training, and officer safety training for the recruit academy. In 2010 she was given the honor of being Maui County’s Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officers Association, Officer of the Year. In 2012, she transferred to the Plans, Training, Research & Development section. She achieved certifications in Police Kinesiology, Arrest Defense Tactics Instructor, Coopers Law Enforcement Fitness Instructor, Public Safety Wellness Fitness Instructor, Master Taser Instructor, ALERRT Active Shooter Instructor, FBI Law Enforcement Instructor, and as a LTI laser Instructor. In her personal life, she is on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization. The foundation participates in various community events, such as Relay for Life, the Hawaiʻi Food Bank Drives, Lanakila Meals on Wheels, Kapiolani Hospital Children’s Ward Toy Drives, and entertaining at various Senior Centers.

***Information on recently promoted officer Duke Pua, will be posted upon release.