Maui Police Promotions: 7 Sergeants, 3 Lieutenants

February 22, 2018, 11:22 AM HST
* Updated February 27, 9:29 AM

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The Maui Police Department announced the promotion of three individuals to the rank of Lieutenant and seven individuals to the rank of Sergeant. The members were recognized during a promotion ceremony on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018.

Lieutenant promotions include: Lt. Garrett Tihada, Lt. Keola Tom and Lt. Lance Marks.

Garret Tihada: was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant effective Jan. 16, 2018. He has been assigned to the Lahaina Criminal Investigation Division. Lieutenant Tihada started with the Maui Police Department in 1993. His past assignments have included the Lahaina and Hāna Patrol Districts, Criminal Investigation Division and Internal Affairs Division. He has also been a School Resource Officer and member of the Special Response Team.

Lance Marks: was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant effective Jan. 16, 2018. He has been assigned to the Kīhei Patrol Distict. Lieutenant Marks is a 20 year veteran with the Department. His past assignments have included the Lahaina and Wailuku Patrol Districts and the Vice Division. He has also been a Community Oriented Police Officer and member of the Specialized Emergency Enforcement Detail and Special Response Team.

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Keola Tom: was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Lahaina Patrol District. Lieutenant Tom started with the Department in 2002. His past assignments have included the Wailuku and Hāna Patrol Districts and Vice Division. His most recent assignment was with the Special Response Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2011.

Sergeant promotions incldue: Sgt. Dennis Arnds, Sgt. Christina Bonacorsi, Sgt. Jhun-Lee Casio, Sgt. Clifford Dagulo, Sgt. Lonnie Ka‘ai, Sgt. Kamuela Mawae and Sgt. Jeremy Pallone De La Torre.

Dennis Arnds: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Communications Section. Sergeant Arnds joined the Department in 2006 with the 66th Recruit Class. His past assignments have included the Wailuku Patrol District and the Traffic Section OUI Task Force. He is also a graduate of California State University. Sgt. Arnds was among a half dozen officers honored in 2010 for contributing to the fight against Drunk driving.

Christina Bonacorsi: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. She has been assigned to the Lahaina Patrol District. Sergeant Bonacorsi is a graduate of Maui High School. She moved to Washington State and joined the Coast Guard where she attained the rank of Captain before returning to Maui. Sergeant Bonacorsi joined the Department in 2007 and worked in the Wailuku Patrol District. She has been a Field Training Officer and a Community Oriented Police Officer. She is also a member of the Special Response Team and is currently the only female sniper in the state.

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Clifford Dagulo: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Communications Section. Sergeant Dagulo joined the Department in 2006. His past assignments have included the Kīhei, Hāna and Wailuku Patrol Districts, Vice Gambling & Morals Unit and Criminal Intelligence Unit.

Jhun-Lee Casio, Jr.: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Communications Section. Sergeant Casio was born in the Philippines and migrated to Hawaiʻi when he was 14 years old. Sergeant Casio joined the Department in 2003 with the 62nd Recruit Class. His past assignments have included the Lahaina, Lanai and Wailuku Patrol Districts. He has been a Field Training Officer and Community Oriented Police Officer. He is married with three children.

Lonnie Kaʻai: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Molokai Patrol District. Sergeant Kaʻai was born and raised on Molokai. He joined the Department in 2004 with the 63rd Recruit Class. His past assignments have included the Lahaina, Hāna and Molokaʻi Patrol Districts. He has been a Community Oriented Police Officer and DARE Officer during his assignment on Molokaʻi. He is married to Kimberly and has three children: Kalauʻihi, Kaʻupenakahiau and Naleiauliʻi.

Kamuela Mawae: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 16, 2018. He has been assigned to the Molokaʻi Patrol District. Sergeant Mawae started with the Department in 2004. He past assignments have included the Communications Section, Lahaina Patrol District and most recently the Community Relations Section. He has been a DARE Officer and Field Training Officer. He is also a certified Arrest Defense Tactics and Taser Instructor and teaches Police Recruits. He is a member of the Department’s Peer Support Unit as well. He is also a youth sports coach and Cub Scout leader and volunteers with various non-profit organizations. He and his fiancé have two children.

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Jeremy Pallone-De La Torre: was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective Feb. 1, 2018. He has been assigned to the Lahaina Patrol District. Sergeant Pallone-De La Torre is originally from Gilbert, Arizona where he graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Human Relations. Sgt. Pallone De La Torre joined the Maui Police Department in 2012 as part of the 75th Recruit Class. Upon graduation, he was selected for the department’s Best Notebook Award; and tied for second place for the department’s M. Cecil “Rusty” Dickson Award for Physical Fitness. His past assignments have included the Communications Section, Kīhei and Wailuku Patrol Districts and most recently the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division as a Juvenile Investigator. He is a certified Law Enforcement Fitness Specialist and assists in teaching Police Recruits. He is also a high school cross country and track & field coach at Kamehameha Schools Maui.

Friday’s ceremony was a first of its kind for the department, and offered an opportunity for friends and family to be recognized for the sacrifice they endure while supporting their loved ones.

Executive and command staff of the Maui Police Department extended their thanks to families of the promoted officers saying, “These family members can attest to the long and often inconvenient and grueling schedules police officers face. Supporting a loved one in the law enforcement field is not an easy task.”