Sheriff Division honors exceptional staff at Meritorious Awards Ceremony

The Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division recently held its inaugural Sheriff Division Meritorious Awards and Leadership/Special Skills Award ceremony at the State Capitol auditorium. 

This ceremony is expected to become an annual event during Police Week, where the special achievements of deputies and civilian staff are celebrated. This year’s focus was on the presentation of two lifesaving medals, a leadership award, and several distinctive skills awards for instruction, drug recognition expertise, medical support, canine handling, tactical operations and peer support.

This is an employee-generated awards program in which any department employee may nominate another eligible department employee or work group. The Employee Recognition Committee reviews the nominations and selects the award recipients each year. Uniformed law enforcement will wear the insignia award on their uniform.

“I believe in recognizing our uniform and civilian staff for their meritorious actions, leadership, and outstanding efforts to serve our community and their law enforcement colleagues,” said Public Safety Director Tommy Johnson. “I would like to take this moment to extend my sincerest thank you to these employees. They exemplify what everyone strives to be when they join a law enforcement agency”.

Lifesaving Medal

Deputy Sheriff Joshua Grilho

On Aug. 5, 2021, Deputy Sheriff Joshua Grilho was assigned to the Sheriff Division Airport Section third watch. On that day at about 5 p.m., Deputy Grilho responded to an officer in distress radio transmission from fellow deputy sheriff.

The deputy was attacked by a man who was wanted on multiple felony warrants. The male suspect struck the deputy in the head multiple times with a hard object causing heavy bleeding. In fear for his life, as he started to lose consciousness, the deputy shot the assailant in the leg.

Upon arrival at the scene, Deputy Grilho observed his fellow deputy hunched over near a fire hydrant, dazed and unresponsive, and bleeding from his head. While trying to aid his colleague, Deputy Grilho noticed him nod towards a male subject who was limping away from the scene. Deputy Grilho followed him and ordered him to stop.

The suspect complied and sat on the sidewalk. During this time, he laid back on the sidewalk and appeared to pass out. Deputy Grilho issued a tourniquet to the suspects leg to stop the bleeding and revived the suspect.

The suspect was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Later, one of the hospital doctors said that the tourniquet saved the suspects’ life. The suspect was later arrested on the outstanding felony warrants and for assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Deputy Joshua Grilho’s actions saved the life of the suspect and possibly the life of his fellow deputy and that is why he was recommended for the Sheriff Division Lifesaving Medal.

Deputy Sheriff Steve Miyamoto

On Feb. 21, 2022, Deputy Sheriff Steve Miyamoto was assigned to the Sheriff Division Airport Section’s second watch. On that day at about 11 a.m., Deputy Miyamoto was dispatched to a service call related to a report of a male who had fallen and hit his head. Upon arriving on the scene, Miyamoto observed an elderly male lying face down at the bottom of an escalator.

The male had deep lacerations to his head and appeared unconscious and not breathing. Deputy Miyamoto checked the victim’s pulse and determined the male to be suffering from possible cardiac arrest. Deputy Miyamoto radioed for an ambulance and immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Approximately three minutes later, American Medical Response medic supervisor, Dennis Ma’ele, was driving by the location and observed the actions of Deputy Miyamoto.  Ma’ele stopped his vehicle and assisted Miyamoto.

Deputy Miyamoto continued chest compressions until an American Medical Response ambulance arrived on scene at about 12:02 p.m. While at the scene, an Allied Security law enforcement officer arrived to assist until they were relieved by Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting. 

Deputy Miyamoto’s actions contributed to the patient regaining a pulse and blood pressure. Deputy Miyamoto’s early recognition of the cardiac arrest, repositioning of the victim, and performance of CPR saved the life of the victim. 

Leadership Awards

FBI National Academy Distinctive Insignia

Presented to those who have successfully completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the following deputies received the FBI NA Leadership Insignia:

• Lt. Shawn Tsuha (FBI NA Session 234 – 6/6/2008 to 9/12/2008)
• Lt. Michael DeCenzo (FBI NA Session 241 – 4/2/2010 to 6/18/2010)
• Chief Deputy Lanikoa Dobrowolsky (FBI NA Session 256 – 1/20/1024 to 3/28/2014)
• Lt. Lane Martin (FBI NA Session 266 – 9/30/2016 to 12/16/2016)
• Lt. Jeffrey Piimauna (FBI NA Session 269 – 7/10/2017 to 9/15/2017)
• Lt. Geoffrey Hicks (FBI NA Session 285 – 1/9/2023 to 3/16/2023 – Lt. Hicks is stationed on Maui and will be hand delivered and awarded in front of his peers at a later date.)

Distinctive Skills Insignia

Instructor: Worn by any sworn member that is certified as a law enforcement Instructor through the training academy, the deputy must also be trained and certified to instruct within a discipline such as defensive tactics, firearms, less lethal, etc., and is actively being utilized in this capacity by the law enforcement division.

• Lt. Lane Martin
• Sgt. Charles Hartman
• Sgt. Blair Wulfert

Drug Recognition Expert: Worn by any sworn member that is actively being utilized as a drug recognition expert by the law enforcement division. The deputy or officer must successfully complete the initial training and maintain all perquisites to hold the Drug Recognition Expert certification and currencies. This insignia is worn only by personnel who are current and certified.

• Sgt. Kalani Jaentsch
• Sgt. Brandon Mariano-Torres
• Deputy Rodolfo Sebastian
• Deputy Matthew Vasconcelles

First Responder/Tactical Emergency Medical: Worn by sworn law enforcement members who have a current certification as Mobile Intensive Care Technicians, Emergency Medical Technicians, Medical Response Technicians, or have attended and successfully completed a Tactical Emergency Medical course.

• Deputy Dan Kuwahara
• Deputy Alvin Turla

Canine Handler: Worn by deputies who have been certified as a canine handler under the department master trainer or equivalent. To continue wearing the insignia, deputies must maintain all canine-related certifications annually.

• Deputy James Aipoalani
• Deputy Paul Ano
• Deputy James Barnes
• Deputy Rollins Canon
• Deputy Charles Lacaden
• Deputy Patrick Lewis
• Deputy Greggory Mayo
• Deputy William Mikolajczyk
• Deputy Helen Shiroma-Kauahi
• Deputy Sean Springer
• Sgt. Edward Stankos
• Deputy Robert Umiamaka

Tactical Operations: Worn by any member that is in good standing as a member of the Sheriff Rapid Enforcement and Counter Terrorism Team. Deputy must have attended and successfully completed a formal out-service or in-service SWAT/Tactical Operations course equal to or greater than 120 hours, as well as participated in a minimum of 80 hours of additional in-service training.

• Deputy Paul Ano
• Deputy Ernest Bautista
• Deputy Rollins Canon
• Deputy Gavin Ching
• Lt. Michael DeCenzo
• Chief Deputy Lanikoa Dobrowolsky
• Deputy Deven English
• Deputy Frank Fine
• Deputy Michael Hirst
• Deputy Adrian Kanoa
• Deputy Dan Kuwahara
• Deputy Christopher Lee
• Deputy Joseph Lovell
• Deputy Ryan Machado
• Deputy Greggory Mayo
• Sgt. Brandon Mokiao
• Lt. Darryl Ng
• Deputy Chon Peters
• Lt. Jeffrey Piimauna
• Deputy Brian Scanlan
• Deputy Sean Springer
• Deputy Aaron Wolfe

Peer Support: To earn this insignia, deputies must complete Crisis Intervention, Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support courses.

• Deputy LoveleeMay Kaleikini
• Sgt. Adrian Kanoa
• Deputy Leedo Anderson (Dep. Anderson is stationed on Maui and will be hand delivered and awarded in front of his peers at a later date.)
• Deputy John Mallari
• Lt. Michael Oakland
• Deputy. Erica Paredes
• Deputy Steffano Quiacusan (Dep. Quiacusan is stationed in Hilo and will be hand delivered and awarded in front of his peers at a later date.)
• Deputy Helen Shiroma-Kauahi
• Deputy Alvin Turla