Four Hawai‘i Police Department officers were honored for their outstanding and detailed investigations by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee (KCPC) in the second quarter of 2024. Officer Makena Nahooikaika was honored as Officer of the Month for April 2024, Officer Margot Babauta and Officer Curry McFadden for May 2024, and Officer Collin Roberts for June 2024.
April 2024: Officer Makena Nahooikaika
Officer Nahooikaika was recognized for her determination and attention to detail during an investigation into the fraudulent use of a credit card that took place on New Year’s Day 2024. After gathering information from the victim and learning the card has been used at a westside gas station, she reviewed video surveillance footage of the gas pumps and identified the suspect’s vehicle. In the course of investigation, Officer Nahooikaika determined the vehicle’s registered owner and video images of the suspect were the same. She disseminated this information to her fellow watch officers and the next day the suspect vehicle was located with the suspect inside. The suspect was subsequently arrested and during a search warrant executed on the vehicle, illicit drugs were discovered, resulting in an additional felony charge. The detective assigned to this case praised the preliminary investigation conducted by Officer Nahooikaika for its thoroughness.
Officer Nahooikaika has worked in Kona Patrol since completing her field training following her graduation from the department’s 94th recruit class in December 2021, for which she was class treasurer. This is the second time she has been recognized as Officer of the Month by KCPC, last winning the award in November 2023.
May 2024: Officers Margot Babauta and Curry McFadden
Officer Margot Babauta and Officer Curry McFadden were honored for their outstanding teamwork during a burglary investigation earlier this year.
On the morning of January 21, 2024, Kona patrol officers responded to a reported burglary at a residence in Keauhou. WhileOfficer Babauta interviewed the victim at their residence, Officer McFadden assigned himself to respond to the area and made checks for the suspect(s).
As he was processing the scene, Officer Babauta located and processed a set of fingerprints left on a sliding door of the residence. He also noted a set of muddy dog paw prints at the residence and learned that the owner did not own any dogs.
Meanwhile, Officer McFadden was making checks of the immediate area surrounding the victim’s residence when he saw a moped parked in an agricultural lot. Approaching the moped, he saw a man and a woman whom he was familiar with and knew the man had prior arrests for thefts and burglaries. When the pair saw the officer they fled on foot. McFadden began to chase the man through tall vegetation while radioing to other officers a description of the woman who was fleeing with a white dog.
Officer Babauta temporarily stopped processing the scene and went to assist Officer McFadden. The woman was apprehended nearby carrying several bags. The woman was arrested and the items she was carrying were recovered as evidence.
Officer McFadden escorted the victim to the area where the suspects were first spotted and they located many items that had been removed from the residence during the burglary. In total, 40 items, with an estimated value of $1,782, were located, processed, and returned to the victim.
This is the first time both officers have been nominated for Officer of the Month. Officer Babauta graduated from the 93rd recruit class in February 2021, and Officer McFadden graduated from the 91st recruit class, of which he was class president, in March 2020.
June 2024: Officer Collin Roberts
Officer Roberts was honored for his outstanding investigation and observation skills while conducting a narcotics arrest. While on patrol in Kona on the night of February 22, 2024, Officer Roberts observed a woman suspected of being a narcotics distributor driving a vehicle with an expired registration.
Conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle for the expired registration, Officer Roberts contacted the female driver and her male front-seat passenger. During the traffic stop, he observed a piece of tin foil, which had a burnt yellow/brown residue on it, which the woman tried to hide, as well as a small transparent jar that contained a clear crystalline substance that the officer recognized to be methamphetamine.
While Officer Roberts placed the pair under arrest for the narcotic investigation, he located a clear zip-type baggy containing what looked to be fentanyl from the pocket of the male passenger. The bag contents later tested presumptive positive for fentanyl.
During the ensuing investigation, Area II Vice officers searched the car and recovered 5.1 grams of powdered fentanyl, 1.4 grams of methamphetamine, and three morphine pills. As the investigation progressed, police learned that the woman had received a Fed-Ex package containing 26.7 grams of powdered fentanyl. Police were able to locate and recover the Fed-Ex package.
As a result of this investigation, the female driver was charged with second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, and no motor vehicle insurance. Her bail was set at $25,050. The male passenger was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and prohibited acts relating to drug paraphernalia.
The total amount of fentanyl recovered as a result of this investigation was enough to kill 15,900 Hawai‘i Island residents.
Officer Roberts has worked in Kona Patrol since completing his field training following his graduation from the department’s 95th recruit class in June 2022, for which he was class president. This is the second time he has been recognized as Officer of the Month by KCPC, last winning the award in October 2023 for his extra efforts apprehending suspects while off-duty.
Every month the Kona Crime Prevention Committee honors a police officer in west Hawai‘i as their Officer of the Month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from the various police districts and a winner is selected by the KCPC board of directors. All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be selected as the Kona Crime Prevention Committee’s Officer of the Year.