For his outstanding leadership managing a multi-agency warrant sweep in East Hawai‘i that resulted in seven arrests, South Hilo Community Policing Officer Tyler Jelsma was honored with the Haweo Award during a ceremony held at Hawai‘i County Council chambers in Hilo on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

In early September 2021, Officer Jelsma was tasked with coordinating and leading a multi-agency warrant sweep in East Hawaii. He organized, led, and mobilized the participation of 22 law enforcement personnel from three agencies, including the Hawai‘i Police Department, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Department of Public Safety (Sheriffs).

Prior to the operation, Officer Jelsma worked diligently researching potential high-risk subjects that posed a severe threat to the community and who were elusive to apprehend. He created dossiers for each of the warrant subjects, which were distributed to the three teams on the warrant detail. Officer Jelsma strategically made the best use of manpower, ensuring the success of apprehending the warrant subjects while maintaining the safety of all the law enforcement participants.

On the day of the warrant sweep, Officer Jelsma led the briefing, kept in constant contact with the warrant teams, monitoring and coordinating their activities. As a direct result of his leadership, organization, and management skills, the warrant detail resulted in:

• Seven people arrested on multiple warrants.
• Twelve warrants served, three of which were no bail type warrants. Total bail combined for the arrestees totaled more than $86,000.
• The team also closed two investigations of wanted subjects; one resulted in a felony investigation that lead to an additional arrest.

Without Officer Jelsma’s determination, attention to detail, and ability to manage personnel from other agencies, the warrant sweep might have had very different results. As a 10-year veteran police officer, Officer Jelsma distinguished himself as a smart, reliable problem solver dedicated to helping others and truly concerned about his community.

The award was presented by the Council’s Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Committee (PRPSC), which earlier this year partnered with the Hawai‘i Police Department and Hawai‘i Fire Department to recognize employees that go above and beyond the call of duty. The police and fire departments alternate each month to select one employee to be the recipient of this award, which is presented during PRPSC meetings. Haweo, for which this award is named, means to glow or to be radiant. Officer Jelsma was presented with a lei and a certificate signed by each Councilmember at the ceremony.

Pictured: Back row: Hawaii County Council’s Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Committee. Front row left to right: Assistant Chief Samuel Jelsma, Chelsie Jelsma, Officer Tyler Jelsma, and Lieutenant William Derr.