For his diligent efforts earlier this year solving two thefts perpetrated by the same individuals, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee recently honored Hawai‘i Police Department Officer Conrad Iranon as Officer of the Month for September 2022, during an awards ceremony at Huggo’s on the Rocks in Kona on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.

On February 9, 2022, Officer Iranon responded to a reported burglary at a preschool facility on Ali‘i Drive in Kailua-Kona. In the course of his investigation, Officer Iranon learned that two men had gained entry into the school via the kitchen area and had been observed on video surveillance taking several items. As they were leaving the area, the thieves noticed the video camera recording them and cut the power cord to the camera. Officer Iranon was able to review the video footage and recognized the two suspects from previous police contact.

Checking surrounding neighborhoods for the suspects, Officer Iranon found one of the male parties a few hours later pushing a shopping cart containing one of the stolen items. The second suspect was located and arrested by other Kona patrol officers less than a mile away.

Both suspects were transported to the Kealakehe police station. Upon police receiving consent to search the suspects’ bags, officers discovered additional items stolen from a Kona big-box store.

Officer Iranon conducted a follow-up investigation and determined that the two men were also observed on video surveillance at the big-box store taking items without permission.

Both men wound up facing several charges, including fraudulent use of a credit card, unauthorized use of personal information, habitual property crimes, two counts of fourth-degree theft, and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

A six year veteran of the department, this is the fifth time Officer Iranon has been recognized as Officer of the Month, and the second time this year, most recently being honored as Officer of the Month for February 2022. In the time since being nominated for this current award, Officer Iranon left the department, having relocated to the mainland where he transferred to another police department. His sister accepted the award in his honor.

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.

Pictured: Officer Conrad Iranon’s sister Michelle Keawe received the KCPC Officer of the Month award on his behalf.