The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) shall
maintain an award system that recognizes
personnel and members of the public for
their service to the department and/or community.
Specifications for awards are recommended by
the element responsible and/or the Awards
Committee and approved by the Chief of Police.
AWARDS COMMITTEE
A. The Awards Committee consists of seven
commanders: one commander from each of the six
bureaus and the commander of the Community
Affairs Division (CAD) who acts as the committee chair.
1. Bureau representatives are selected by
their assistant chiefs. Notification of each
selection is forwarded to the CAD commander.
2. Bureau representatives normally serve
two-year terms, which are staggered so that
about half the committee members are new each
year. New members are selected as described
above and serve starting on July 1 of each year.
B. The committee will consider and evaluate all
award nominations and make a recommendation on
each nomination to the Chief of Police. All
recommendations require a majority vote of the
committee and a tie vote shall be broken by the
CAD major.
C. The Awards Committee will convene at the
direction of the Chief of Police. It may conduct
such independent investigations as are deemed
necessary to ascertain the facts bearing on each
award nomination.
SERVICE AWARDS
A. A certificate will be awarded to each
employee who completes 25, 35, and 45 years of
creditable government service.
B. A certificate of service will be awarded
to each police reserve officer who resigns with
ten or more years of satisfactory service.
C. See Attachment 2 for details.
RETIREMENT AWARDS
A. Retirement shall mean separation from
service for the purpose of immediate retirement.
B. Employees having 15 or more years of
creditable government service at retirement may
be eligible for service retirement awards.
C. Ordinary disability retirees are eligible
for the same service retirement awards as long as
they meet the eligibility criteria.
D. Officers and reserve officers who retire
with service-connected disabilities may be eligible
for awards in accordance with Attachment 3.
E. Specifications for retirement awards are maintained by the CAD.
F. See Attachment 3 for details.
VALOR AND MERIT AWARDS
A. Police personnel and police
reserve officers are eligible for the Warrior
Gold Medal of Valor, which may be awarded to
any officer who distinguishes himself or herself
conspicuously, above and beyond the normal
performance of duty, by means of outstanding
bravery and at the risk of the officer’s life.
B. Police personnel and police reserve
officers are eligible for the Warrior Silver
Medal of Valor, which may be awarded to any
officer who is cited for gallantry in the
performance of duty that does not merit the
Gold Medal of Valor.
C. Police personnel and police reserve
officers are eligible for the Bronze Medal
of Valor, which may be awarded to any officer
who is cited for gallantry in the performance
of duty that does not merit the Silver Medal of Valor.
D. Members of the public are eligible for
the Civilian Medal of Valor, which may be
awarded to any private individual who distinguishes
himself or herself conspicuously, above and beyond
the normal performance of a citizen, by means of
outstanding bravery and at the risk of his or her own life.
E. Police personnel, police reserve officers,
and civilian employees of the department are eligible
for the Warrior Bronze Medal of Merit, which may be
awarded to an officer or employee who distinguishes
himself or herself by outstanding meritorious service
in a duty of great responsibility.
F. Police personnel, police reserve officers,
and civilian employees of the department are eligible
for the Certificate of Merit, which may be awarded to
officers and civilian employees who have distinguished
themselves by exceptional performance of duty or periods
of outstanding and faithful service, acts, or achievements
that do not meet the standards required for the Bronze Medal of Merit.
G. Police personnel, police reserve officers,
and civilian employees of the department may qualify
for letters of commendation or appreciation, which
are designed for acts or services that are beyond the
normal performance of duty that do not meet the above
criteria for decorations or certificates.
H. Specifications for the valor and merit awards
listed above are maintained by the CAD.
I. See Attachment 4 for details.
ANNUAL AWARDS
A. Metropolitan police officers are eligible
for the Police Officer of the Year award, which
is designed to recognize the outstanding officer.
B. Metropolitan police corporals are eligible
for the Corporal of the Year award, which is
designed to recognize the outstanding corporal.
C. Metropolitan police sergeants are eligible
for the Sergeant of the Year award, which is
designed to recognize the outstanding sergeant.
D. Metropolitan police detectives are eligible
for the Detective of the Year award, which is
designed to recognize the outstanding detective.
E. Metropolitan police lieutenants are eligible
for the Lieutenant of the Year award, which is
designed to recognize the outstanding lieutenant.
F. Police reserve officers are eligible for the
Reserve Officer of the Year award, which is designed
to recognize the outstanding reserve officer.
G. Private individuals, business firms, civic
organizations, and other identifiable entities may
be eligible for the Citizenship Award. This award
is designed to recognize the display of outstanding
citizenship that has contributed directly or
indirectly to the achievement of the goals and
objectives of the department.
H. Civilian employees of the department in
nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory positions are
eligible for the Civilian Employee of the Year
award, which is designed to recognize an
outstanding civilian employee.
I. Civilian employees of the department in
managerial and supervisory positions are eligible
for the Civilian Manager/Supervisor of the Year
award, which is designed to recognize an
outstanding civilian manager or supervisor.
J. All officers are eligible for the Police
Parent of the Year award, which is designed to
recognize the outstanding police parent.
K. Specifications for these awards are maintained by the CAD.
L. See Attachment 5 for details.
THE 200 CLUB AWARDS
A. Police Officer of the Year
The award winner(s) as described above is
eligible for the Police Officer of the Year
award, which is designed to recognize the outstanding officer.
B. Police Supervisor of the Year
The award winner(s) as described above is
eligible for the Police Supervisor of the
Year award, which is designed to recognize
the outstanding police supervisor.
C. Civilian Employee of the Year
The award winner(s) as described above is
eligible for the Civilian Employee of the
Year award, which is designed to recognize
the outstanding civilian employee.
D. Police Parent of the Year
The award winner(s) as described above is
eligible for the Police Parent of the Year award.
E. Citizenship Award
The award winner(s) as described above is
eligible for the Citizenship award.
F. See Attachment 8 for details.
CHIEF’S RECOGNITION AWARD FOR SPRING AND FALL
A. Any individual civil service employee of
the department may be nominated for the Chief’s
Officer or the Chief’s Civilian Employee award.
B. Any group of employees, including (but not
limited to) sector groups, details, Criminal
Investigation Division units, community policing
teams, special assignment groups, and civilian
groups may be nominated for the Chief’s Section award.
C. See Attachment 6 for details.
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL CERTIFICATES/LETTERS
A. All police personnel shall receive
appropriate certificates when they are appointed,
promoted, and complete recruit training and
other special training courses authorized by the department.
B. A Certificate of Merit or a letter of
commendation or appreciation shall be awarded
to any private individual, business firm, or
civic organization that performs a meritorious
act or service that significantly furthers
achievement of the department’s goals of
preserving the peace, protecting life and
property, and enforcing the law.
C. Appropriate certificates shall be
awarded to any duly appointed junior traffic
police officer or junior police advisor who
contributes outstanding service. Also,
appropriate certificates shall be awarded to
all bona fide participants in athletic
competitions sponsored by the Police Activities
League and to anyone who contributes money or
voluntary service for such activities.
D. See Attachment 7 for details.
HPD’S ROLL OF HONOR
A. The HPD’s Roll of Honor memorial
display is dedicated “in memory of those
police officers who, through their dedicated
and selfless efforts, sacrificed their lives
in the protection of the rights, liberties,
and happiness of their community.”
B. The CAD shall maintain and manage
the memorial display and ensure that the
nameplates of qualifying individuals are
attached to the display.
1. The name of any officer or reserve
officer killed in the line of duty shall be
attached to the Roll of Honor.
2. The memorial consists of a bronze
plaque mounted on a wooden display structure
and attached to the wall at the entrance to
the Alapai headquarters.
3. Specifications for the nameplates are
maintained by the CAD.
VALOR AWARDS DISPLAY
A. The valor awards display publicly honors
the men and women of the HPD who have distinguished
themselves in acts above and beyond the call of duty.
B. The CAD shall maintain and manage the valor
awards display and ensure that the nameplates of
qualifying individuals are attached to the display.
C. The name of any officer or reserve officer
who is awarded a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal of
Valor shall be added to the display.
D. The display case is permanently mounted on
the wall of the B-1 level hallway at the Alapai headquarters.
E. Specifications for the nameplates are maintained by the CAD.
DISTRICT COMMUNITY POLICING AWARDS/CERTIFICATES
A. A district command may present a
community policing award or a certificate of
appreciation or commendation to any private
individual, business firm, or civic organization
that performs an act or service that helps to
enhance the quality of life for the community.
B. This award/certificate is initiated
at the division level and is presented to a recipient
who does not qualify for a department-level award.
C. This award shall be made by the
district commander or his or her representative
at a time and place designated by the commander.
HPD’S HALL OF FAME
A. The HPD’s Hall of Fame honors
former departmental employees who have made
outstanding contributions that have significantly
impacted the department and its standing in the
law enforcement field and the community.
B. Nominees must meet nomination criteria
to be considered. See Attachment 9 for details.
C. Nominations to the Hall of Fame
shall be made by submitting a detailed nomination
letter to the commander of the CAD. The nomination
letter shall include (but not be limited to) the following:
1. A summary of the nominee’s contributions
and achievements and their impact on the HPD.
2. Departmental, local, and national awards;
decorations; and certificates received.
3. Characteristics of the nominee that distinguish
the nominee from others.
D. The Administrative Review Board (ARB)
shall consider and evaluate all nominations and
make recommendations to the Chief of Police.
E. The department may induct two members annually.
F. Hall of Fame nominations may be retained
and resubmitted for consideration annually unless
the ARB or Chief of Police approves induction or
removal of the nomination from future consideration.
G. The CAD will be responsible for administering
the Hall of Fame program and also maintaining and
managing the Hall of Fame display.