Officers Alysa Gamache and Kastle Quiocho Honored as December Officers of the Month by Kona Crime Prevention Committee

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee honored Hawaiʻi Police Department Field Training Officer (FTO) Alysa Gamache and Kona Patrol Officer Kastle Quiocho as Officers of the Month for December 2025, recognizing their professionalism, teamwork, and decisive actions during a large disturbance in Kona.

At 2:20 a.m. on June 29, 2025, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a large affray in the parking lot of a grocery store on the 75-900 block of Henry Street in Kailua-Kona. Upon arrival, Officer Quiocho and FTO Gamache, along with additional responding units, encountered 20 to 30 individuals actively engaged in a physical altercation. The officers worked together to separate the involved parties and de-escalate the situation, allowing investigators to determine the cause of the disturbance, which stemmed from ongoing disputes among a small group of individuals.

During the investigation, officers received information that one of the involved parties may have had a firearm inside a vehicle at the scene. The information was relayed to assisting officers, who observed a firearm under the driver’s seat from outside the vehicle. Based on those observations, Officer Quiocho and FTO Gamache made the decision to arrest the vehicle’s occupants and have the vehicle towed to the Kona Police Station pending the execution of a search warrant.

A search warrant was later granted and served, resulting in the recovery of a small-caliber revolver. The occupants of the vehicle were subsequently charged with firearm-related offenses. The officers’ actions are credited with preventing a potentially dangerous escalation of the incident.

At the time of the incident, Officer Quiocho was a new recruit still in field training. His calm demeanor, attention to detail and willingness to engage in a complex investigation under high-stress conditions were noted as exceptional. Field Training Officer Gamache’s leadership and mentorship were also instrumental in guiding the investigation and reinforcing safe, effective policing practices.

“The tutelage provided by FTO Gamache and the initiative of Officer Quiocho on June 29 embodies our department’s core values of professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to community safety,” said Kona Patrol Sergeant Len Hamakado who nominated the pair.

Each month, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee honors an officer who demonstrates excellence in service to the West Hawai‘i community. As Officer of the Month, Officers Gamache and Quiochoare eligible to be considered for the 2026 Officer of the Year award.