Detective Jenny Lee Honored with Prestigious HSLEOA Award

The Hawai‘i Police Department is proud to announce that Detective Jenny Lee has been recognized with the prestigious 2026 Hawai‘i State Law Enforcement Officials Association (HSLEOA) Officer of the Year award, honoring her outstanding investigative work on a complex child sexual abuse investigation that resulted in multiple arrests and grand jury indictments, as well as the identification of additional victims and suspects. She received the award at a statewide ceremony on Oahu on Monday, September 28, 2026.

A 22-year veteran of the department, Detective Lee is currently assigned to the Area I Juvenile Aid Section. In July 2025, she was assigned to investigate allegations involving two juvenile female victims who reported being sexually abused. She immediately took responsibility for the investigation and conducted numerous interviews with victims and witnesses while obtaining and executing multiple search warrants for electronic devices and social media accounts.

A search warrant executed on one suspect’s cellular phone resulted in the recovery of video evidence that corroborated the victims’ statements and provided additional evidence for presentation to a grand jury. The investigation continued as Detective Lee obtained and executed additional search warrants involving the victims’ social media accounts and cellular phones, leading to evidence identifying another adult suspect.

Detective Lee subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant for that suspect’s cellular phone, recovering additional evidence corroborating the victims’ reports. During the forensic examination of the device, she identified a third juvenile victim. The investigation involving that suspect was completed and submitted for prosecution and is awaiting grand jury proceedings.

Through her continued investigation, Detective Lee also identified a fourth suspect who resided on Oʻahu and had traveled to Hawaiʻi Island to meet a juvenile victim. The investigation developed sufficient evidence for federal review and was accepted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As of May 2026, federal agents were pursuing enforcement action against the suspect.

As a result of Detective Lee’s investigation, two suspects were arrested and subsequently indicted by a grand jury on charges including first-degree promoting child abuse, first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault. Her investigation also led to the identification of additional suspects and victims whose involvement may otherwise have remained undiscovered.

“Detective Lee’s work demonstrates the persistence, attention to detail and compassion required when investigating crimes against vulnerable children,” said Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “Her ability to follow the evidence, uncover additional victims and suspects, and work with our law enforcement partners reflects the professionalism and dedication we expect from our investigators. We congratulate Detective Lee on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her commitment to protecting our keiki and our community.”