Kona Crime Prevention Committee Honors Officer Eli-Dominic Cayetano as 2026 Officer of the Year
For his vigilance, investigative skills, and composure during a high-risk incident, Kona Crime Prevention Committee (KCPC) named Kona Patrol Officer Eli-Dominic Cayetano as its 2026 Police Officer of the Year during a ceremony on Friday, September 11, 2026, in Kona.
Officer Cayetano, a seven-year veteran of the department, was recognized for his efforts during a Nov. 12, 2025, incident that began as a welfare check and developed into a significant firearm investigation.
Shortly after midnight on Nov. 12, Cayetano responded to a Kona residence regarding a suicidal male. He established communication with the man and helped de-escalate the situation while Hawaiʻi Fire Department personnel evaluated him.
Family members then told officers that the couple’s teenage daughter had intervened shortly before police arrived to prevent a potential suicide attempt involving a firearm. Recognizing the safety concern, Officer Cayetano sought to secure the weapon inside the residence.
While inside, Officer Cayetano observed multiple AR-style rifles, loaded magazines, and loose ammunition. Based on his training and knowledge of Hawaiʻi firearms laws, he recognized that several of the firearms appeared to have configurations and barrel lengths that may violate state law.
Cayetano relayed his observations, and the residence was secured while detectives continued the investigation. A search warrant was subsequently obtained and executed, resulting in the recovery of more than 20 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Investigators determined that numerous firearms were reportedly unregistered or unlawfully configured.
What began as a response to an individual in crisis developed into a significant public-safety investigation because Officer Cayetano remained alert to the circumstances around him and recognized the potential significance of what he encountered.
“Officer Cayetano demonstrated the kind of professionalism and sound judgment we expect from our officers,” said Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “He was able to build trust and de-escalate a difficult situation while also recognizing a larger public-safety concern. His actions are a great example of how an officer’s training, awareness, and attention to detail can make a difference, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”
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. Officer Cayetano has been named the KCPC Officer of the Month on six occasions, including May 2026.
