Kona Crime Prevention Committee Honors Officer Victoria Dejesus-Monteiro as Officer of the Month

For her initiative and compassion while responding to an endangered missing persons case, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee recognized Kona Patrol Officer Victoria Dejesus-Monteiro as Officer of the Month for August 2025 during a ceremony in Kona on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

On the morning of May 29, 2025, Kona patrol officers were dispatched to a report of a missing man in the area of Highway 190 and Makalei Drive. The man’s wife told dispatchers her husband, who suffers from dementia and is largely non-verbal, had walked away from their residence and had been missing for nearly an hour.

Although not assigned to the call, Officer Dejesus-Monteiro voluntarily self-assigned to assist fellow officers in the search. Equipped with a clothing description and the man’s name, she methodically searched the surrounding neighborhoods and roadways. After nearly an hour with no success, police and fire personnel were preparing to escalate the response by involving specialized units such as scent dogs and aerial support.

Undeterred, Officer Dejesus-Monteiro made one final pass along Highway 190. Her persistence paid off, she spotted a man walking along the roadside who matched the description. She stopped to speak with him and confirmed he was the missing individual. Officer Dejesus-Monteiro gently escorted him into her vehicle and returned him safely to his home, where he was reunited with his wife.

A five-year veteran of the department, Officer Dejesus-Monteiro’s initiative and determination helped bring a happy resolution to what could have been a much more tragic situation. Her actions reflect the Hawai‘i Police Department’s core values of compassion, teamwork, and professionalism.

Each month, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee honors a police officer in west Hawai‘i who has exceeded the boundaries of their duties in performing an exceptional act or continuing service to the community.

As Officer of the Month, Officer Dejesus-Monteiro is eligible to be considered for the 2025 Officer of the Year award.