Officer Rodney De Lima Jr. Receives 2026 Top Cop Award for Hawai‘i Island

The Hawai‘i Police Department is proud to announce that Officer Rodney De Lima Jr. was named the recipient of the Top Cop Hawaii award during a ceremony in Honolulu on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, recognizing his outstanding police work, leadership, and dedication to his fellow officers and the community.

A seven-year veteran of the department, Officer De Lima has served in the Kaʻū and Puna districts. For the past five years, he has been assigned to Puna, where he has distinguished himself through his proactive approach to policing, investigative abilities, and commitment to public service.

Born and raised in Puna, De Lima has a strong connection to the community he serves. His knowledge of the district and ability to build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds have become valuable assets in his work, helping him develop investigations and apprehend offenders.

His proactive police work has led to numerous arrests and the recovery of illegal firearms, dangerous drugs, and stolen property. In three separate incidents during February and March 2026, De Lima played key roles in apprehending individuals and recovering firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, and stolen vehicles.

In one February incident, De Lima and a police recruit assisted in pursuing and apprehending a motorcycle operator who had fled on foot. Officers recovered a .22-caliber rifle, ammunition, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Later that month, De Lima and the same recruit stopped a stolen vehicle, leading to the driver’s arrest. A subsequent search warrant resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine, a loaded 9mm handgun, and additional ammunition.

In March, while training another recruit, De Lima noticed fresh tire tracks leading into a remote area and took the initiative to investigate. The investigation led to the discovery of two vehicles and an individual with outstanding warrants. A subsequent search resulted in the recovery of an operable privately manufactured firearm, commonly known as a ghost gun, and additional weapons-related charges.

Beyond his patrol duties, De Lima serves as the Puna District Field Training Officer Coordinator, overseeing the training and development of newly graduated officers assigned to the district. He also serves on the department’s Peer Support Team, volunteering his time to assist fellow employees dealing with the emotional challenges associated with law enforcement. In addition, he was recently selected to be part of the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team and successfully completed formal crisis negotiation training.

“Officer De Lima is among the most proactive, hardworking, and effective officers I have encountered in my 17 years of law enforcement,” said Puna Patrol Sergeant Jason Foxworthy, who nominated him for the award. “His motivation and positive attitude remain consistent while working in one of Hawaii County’s most demanding patrol districts.”

The Hawaiʻi Police Department congratulates Officer Rodney De Lima Jr. on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his continued dedication to the department and the people of Hawaiʻi Island.