Officer Jason Scalzo is Kaua‘i Police Department’s August Employee of the Month, honored for his recent outstanding police work and steadfast dedication to safeguarding the community.
“I am pleased to congratulate Officer Scalzo for initiating an operation to capture wanted individuals threatening our community’s peace and safety,” said Kaua‘i Police Chief Rudy Tai in a department release. “The results were exemplary.”
Scalzo led an operation that resulted in the arrest of several people with outstanding bench warrants. These were people suspected of crimes that put public safety at risk and affected the community’s quality of life.
He knew they were still at large, so Scalzo organized a team to respond. Nine suspects were apprehended within 5 hours after the team obtained a special operations bench warrant.
No officers, residents or suspects were harmed.
This quick and successful result shows strong planning, leadership and professionalism.
“The tactics employed by Officer Scalzo emphasized officer and public safety while allowing the team to efficiently locate and arrest the individuals,” Tai said. “His careful planning, situational awareness and tactical decision-making helped ensure the operation was conducted safely, with no unnecessary risk of injury to officers or suspects.”
Scalzo is further recognized for building positive and trusting relationships with the community, which are essential for good policing, furthering the department’s commitment to building and maintaining strong connections with the people it serves.
“Officer Scalzo shows leadership among his peers at [Kaua‘i Police Department],” says the department release. “He regularly shares his experience and practical knowledge with fellow officers, enabling them to identify potential risks, make informed decisions and maintain vigilance during their duties. These attributes strengthen the entire department and help ensure that valuable experience is passed on.”
He also consistently exemplifies the qualities expected of an outstanding police officer: initiative, leadership, sound judgment, tactical awareness, teamwork, community trust, mentorship and a steadfast commitment to officer and public safety.
“His dedication to proactive enforcement, cultivation of strong community relationships, commitment to mentoring less experienced officers and consistent focus on public safety make him highly deserving of recognition as the [Kaua‘i Police Department] August Officer of the Month,” the release says.
