Kaua‘i Police Department honors 3 officers for exceptional service

One officer with the Kauaʻi Police Department took the limited information he had at the beginning of an investigation, and exhausted multiple avenues to find and apprehend key suspects in a complex sexual assault case.

Two other officers put in some sweat equity to help with renovations at a substation — on their free time.

Det. Eric Caspillo, Lt. Aaron Lester and Sgt. Colin Nesbitt all were honored as Employees of the Month for June and July during the Kaua‘i Police Commission meeting on July 25.

“These officers set the standard for going above and beyond in service to both their peers and the public,” interim Kaua’i Police Chief Kalani Ke said in an announcement about the honors. “Their actions embody the professionalism and integrity that form the foundation of our department.”

Lester and Nesbitt were selected as Employees of the Month for June in honor of their significant contributions to the renovation of the Kōloa Substation.

On their own personal time, they installed new flooring and baseboard trim, repaired door trim, assembled furniture and completed a full deep cleaning of the facility.

Their work also supported broader upgrades to the substation, including new ceiling fans, air conditioning units and improvements to public access and security systems.

Their actions reflect a deep sense of ownership and pride in their workplace, values that positively influence the operational environment for fellow officers and the public, the news release said.

Caspillo was named Employee of the Month for July for his exceptional handling of a complex and sensitive sexual assault investigation.

Despite limited information at the outset, Caspillo remained focused and persistent, conducting extensive interviews, coordinating with fellow detectives and external agencies and exhausting any potential leads, the news release said.

His diligent efforts led to the identification and apprehension of key suspects.