Eight ‘step up’ to become KPD

LIHU‘E — Eight graduates of the 92nd Police Recruit Class “stepped up,” Wednesday to become the latest additions to the Kaua‘i Police Department.

The welcome to the force was held on open ground, thankfully blessed by the passing showers holding back through the ceremony that was held in strict compliance of rules and conditions created by COVID-19, including several families unable to attend because of thef 14-day quarantine.

Graduates Cody Chow, Joseph Dill, Kamie Imai, the sole female, Robert Kerry, Evan Kuribayashi, Clement Nghi, Hiro Shimada, and Kelvin Villanueva became the newest addition to the Kaua‘i Police Department following their taking the Oath of Office administered by Kaua‘i Police Chief Todd Raybuck before the small gathering that spread out from the headquarters building, around the lawn area and into the parking lot.

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and Kaua‘i Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro, both confirmed to attend the proceedings, were unable to show face due to talks about the CARES Act at the Kaua‘i County Council meeting.

“This is uncertain and trying times to wear the badge,” Raybuck said. “Policing has changed a lot during my 28 years of wearing the uniform.”

“When drug dealers openly stood on street corners fueling addiction and violence, the community called the police to clean up the streets. We stepped up.

“After the terror attacks in New York City shocked the entire world, the community called the police to fight foreign enemies in the homeland. We stepped up.

“When it seemed no community was immune from school shootings and active shooters, the community called the police to protect them, and our children. We stepped up.

“When drugs and gang violence targeted our youth, the police created programs in our schools, and on the sports fields that focused on prevention, not apprehension. We stepped up.

“When our community faced a never-seen before pandemic and feared for the lives of our kupuna and vulnerable population, we stepped up.

“But policing has changed.

“We chase armed gang members and drug dealers through dark alleys, we prepare ourselves to run toward terrorists and heavily armed active shooters; we are teachers, coaches, counselors, and public health protectors and meal distributors.

“On top of all of what we are called to do, we are the ones called on to try and manage the crises affecting some of our most neglected populations, our mentally ill and the houseless — all in one day’s work.

“Racisim and inequality have been around since the beginning of mankind. We have fought against it, but it still exists.

“In an imperfect world, at an imperfect moment, the police are expected to perform with perfection.

“We have worked hard in policing to push out racism, inequality, unconscious bias, and excessive force within our ranks, but like the imperfect world we live in, it still exists.

“We have made mistakes, and we want to be better at what we do. We must continue to learn from our mistakes so that we continue to get better at what we do. The community is calling on us to be better — We will step up.

“The badge you receive today is a symbol of honor, pride, and authority. Honor to wear the symbol worn by the more than 21,000 officers that have paid the ultimate price in service to their community; Pride to share in the profession with hundreds of thousands of men and women that have come before you and stand alongside you today to serve their communities with pride and professionalism, and Authority given to you by the community, and earned every day by maintaining the public’s trust.

“Like me, and all the officers here today, you signed up to make a positive difference in the world — one person at a time,” Raybuck said. “Congratulations on achieving your goal of becoming a police officer. Like many times before, we have our work cut out for us, but together, and alongside our community, we will step up.”