It was a moment of recognition for dedicated police work on Friday, October 18, 2024, as Detective Chandler Nacino of the Hawai‘i Police Department was presented with the 2024 Top Cop Hawai‘i award. This commendation, bestowed by the Law Enforcement and Security Coalition of Hawai‘i, honored Nacino's diligent efforts in cracking down on internet crimes against children. In particular, his role in unraveling a complicated case involving social media, child exploitation, and child pornography was cited as the basis for the accolade.
In April of last year, Detective Nacino was tasked with a challenging investigation after a concerning report surfaced about a juvenile who was "grooming" others and encouraging self-harm via social media. According to a report by Nixle, Nacino eagerly decided to fully immerse himself into his new role in the Area II Juvenile Aid Section, quickly mobilizing his resources as a detective and as a Task Force Officer with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI-TFO). His collaboration with federal agencies and engagement in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) exemplified his commitment.
The investigation stretched over nine months, during which Detective Nacino wrote and executed a myriad of search warrants, and sifted through countless cyber tips. His perseverance led to the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect and the recovery of more than 100 images categorized as child sexual abuse material in December 2023. "Detective Nacino puts 110 percent effort into each investigation regardless of the classification," Lieutenant Bobbi-Jo Sagon of the Area II Juvenile Aid Section mentioned in the report on Nixle. Her nomination of Nacino underlined his positive influence, noting his "positivity, enthusiasm, passion, and drive" as infectious attributes that highlight his dedication to the victims and an understanding of the trauma inflicted by such predators.
Even after the suspect's arrest and subsequent release upon reaching 18 years old, Detective Nacino's vigilance did not wane. He acted upon the intelligence that the suspect had violated release terms by acquiring a smartphone, swiftly generating an arrest warrant leading to the suspect's re-arrest on August 12, 2024. The young man now faces 10 charges, including the promotion of child abuse and the use of a computer to commit a crime, with bail set at $130,000.
