In a commendable act of perceptive policing, Kona Patrol Officer Dylan Chaves was named Officer of the Month for March 2025 by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee (KCPC), acknowledging his commitment to a domestic violence case that went beyond the call of duty. It all came to light at a ceremony held in Kona last Wednesday, March 5, as reported by the Hawaii Police Department.
On October 23, 2024, while investigating an unrelated matter, Officer Chaves, at a Kailua-Kona clothing store, noticed a woman he had previously helped in a domestic violence case. With evident injuries on her face, the woman was approached by Chaves, whose instincts told him assistance was needed urgently. In a situation that was cut short by the appearance of a family member, Officer Chaves manages to make an impression on the victim, who later sought him out to divulge the extent of her ordeal – a recent 24-hour captivity by her abuser, fraught with terroristic threats. "The victim went on to say that the suspect monitored her movements using her cellular phone, as well as via home surveillance cameras both inside and outside their residence," detailed the Hawaii Police Department..
Coordinating with the County Prosecutor’s Office and the Area II Juvenile Aid Section, Officer Chaves took action to ensure the victim had access to necessary services and worked to bring the elusive suspect into custody. With a relentless pursuit that showcased his career’s calling card: empathy and determination, Chaves apprehended the abuser who was subsequently slapped with a litany of charges, including kidnapping and first-degree terroristic threatening.
Initial attempts to keep the suspect behind bars saw him remanded to the Hawaii Community Correctional Center with a $326,000 bail. However, following the diligent work of the Prosecutor's office, the suspect saw their bail revoked, ensuring his confinement until trial. In a statement captured by the formal acknowledgement, Officer Chaves' actions are celebrated as a lifeline to the victim. "Thanks to Officer Chaves’ dedication, empathy, and zeal, he was able to gain the victim’s trust and he potentially saved her from a toxic life-threatening relationship that was rapidly escalating," a statement obtained by the Hawaii Police Department.
