In Kona, the Hawai‘i Police Department's Kona Community Policing Section opened its doors to local scouts for the first annual Merit Scouts Police Tour Day. Held on October 9, the Kealakehe Police Station saw 39 young minds from West Hawai‘i Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America delve into the world of law enforcement.
With tours of various divisions such as Patrol, Juvenile Aid Section, Traffic Enforcement Unit, Criminal Investigation Section, and Vice Section, the scouts got the chance to say hello with the officers serving their community. They not only visited the cell block and assistant chief's office but also directly connected with the individuals behind the badge. According to a statement from the department, the event is part of ongoing efforts to foster community ties and spark youth interest in public service professions.
A hands-on experience awaited them as Evidence Specialists Mary Midkiff and Robyn Kainoa from the CIS led a session on fingerprinting. Engaging the scouts, this session was not merely a presentation, but it allowed them a glimpse into the fingerprint collection and preservation's finer points. As they practiced dusting for and lifting prints from objects around, each participant also created a fingerprint card, marking a step in earning their merit badges.
"It was really wonderful and surprising to see how intuitive the scouts were," said Midkiff in an interview. “They asked great questions, and we all had a fun time recovering fingerprints. I really look forward to next year’s event,” as noted by the police department's website.
The Kona police station encounter rounded off with a K9 demonstration, giving the scouts a chance to understand the crucial role these four-legged officers play. The interaction with a marked police vehicle provided a tangible touch to the day's explorative purpose.
