Officer Flores Honored as Ka‘ū Officer of the Quarter
For his quick thinking and tactical preparedness that led to the apprehension of a wanted man, Officer Joshua Flores was honored as the Kaʻū Officer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2026 during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Nā‘ālehu.
With 19 years in law enforcement, Officer Flores has served in Kaʻū since 2020. In addition to his duties as the district’s only Community Policing Officer, Officer Flores is a member of the department’s Special Response Team (SRT).
On May 29, 2026, Officer Flores reported to work early to assist with a short-staffed shift. Several hours into his shift, Flores and other officers received information regarding the whereabouts of a man who was wanted on several outstanding warrants and had been featured on the May episode of Na Leo TV’s “Hawaii’s Most Wanted” segment of the Safe Hawaii show.
The wanted man was known to have previously been in possession of a hunting rifle and had a history of fleeing from police on foot. Based on the information available, Officer Flores quickly developed a tactical plan and, along with two other officers, responded to the area where the man was believed to be located.
When officers arrived, the man spotted them and immediately fled on foot. Officer Flores exited his vehicle and pursued the man, apprehending him after a brief foot pursuit. Flores safely took him into custody on two outstanding warrants.
“Officer Flores is a tremendous asset the district,” said Kaʻū Captain Pernell Hanoa. “Not only does his tactical knowledge assist our officers in preparing for high-risk situations, but his personable demeanor and nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience have provided him with the skills to be an effective communicator, problem solver and an overall positive role model. As our district’s community policing officer, he remains motivated and focused on engaging with, learning from and serving his community.”
