Detective John Balberde was recently recognized for his exceptional work as the supervisor of the Crime Reduction Unit in East Hawaii, within the Area I Criminal Investigation Division. The Hawaii Police Department lauded him for his determination and compassion, particularly in relation to a gruesome double-homicide case in Hilo that took place in January.
The Hawaii Police Department's Facebook page reveals that Balberde is a 15-year veteran of the department. He was bestowed with the Haweo Award on Dec. 6, during a ceremony held at the Hawaii County Council chambers.
Balberde's superior, Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins, commended his efforts on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day homicide case. "John volunteered to be the lead detective," said Amon-Wilkins. "Detective Balberde worked tirelessly over the next 48 hours, ensuring the investigation was complete and the suspect was charged. Detective Balberde leads by example, and he treats subordinates, co-workers, victims, and suspects with dignity and respect. He exemplifies the core values of the Hawai‘i Police Department through his integrity, professionalism, compassion, teamwork, and community satisfaction."
According to KWXX.com, the Haweo Award is presented by the Hawaii County Council's Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Committee. This accolade honors first responders such as police officers and fire personnel who go above and beyond their duties. The media outlet also reported that Amon-Wilkins received this award in November 2022.
Acting Deputy Chief Reed Mahuna expressed pride in Balberde's achievements: "Detective Balberde has done outstanding work; we are very proud of him, and he is certainly an asset to our department," said Mahuna. "We would also like to thank the Hawai‘i County Council and Councilmember Inaba for recognizing our officers who do such great work."
This is not Balberde's first accolade during his tenure with the Hawaii Police Department. In February 2014, he was named the East Hawaii "Officer of the Month" by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii. This recognition was for his actions in an incident that occurred in October of the previous year. According to a news release from the Hawaii Police Department, Balberde identified a man at a park in Hilo who matched the description of a suspected burglar. Upon confronting him, Balberde observed the suspect attempting to hide rings that matched descriptions of stolen jewelry and trying to dispose of crystal meth. The officer also found evidence of possession of other illegal drugs.