Eleven-year police veteran Leland Cadoy was named Officer of the Year today by The 200 Club, a community group that supports police and fire departments. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Cadoy has been an officer in Waikiki for 11 years and in that time has come to know its wide range of residents. From the homeless to the home-bound elderly, from the tourists to the entrepreneurs, it is an eclectic community.

He has coordinated the district's keiki identification program, assisted with the Waikiki Citizens Patrol, created awareness cards for the deaf and blind and helped Jefferson Elementary School with its Christmas program as well as its community- based management program.

And he's done a lot of this on his own time.

For his efforts, Cadoy today was named the Honolulu Police Department's 2002 Police Officer of the Year. The award is given annually by The 200 Club, a community organization that supports the police and fire departments.

It was an honor that surprised him, the 48-year-old Cadoy said, the lei piled up to the edge of his salt-and-pepper hair.

"I'm somewhat embarassed," he said. "I told my commander that I do what I do because I enjoy it and not for an award."

Cadoy was chosen from among eight finalists and the accolades today included "trustworthy and sincere in his work ethics" and "an officer of the highest integrity."

He was also praised for his expertise with a computer-based system that ties informaton to geography which led to its use to tracking crime trends, keeping track of the homeless population and planning potential police response to major events held in Waikiki.

And yet, when Cadoy talks about law enforcement in the 1.2-square-mile district, his focus is more on people. Like the elderly citizens who went from 30 minutes patroling the streets to 2 hours. Or the homeless man he counseled who now owns his own apartment.

Police officers need to show compassion, he said.

"I don't want people to feel alone," Cadoy said. "I think it is every man's responsibility to reach out to as many people as he can."

Cadoy was 36 years old when he joined the police department in April 1990 and his depth of maturity and articulation shows.

He had come to the department after years in sales, mostly with Hawai'i Candy, and said he wanted a steady, stable job. But he found much more.

"A lot of people say they join because they want to help people," he said. "In coming to the department, I found it was something I wanted to do. Working with people, I realized there is a lot more to this."

Now he can't think of doing anything else.

Also receiving awards today were Joseph Becera, Reserve Officer of the Year; Officer Kose Godinet, Police Parent of the Year; and data processing supervisor Patrick Chau, Civilian Employee of the Year.

Each of today's awardees received a $1,000 check from The 200 Club, a Neighbor Island plane ticket from Aloha Airlines, a gift certificate from Ala Moana Shopping Center and a plaque.