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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Police lieutenant honored

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lt. Clayton Kau, who organizes major Honolulu police community functions, was honored yesterday as the department's Officer of the Year for 2003.

The Honolulu Police Department honored its Officer of the Year, Lt. Clayton Kau, second from left, at the Waialae Country Club yesterday. Kau received congratulations from his wife, Jay Ann, left; Abelina Shaw, chief of staff for the mayor; and Police Chief Lee Donohue. Kau supervises the 10-member Informational Resources Section.

Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Assistant Chief Robert Prasser pointed to Kau's work day on Friday as an example of what the lieutenant, who supervises the 10-member Informational Resources Section, contributes to the department.

Kau arrived at work at 7 a.m. that day to set up a staff meeting and was at Sea Life Park Hawai'i an hour later coordinating the 80th Junior Police Officer picnic attended by about 5,000 students.

"He and his crew are the ones to set up the tents and take care of the kids' activities," Prasser added. "We're the ones who show up later, park in reserved stalls and make the award presentations."

Kau's day didn't end with the JPO picnic, Prasser said.

From Sea Life Park, Kau and his 10-member staff went to Hau'ula, where they had organized an event to thank the community for its support during the recent search for Halawa prison escapees Albert Batalona, Warren Elicker and David Scribner.

"They prepared the food, awards and entertainment, and again, we just show up," Prasser said. "From the JPO picnic to Hau'ula and back to town, where they set up everything for the Police Citizens Academy graduation."

Kau, 48, who is a 23-year HPD veteran, would never have allowed his nomination for the Officer of the Year award to pass if he knew about it, said Prasser. "But by the time he saw it, it was a done deal," Prasser added.

After 12 years as a burglary/theft detective, Kau was promoted to lieutenant in August 1999 and assigned to the Informational Resources Section. "It was like night and day," Kau said of the transition from criminal investigations to public relations work. "I like working with people."

A Kalihi native, Kau graduated from Farrington High School, Chaminade University and West O'ahu College. He regularly works six days a week, putting in more than 50 hours, said Jay Ann Kau, his wife of 13 years.

"He works very hard, so I'm very happy for him," said Mrs. Kau, an operating room nurse at Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi.

The Kaus have two children, Jaymee, 10, and Kailee, 6.

Silverio "Frank" Nacino Jr., Guy Yamashita and Ben Kusano were also honored yesterday at a Waialae Country Club breakfast sponsored by The 200 Club.

Nacino, a volunteer HPD officer since October 1981, was named Reserve Officer of the Year. In 2002, he worked 352 hours, more than three times the minimum requirement of 112 hours.

Yamashita, who joined HPD in 1982, is HPD's Parent of the Year. A burglary/theft detective assigned to the Kalihi District, Yamashita has been an AYSO soccer coach for 14 years and Halawa Little League coach for five years. He is a certified child restraint technician who volunteers time at public events to teach parents about child safety seats.

Kusano, a print shop supervisor, has been an HPD employee since May 1977. He is supervising the overhaul of the shop to improve the quality of documents through new technology needed to conform to national accreditation standards.