Outstanding officers accept award with humility
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
One dedicates his days to finding missing people. The other organized a multi-agency task force that targeted thieves in East Honolulu posing as yard workers. In their off-duty hours both work with their churches and with young people to make their community a better, safer place.
Virtue, integrity and the ability to juggle family life with police work won high praise at the Waialae Country Club yesterday when the Honolulu Police Department recognized its top officers.
Camero
Phil Camero and Clem Enoka III shared Officer of the Year honors.
Camero, a 25-year veteran detective who runs the department's Missing Persons Section, shepherded more than 1,000
cases last year while spearheading HPD's push to establish a statewide child abduction alert system. He was also responsible for the acquisition of Annie, HPD's first scent-tracking bloodhound.
Honolulu Police Department's 2005 Police Officers of the Year: Philip V. Camero and Clement P. Enoka III Reserve Officer of the Year: Comer Stamps Jr. Police Parent of the Year: Carolyn T. Onaga Civilian Employee of the Year: William F. Rhoden Source: HPD
Camero is a member of the department's Crisis Negotiation Team and, as a Peer Support Unit officer, he helps counsel fellow officers in the hours following a shooting or other traumatic events. A native of Lana'i, Camero coordinates his church's youth ministry in his free time and works with his wife in counseling married couples who have run into relationship problems.
HPD's finest
"I'm very honored and humbled because I work with so many fine officers who I feel are just as deserving. I am thankful especially for the members of my unit, Detective Jill Kaui and Detective James Vasconcellos," Camero said as he joined other lei-draped honorees after the ceremony. "To be recognized this way is a great honor for me as well as my family. Without the support of my wife and girls, I wouldn't be here."
Officer Clem Enoka III, a second-generation policeman, said he was similarly humbled by the award.
In 2004, while working with the burglary-theft detail in District 7 (East Honolulu), Enoka picked up on a group of thieves posing as yardmen.
He initiated an interdepartmental, multi-agency task force that rounded up more than a dozen suspects to be charged with burglary, auto theft, robbery, larceny and drug-related counts. The operation was responsible for the recovery of hundreds of stolen items.
Enoka also coaches football, basketball and volleyball.
"It's unbelievable. In the beginning, I didn't know how to act," said Enoka as he held his 4-month-old son, Iolani. "With that operation, there was so many other officers involved. ... (The award is) a credit to all of them."
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Among the busiest honorees yesterday was Lt. Carolyn Onaga, a former teacher who now works in the department's human resources division.
Clement Enoka III, one of Honolulu's two Police Officers of the Year, holds his 4-month-old son, Iolani, after receiving his award.
Onaga and her husband of 20 years, Delbert, have two sons who attend Roosevelt High School. Lt. Onaga is an avid supporter of the school's football and wrestling teams and the band, and helps out with Project Graduation.
"It was a struggle but I have no regrets. I made it for 25 years. I had good commanders who were very understanding," she said as one of her sons stood by patiently waiting for a ride to school.
The awards breakfast was sponsored by The 200 Club, a booster group of sorts made up of prominent businessmen who donate funds to help HPD and the Fire Department.
A buffet breakfast kick-started the morning event. Awards were presented by Tim Guard, president of The 200 Club, and HPD Chief Boisse Correa.
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.
