DENISE BOWLING-LAPE, Intelligence Officer, Federal Detention Center, Bureau of Prisons, Honolulu Nominated by Thomas Read, Attorney, FDC)

Ms. Bowling joined the Bureau of Prisons in1992, and has risen through the ranks to her current position of Intelligence Officer. She was the first Intelligence Officer at the FDC and has been an important part of the positive integration of the Bureau into the local law enforcement community. As an Intelligence Officer, Denise works directly with the HIDTA Office. She uses her background to assist other law enforcement staff and the Bureau staff bridge the gap from the streets to the prison. Denise's communication is very positive within the law enforcement community in Honolulu. She is an active member of the HIDTA Task Force and provides overviews during the Joint Intelligence Sharing Initiative during the Gang Task Force meetings.

Ms. Bowling prepares and presents an analysis of information regarding local gang issues during training to all staff annually, and on a weekly basis to the Executive Staff. Her expertise in gangs has allowed her to become an active member in the outside surveillance team involved in local motorcycle gangs. Her presentations regarding current trends and moods of gangs both outside and within the institution are excellent.

As the Intelligence Officer, Denise has helped identify new gangs that may be infiltrating the Bureau of Prisons. She has created a Threat Assessment for the USO 4 Life/Mafia USO gangs, and is waiting for clearance from our Central Office for this gang to become an official Security Threat Group. Her intelligence gathering about these gangs is utilized nationwide and is a vital source of information for other institutions. She communicates with correctional centers on the outer islands as well. The contacts she has developed in the Department of Public Safety are valuable sources of information for the FDC. Denise believes that the more information that is shared, the easier it is for the staff to operate and the more difficult it is for criminals to operate.

In addition, her oversight i of Electronic Drug Detection has contributed to an increase in the detection of drugs on visitors attempting to enter the FDC and therefore the reduction of drugs entering the institution.

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CRISTI M. CAGASAN, Screening Manager, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Nominated by: William Gulledge, Deputy Assistant Federal Security Director)

Ms. Cagasan grew up on Maui and graduated from Maui High School. While attending Leeward Community College on Oahu, she began a 20-year airline career as a flight attendant for an inter-island carrier. She joined United Airlines in 1987 in Honolulu. After 15 years, she left as a service director and ground security coordinator for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Ms. Cagasan started her government career with the FAA as an Assistant Security Inspector with the Civil Aviation Security Field Office in Honolulu. When the federalization of the screening at the Honolulu International Airport began and Civil Aviation Security transitioned to the newly formed Transportation Security Administration, Cristi transitioned too and became a screening manager at HNL. As a screening manager, her main focus has been on managing the full implementation and upkeep of the TSA Performance Measurement Information System which reports to Congress and the Threat Image Projection System deployed to all TSA screening equipment.

Cristi's numerous special projects for the Honolulu International Airport include: Coordination of opening two additional inter-island checkpoints and the first 3 lanes of the new 6-lane main terminal checkpoint addition to open in the summer of 2004; ground-up building of HNL participation in Performance Measurement Information System including data collection and operations information used to support HNL screening operational needs; Threat Image Projection (TIPS) Coordinator for HNL to support the increase and accuracy of screening workforce with continual on-the-job training; managing all screening equipment inventory, upkeep of operational records and audits and coordinating deployment of new screening equipment to HNL; procurement of all operational screening consumables and supplies.

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LIEUTENANT JANET E. CROTTEAU, District 8 (Kapolei), Honolulu Police Department (Nominated by HPD Captain Gregory Lefcourt)

Lt. Janet Crotteau entered the Honolulu Police Department on April 12, 1984. Prior to making law enforcement her career, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Sciences from Chaminade University. She was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to District 8 on October 31, 1999. Her duties in District 8 include supervising the Burglary Theft Detail and the Misdemeanor Follow-up Unit.

Lt. Crotteau is being nominated for her significant acts of service to the Kapolei community. Noting the importance of education in the department's community policing philosophy, she initiated a business police academy for the area businesses. Over twenty business representatives are in the process of attending weekly education presentations by the department's subject matter experts. The intent is to build a bridge of understanding between the police department and the business community and creating a more efficient relationship.

Lieutenant Crotteau is a true example of "Service and Protecting with Aloha!"

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DETECTIVE LINDA D'AQUILA, Internal Affairs Division, Honolulu Police Department (Nominated by HPD Major Donna Andersen)

Detective D'Aquila joined the Honolulu Police Department in 1988. Her 16 year career began in the Patrol Division and Narco/Vice. After her promotion, Linda worked as a Detective in District 3 and transferred to her present assignment in Internal Affairs in 2002. Throughout her career, Linda has received many commendations and letters of appreciation from the public. A dedicated employee, she can be described as hard working and passionate about her job and all assignments she has been given.

As a Detective in Internal Affairs, Linda constantly strives to perfect her investigative skills. She is usually called upon to investigate the most difficult and challenging cases. Her positive attitude, perseverance and willingness to share her knowledge with co-workers reflect her dedication to her job.

As an undercover officer, Linda was assigned to Narcotics/Vice Airport Detail where she received many commendations for her arrest of several drug traffickers. 1994, Linda initiated six narcotics cases that resulted in the arrest of eight persons of Mexican ancestry and the seizure of over 3,000 grams of cocaine and 1,500 grams of crack cocaine with an overall street value of $1.5 million dollars.

In April 1999, Linda investigated a fraud case involving a career criminal that defrauded a bank out of $9,500. During his arrest, the suspect faked a fall and threatened to file a civil suit against the officers for his injuries. On her own initiative, Linda discovered that the suspect was a professional con artist and had perpetrated multiple slip and fall scams. At the conclusion of her investigation, Linda was successful in obtaining three additional felony theft indictments against the suspect. The suspect subsequently pled guilty to all charges and received a 10 year sentence.

Detective D'Aquila has been commended for her commitment, dedication and participation in the Honolulu Police Department mentoring program, which is strictly voluntary. The program offers support, guidance and information to new officers as they embark on their new careers.

In June, Detective D'Aquila, as a member of the Early Intervention Unit in Internal Affairs, was tasked by Major Donna Anderson to explore the feasibility of enhancing the current Internal Affairs Tracking System and improving the Early Recognition Identification System. Through a collaborative effort, the unit designed and developed an Access Program that has automated and streamlined the current Internal Affairs Tracking system. Linda took on the responsibility of training the personnel in Internal Affairs on the use of the new system. In a period spanning just over three weeks, over 2500 records were entered into the system. These records include all of the Internal Complaint Tracking Sheets, the Use of Force reports, the Honolulu Police Commission reports, the Police Involved Motor Vehicle Collision and the Police Involved Domestic Violence reports dating back to January 2002.

Detective Linda D'Aquila is truly a credit to the Honolulu Police Department.

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KANTHI VON GUENTHNER, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner, City and County of Honolulu (Nominated by Dr. Jack Annon, Ph.D, ABFP, Clinical and Forensic Psychology)

Dr. Kanthi von Guenthner is the Chief Medical Examiner and Director for the Department of the Medical Examiner, City and County of Honolulu. She has been a medical examiner for the City since 1984 and was appointed to her present position in January 2001.

Dr. von Guenthner, originally from Sri Lanka, completed her medical education with Honors at the University of Sri Lanka. After a combined internship in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Internal Medicine at the Colombo (Sri Lanka) General Hospital, she was a general medical officer at the Government Hospital there for a year. Following her residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, she was certified by The American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, then subsequently in Forensic Pathology. Dr. von Guenthner is also a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii and a consultant in Forensic Pathology for the State of Hawaii.

Dr. von Guenthner has performed well over 6,000 autopsies during her 20-year forensic career, and has provided expert forensic testimony in over 600 criminal and civil litigation cases in circuit and district courts in the State of Hawaii, many of which were high-profile cases. She has extensive experience in mass disaster operations, has special interest in the investigations of child death and elderly abuse, proactively promotes the public good through means including proactive media interviews for television and newspapers, and continues to give training seminars and speaking engagements to law enforcement and health care professions. Dr. von Guenthner was commended by Admiral Thomas Fargo, United States Navy, for outstanding performance of duty during the recovery of the Ehime Maru in 2001 and was nominated by Mayor Jeremy Harris in 2003 for the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, American Medical Association.

Dr. von Guenthner has two sons and enjoys cooking, exercising, and ballroom dancing.

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THE HONORABLE JUDGE SABRINA McKENNA, Hawaii Circuit Court of the First Circuit

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SERGEANT VERALYN "VEE" MEYER, Honolulu Police Department, Peer Support Unit (Nominated by HPD Sergeant Derrick Tsukayama)

Sergeant Veralyn Meyer has served the City and County of Honolulu as a police officer for over twenty-six years. She entered a male dominated profession at an exceptionally challenging time for women in the police force. Going against her parent's wishes as well as the social norms of the day, Sgt. Meyer worked in the patrol division, receiving desk, and back to patrol where she spent over 17 years of her career as a "street cop."

After being promoted in 1996, Det. Meyer was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) where she was called upon to investigate almost every imaginable type of criminal case ranging from auto theft to homicide. After leaving CID, Det. Meyer was assigned as a Sergeant to the Informational Resources Section where her organizational and supervisory skills shone as she coordinated Police Week, awards and promotion ceremonies for HPD employees, and other activities.

In January 2003, Sgt. Meyer was highly recruited and accepted a position with the HPD's Peer Support Unit. As the Unit's first fulltime female coordinator, Sgt. Meyer is responsible for the Police Chaplaincy program which is thriving under her care and leadership. Sgt. Meyer has managed to fill and maintain eight of the ten allotted Chaplain positions which is unprecedented in the history of the HPD's Chaplaincy Corps.

Sgt. Meyer has always given of herself and proven to be a valuable role model for women in the police department. Her ground breaking achievements working with the police chaplains corps has taken the unit to new levels of care and spiritual guidance for employees of the HPD. She brings balance, calm, and a sense of peace and order to even the most traumatic events she responds to. Her energy and passion for serving others in the community is surpassed only by her love for her family.

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OFFICER PAULA NAKAMURA, Juvenile Services Division, Intervention Unit, Runaway Detail, Honolulu Police Department (Nominated by: HPD Captain Kurt Kendro)

Officer Paula Nakamura is an outstanding member of the Runaway Detail in the Juvenile Service Division and has been charged with the administration of the AKAMAI (Acquiring Knowledge Awareness and Motivation) program. The AKAMAI program is a diversionary program for first-time status offenders that counsels juveniles about the dangers of status offenses and simultaneously keeps the juvenile from entering the Family Court.

She is responsible for receiving all first time status offender arrests that are made anywhere on the island of Oahu. Officer Nakamura ensures that all of the proper reports are turned in, sends out letters of notification and does follow-up telephone calls to parents or guardians attending the program. She handles the scheduling of all facets of the program. Officer Nakamura is usually present and overseeing AKAMAI class on Saturday mornings at the Main Police Station, Kapolei Police Station or Waipahu Intermediate School.

During 2003, a total of 708 juveniles were referred to the AKAMAI program with 628 (or 88%) attending. There is currently a recidivism rate of approximately 35% for youth that attended the AKAMAI program. Another 675 youths were referred to the Juvenile Justice Center. The success of the AKAMAI program is directly related to the dedicated efforts of Officer Nakamura.

During her off duty time, Officer Nakamura is an Assistant Coach for varsity and junior varsity canoe paddling at Mililani High School.

Officer Nakamura has shown that she is an outstanding officer who is dedicated to the Mission Statement of the department through her excellent police service, building partnerships with youth, and efforts to make the community a safer place. One can see why Officer Nakamura is known as Officer AKAMAI. She is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. Clearly, the work that she has done is outstanding and is a testament to her dedication and loyalty to the youth of our community.

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LORETTA A. SHEEHAN, Assistant United States Attorney, Department of Justice, Hawaii Region (Nominated by U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo)

Loretta Sheehan was born in Freeport, New York and received her B.A. from Boston University and her law degree from Georgetown University. Ms. Sheehan is a member of both the New York and Hawaii Bars. In 1986, Loretta joined the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu where she worked as a trial attorney in the domestic violence branch and was promoted to supervisor in the career criminal branch. In 1995, Loretta joined the U.S. Attorney's Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

AUSA Sheehan directed a joint federal and county task force which led to the indictment of Betty Hernandez and numerous others. Hernandez is charged with managing and controlling a building located within the Kalihi/Palama/Chinatown expanded Weed and Seed Site which facilitated drug trafficking and drug use. The indictment identified for forfeiture all inventory and equipment located at Swing Video, Suite 2, 1340 Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu, her apartment residence, and various bank accounts.

This multi-year investigation conducted by federal and county law enforcement officials began after multiple drug trafficking arrests were recorded at the premises, and following numerous complaints from the community. Hernandez was also charged with 91 counts of money laundering. Those charges consisted of two sets of payments: one to a realty company with the intention of promoting the unlawful activity at the building and the other to a mortgage company to conceal and disguise the proceeds from the unlawful activity. (Neither the realty company nor the mortgage company is implicated in any way in the unlawful activity.)

If convicted of the unlawful management and control charge, Hernandez faces up to 20 years in prison. Each of the money laundering charges also carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. All charges also include potential fines of up to $500,000 on each count.

The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation conducted by the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Marshal's Service.

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DAMIANNA JUNE TAVARES, Department of Public Safety, Health Information Branch, Administrator (Nominated by Dovie Borges, OCCC, Laumaka Work Furlough Center)

Ms. Tavares has been with the Dept. of Public Safety for 17 years. She started as a Health Information Technician at Halawa Correctional Facility in 1987, promoted to Health Information Manager in 1990 and then promoted to Health Information Branch Administrator in 1992.

In addition to being responsible for 8 sections on 4 different islands, Ms. Tavares has acted as the Health Care Division Administrator between administrations and every time the supervisor was off island. Currently she is organizing staff hired with Byrne Grant funds to provide mental health case management to the severe and persistently ill at HCF. She is the medical, food service and health and safety auditor for the private mainland facilities housing Hawaii Inmates. Ms. Tavares also serves as the department HIPAA expert.

In between family and work as a priority she has achieved the following:

EDUCATION--1969 Farrington High School, 1975 Associate of Science in Medical Assisting (Certified) Ð Kapiolani Community College, 1985 Bachelor's of Arts in Forensic Anthropology Ð UH-Manoa, 1992 Registered Health Information Administrator Ð Amer. Health Infor. Managers Association, 1996 Community Mediation and Facilitation (Certificate) Ð UH-Manoa, 1997 Masters Degree in Public Administration Ð UH-Manoa, Post Graduate work in Public Health - UH ÐManoa

AWARDS--Department of Public Safety nominations and awards: 1991 Incentive Award, 1991 Nominated for Employee of the Year, 1995 Distinguished State Service, 1996 Outstanding Performance, 2003 Employee of the Year

MEMBERSHIPS--American Health Information Managers, American Correctional Association, Western Correctional Association, Hawaii Criminal Justice Association, Foster Parent Association

COMMUNITY SERVICE--1986 to Present, Voluntary Board of Director for the Waimanalo Village Residence Corporation; 1994, organized the Self Help Housing Project Ð 40 homes; 2002, Organized the sale of 38 rental units to tenants.

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LORI H.D. WADA, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu (Nominated by Peter Carlisle, Prosecuting Attorney for the City & County of Honolulu)

Lori was born and raised in Hawaii. She graduated in the top ten percent of her class from Kailua High School, after which she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa. At the University, she was a member of the Dean's List and in 1985 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She completed her formal education at the William S. Richardson School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in 1989.

Following law school, Lori passed the Hawaii Bar examination and obtained her license to practice law. From 1990-1991, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas K. Kaulukukui, Jr.

In 1991, Lori fulfilled a lifetime goal: She was appointed to the position of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Honolulu. She has served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the past thirteen years. During that period, Lori has specialized in sexual assault and career criminal prosecutions. In addition, she has served as a faculty trainer at Tokai University and the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina for the National District Attorneys Association. As a faculty member, Lori has provided training in such areas as "Pretrial Litigation" and "Trial Advocacy."

Lori has also volunteered her time to provide training to members of the Honolulu Police Department. She regularly provides training for the Police Academy, including teaching new recruits how to write police reports and testify in court.

During her thirteen year career, Lori has successfully prosecuted the "worst-of-the-worst" repeat offenders in our community. Her caseload is invariably heavier and more complex than other deputy prosecutors, and she always turns difficult cases into winners. Most recently, she successfully prosecuted a high profile case involving several men responsible for the robbery and murder of a Kaneohe small business owner. She also successfully prosecuted a major career criminal responsible for a crime spree of home-invasion robberies.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the highest level of ethical standards, professional skill, and compassion for victims of crime.

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OUTSTANDING CIVIC VOLUNTEER

JOANNE M. ELLENA, Office of the Provost Marshal, Tripler Army Medical Center (Volunteer) (Nominated by Tripler Provost Marshal Donald E. Devaney)

Mrs. JoAnne Ellena holds a BS and MS in Nutrition and is an RD (Registered Dietitian) and a registered teacher. She has worked as a teacher and dietitian in many settings. Currently she is home schooling her daughter. Her husband is Major Arthur Ray Morton III, an active duty officer and in charge of the Health Physics Department at Tripler Army Medical Hospital. They arrived on Oahu in July 2000.

The following memo was sent by Tripler Army Medical Center Provost Marshal Donald E. Devaney:

1. It is a privilege for me to nominate Mrs. Joanne M. Ellena, volunteer Animal Control Officer, Office of the Provost Marshal, Tripler Army Medical Center, to be recognized as our candidate for the HJPA Salute to Women program.

2. Mrs. Ellena has a long and distinguished record as a community volunteer. Her contributions with the PMO the past two years have been a significant help to our community. Joanne established a Neighborhood Watch program and attended local awareness events sponsored by the Honolulu Police Department such as ID theft seminars, "Weed and Seed" events and other informative training sessions and meetings held by HPD for all neighborhood watch organizers. As a leader of the neighborhood watch for her community, The Classics in Waikele, she holds a bi-monthly walk where we look for potential problem areas, meet with homeowners and walk/discuss the issues affecting her community. She represents the neighborhood and maintains an email alert system to notify homeowners when something happens in their community such as a break-in or car theft. She provides training and support for those with questions as to how to protect themselves and their property. She has written articles for the "Home Owners Newsletter" with police telephone numbers and tips on when to call police, how to report suspicious characters. She provides home alert stickers and t-shirts as part of her neighborhood policing effort.

She has helped trap/neuter/release cats as a special program beginning in 2000. She has helped over 100 animals and is still working on this humanitarian project. She organized the Tripler Feral Cat Program working with the Tripler Provost Marshal and other staff. She successfully removed and placed in a loving home a dog that had been living at Tripler in the "wild" for over seven years. This alone was a miraculous intervention worthy of special recognition. In addition she works closely with her neighborhood association at Waikele and has expanded the Feral Cat trapping/neuter/release program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Fort Shafter, Hickam Air Force Base, Barbers Point, Waikele, Waipahu, Sand Island, Makakilo, and Dillingham Airfield.

Mrs. Ellena epitomizes the outstanding contributions women continue to make to the civilian and military community and her actions have brought great credit to herself, the Office of the Provost Marshal, and Tripler Army Medical Center.