Detective Whitney Jenkins of the West Hawaii Juvenile Aid Section (JAS) is the Hawaii Police Department's nominee for "Top Cop." Since detective Jenkins, a 12 year veteran, was assigned to JAS in 1999, he has investigated numerous sexual assaults and other related offenses. All assignments given to him have been completed in a timely manner and beyond expectations. Other detectives in the Criminal Investigation Division who have worked with him have commented on how cooperative and effective he is.

Detective Jenkins has received the Kona Crime Prevention Committees's Officer of the Year award twice - first as a patrol officer in 1993 and again as JAS detective in 2001.

In 1993, as a patrolman in the Kona Patrol Division , he was recognized for subduing a combative drunk driver who injured not only Jenkins but also two other officers. A female witness at the scene described Jenkins who never lost his composure, as a "hero representing our department."

He won the committee's award again this year for solving a case in North Kohala in which an unknown male entered a residence and accosted a minor. Despite having little evidence, Detective Jenkins doggedly pursued the case until he was able to arrest and charge the suspect with first degree burglary, fourth degree burglary, fourth degree sexual assault and first degree attempted sexual assault. Throughout his investigation of the sexual assaults, Jenkins showed great compassion to the victim during the ordeal and maintained contact with the family, keeping them abreast of the progress of the investigation. In addition, while investigating another sexual assault that occurred about the same time in North Kohala, Detective Jenkins was able to identify the same suspect, thereby stopping further serious sexual assaults on female victims in their own homes.

IN recognition of his many accomplishments, Detective Jenkins was honored as this year's Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association (HSLEOA) Officer of the Year for the island of Hawaii.