KPD Officers Commended for Tactics To Disarm Subject

Kaua‘i Police Chief Todd G. Raybuck congratulates Officers of the Month Tyson Relacion (left) and Vernon Basuel II at the Police Commission meeting on Nov. 22. Photo courtesy of KPD

The Kaua‘i Police Department recognized two Officers of the Month during November’s Police Commission meeting held on Nov. 22 at the Mo‘ikeha Building, according to a county news release.

Patrol Services Bureau officers Tyson Relacion and Vernon Basuel II were dispatched to a Kīlauea residence after receiving a report of what the caller referred to as a gunshot or an explosion near her tenant’s residence on July 7. The caller also reported that her tenant was allegedly intoxicated and attempting to leave in his vehicle.

When officers Relacion and Basuel arrived at the scene, they were warned by a female bystander that the male subject had a gun. The officers took cover by placing the subject’s vehicle between them and the doorway of the residence. After they saw the male subject exit the residence holding a rifle and ammunition in his hand, Relacion and Basuel drew their firearms.                                      

The officers remained calm and kept their fortitude while ordering the man to drop his rifle. The subject hesitated and the officers kept their weapons drawn in case the man pointed his rifle at them or at the female bystander. The subject was ordered once again to drop his weapon at which point he complied and was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.

“We rarely see these kind of situations that end positively in the news. This was an exemplary instance of officers using their training and good judgement to de-escalate a situation that could have ended much worse,” KPD Chief Todd G. Raybuck said. “I commend Officers Tyson Relacion and Vernon Basuel for using their police presence and outstanding composure in order to subdue this individual without any loss of life or injury.”