Lt. Deena Thoemmes has been awarded the distinction of HPD Lieutenant of the Year. Deena is an absolutely shining example of what a Jr. Bow can accomplish in life beyond high school. I remember not so long ago when she was a sergeant with HPD that she won both Sergeant of the Year AND Officer of the Year in the SAME year. That had never been accomplished before, and perhaps never since.
Every time a Jr. Bow goes into public service I think of how so many of us do. And every time a Jr. Bow goes into law enforcement, whether it be with HPD or elsewhere, I think of how that department/agency has gained an invaluable member.
In her capacity now as Lieutenant in charge of the HPD Homicide Detail, Deena is often on TV news and in the newspaper doing what must be a terribly wearing job: reporting the facts of the latest high-profile murder on O’ahu. Every time I see her, I marvel at her ability to go to these grisly crime scenes, day after day. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with that. And when you realize that you’re only seeing and hearing about the high-profile cases, know that she is investigating everyday murders without news coverage, I’m blown away by her fortitude.
Here is what her HPD Captain, Andre Peters, submitted this year in nominating her for Lieutenant of the Year. And I mean WOW. What a nomination statement!
I love this sentence:
“Her commitment to prevent and solve crime is immeasurable and a direct reflection of her high level of professionalism and unwavering diligence.” — Go Jr. Bows!
Congratulations on achieving this honor, Deena, you make all of the Jr. Bow ‘Ohana very proud:
TO: AWARDS COMMITTEE
VIA: CALVIN TONG, ASSISTANT CHIEF, INVESTIGATIVE BUREAU
JAROD Y. HIRAMOTO, MAJOR, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
FROM: ANDRE PETERS, CAPTAIN, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
SUBJECT: DEENA J. THOEMMES NOMINATION FOR 2023 LIEUTENANT OF THE YEAR ____________________________________
PURPOSE
Lieutenant Deena J. Thoemmes is hereby being nominated for the 2023 Lieutenant of the Year Award,based on her superior and sustained work performance and her leadership in the supervision of homicides, critical incidents, unattended deaths, missing persons, cold cases, and any high-profile or noteworthy crimes of violence. As the homicide lieutenant, she retains supervisory responsibility over not just the Homicide Detail, but the Missing Persons Detail, the Cold Case Detail, and the Strategic Enforcement Detail (SED). These four details consist of 12 Metropolitan Detectives, one Metropolitan Police Officer Motorized, and three Metropolitan Police Officers. Her team of dedicated investigators continues to serve the community by bringing justice to the victims and their families by arresting their perpetrators.
NOMINEE INFORMATION
Award type: Lieutenant of the Year
Name: Deena J. Thoemmes
Rank: Metropolitan Police Lieutenant
Badge: 370
Date of Appointment: August 3, 1995
Current Assignment: Homicide Detail, Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
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SYNOPSIS AND BACKGROUND
On-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the homicide detail lieutenant is required to respond at a moment’s notice to a variety of crimes and often at the most inopportune times. On top of homicides, Lieutenant Thoemmes is also notified when there is a need for a response from the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), for bomb threats to schools or the general public, along with all critical incidents island-wide. Given the seriousness of these cases, the homicide lieutenant must directly supervise investigators in the field to ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated and no stone is left unturned. Lieutenant Thoemmes’ ability to multi-task and direct her subordinates to do a multitude of tasks simultaneously, makes her details very effective. She relies upon her vast experience and knowledge gained while previously assigned to the CID as a homicide detective, allowing her to thrive in this area.
Her knowledge of Chief Logan’s strategic plan, policies, procedures, standards of conduct, and the State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) contract, is evident when she responds to critical incidents.
Lieutenant Thoemmes is meticulous in her approach to conducting investigations. She is a strong and focused supervisor in the field and does not overlook details no matter how minute they may appear.
HOMICIDES
The Homicide Detail has successfully investigated some very high-profile cases which include a vehicle fire where human remains were found in Mililani, a chemical attack on a female that left her permanently scarred, and several homicides on the Westside, one of which, through the investigation led to the arrest of a prominent underworld crime boss.
Lieutenant Thoemmes scrutinizes every detail of the investigation, facilitates discussion and input, and ensures everyone has a task and that each task is completed. All while dialoguing with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney to ensure that they are informed and keeping the command updated on any developments or issues.
In 2023, the Homicide Detail (under the supervision of Lieutenant Thoemmes except for one case where the suspect is known, requiring more investigation) was able to successfully investigate 27 homicides with an impressive 100 percent closure rate compared to the national homicide average clearance rate, whichhovers around 60 percent. This can be attributed to Lieutenant Thoemmes leadership, experience, and expertise.
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In the midst of an investigation, she can still organize and disseminate important information to the public via her media releases. She also has detailed briefings with all involved commanders, legal team, and media liaisons.
What the public does not see, is the more than 500 unattended death cases that have also passed through her desk in 2023. For these types of cases, she sends the detectives out to scenes when there is a suspicious death or when something just does not add up.
COLD CASE
A cold case investigation led by Lieutenant Thoemmes looked further into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)technology and was able to solve a 1972 Waikīkī murder of a female, which led to the arrest of a Nevada State Attorney General in Reno. He was extradited to Oʻahu to face trial. The Cold Case Detail continues to investigate more than 250 cold case homicides.
MISSING PERSONS
The Missing Persons Detail investigated more than 476 missing persons cases where 466 were closed. Lieutenant Thoemmes’ spearheaded a project that started back in 2023, updating the MAILE AMBER Alert system, which had a recent successful activation in February 2024. She was able to convert an archaic and outdated system by utilizing available technology and outside resources, along with the cooperation of other divisions, which paved the way for a more streamlined and efficient process of disseminating critical information out to the public in the event of a child abduction.
Her detectives aggressively investigate once a report is generated for a missing person. They were able to locate a few individuals utilizing cellular telephone records and Geo Mapping to locate missing individuals. The Missing Persons Detail utilized their resources, which lead to the successful recovery of a seven-year-old female by using drones, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) canines, and helicopter to rule out that she was in the thick brush where she was last seen.
STRATEGIC ENFORCEMENT DETAIL
Lieutenant Thoemmes ensures that when violent crime high-profile cases or cases of notoriety arise, the SED is there to respond. In 2023, the SED assisted with numerous violent crime cases such as homicides, bank robberies, and home invasion robberies to name a few. They are invaluable in collecting intelligence, as well as piecing cases together which leads to the arrest of many suspects. Their professional
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contacts and rapport with the Crime Reduction Unitʻs (CRU) and the Specialized Services Division (SSD) give them the ability to put together an operational plan quickly while also safely executing it. Lieutenant Thoemmes skillfully leads and directs the SED to achieve successful results.
CLOSING
In closing, Lieutenant Thoemmes is well respected and admired by her peers, supervisors, and subordinates alike and is held in high regard by both the medical examiner and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorneyʻs Office. Her commitment to prevent and solve crime is immeasurable and a direct reflection of her high level of professionalism and unwavering diligence.
The leadership and guidance from Lieutenant Thoemmes promote the professionalism, dedication, and superior efforts displayed by the investigators of the Homicide, Missing Persons, Cold Case, and Strategic Enforcement Details. These efforts truly embrace the department’s values of leadership, integrity, excellence, accountability, and teamwork.
This nomination is being respectfully submitted for your consideration.
ANDRE A.K. PETERS, Captain
Criminal Investigation Division
March 1, 2023
University Lab School * University High School * Junior Bows Alumni * Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 