Seven Maui Police Department officers have been promoted to the rank of sergeant, effective April 16.
The new sergeants are:
* Tanya “Kehau” Dods, who began her MPD career in 1998 in the 52nd recruit class. After graduating, she worked in the Lahaina and Wailuku patrol districts. In 2000, she was assigned to the Lanai Patrol District, where she worked for three years before transferring to the Molokai Patrol District in 2003 and working another three years there.
In 2006, Dods was transferred to the Wailuku Patrol Division until April 2007, when she was promoted to police officer III and assigned to the Community Relations Section. In January 2014, she transferred to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Section as a juvenile investigator.
During her career, Dods has been involved in training recruits in arrest defense tactics, physical training, active shooter training and baton and Taser use. She is a former MPD recruiter, Drug Abuse Resistance Education mentor and instructor.
She is assigned to the Communications Section.
* Heather Gilroy, who began her MPD career in 2003 in the 62nd recruit class. After graduating, she was assigned to Alpha Watch in the Wailuku Patrol Division. In 2006, she served as a field training officer for newly graduated officers.
In November, she became acting sergeant of Alpha Watch.
Gilroy lives in Kahului with her son, Tommy.
She is assigned to the Wailuku Patrol Division.
* Joy Kanani Medeiros, who began her MPD career on Sept. 16, 2005. She worked in the Wailuku Patrol Division before transferring to the Hana Patrol Division in 2007, then back to Wailuku in 2008.
Immediately after graduating from recruit school, Medeiros began assisting with physical fitness, arrest defense tactics and officer safety training for recruits.
She was selected Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association Officer of the Year for MPD in 2010.
In 2012, she transferred to the Plans, Training, Research & Development Section.
Medeiros has certifications in police kinesiology, arrest defense tactics instructor, Cooper Institute law enforcement fitness instructor, public safety wellness fitness instructor, master Taser instructor, ALERRT active shooter instructor, FBI law enforcement instructor and LTI laser instructor.
In her personal life, Medeiros is on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization that participates in community events including Relay for Life, Hawaii Food Bank drives, Lanakila Meals on Wheels, Kapi’olani Medical Center children’s ward toy drives and entertaining at various senior centers.
Medeiros is assigned to the Communications Section.
* Nathan Pellazar Jr., who began his MPD career in 1993 in the 45th recruit class. After graduation, he was assigned to the Hana Patrol Division before returning to the Wailuku Patrol Division in 1995.
In 2002, he was assigned to the Kihei Patrol Division and served as a field training officer. In 2009, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division’s Domestic Violence Unit and has been a domestic violence instructor for police recruit classes. He is also a command vehicle operator.
Pellazar’s wife, Tracy, is an MPD emergency services dispatcher. His daughter, Tamara, is in MPD’s 82nd recruit class and his son, Jarrett, is a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force. Stepdaughter Sadie Ansai is a Baldwin High School student.
Pellazar is assigned to the Kihei Patrol Division.
* Duke Pua, who began his MPD career in 1993 with the 45th recruit class. He worked in the Wailuku Patrol Division until 2000, when he was promoted to the Traffic Section. He worked as a DUI Task Force officer and drug recognition expert, then as a Vehicle Homicide Unit accident reconstructionist.
In the early 2000s, while he was a DUI Task Force officer, Pua made a record eight DUI arrests during one work shift. Over the years, he earned many awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, including one in 2013 for making the most DUI arrests among Wailuku patrol officers.
For the past two and a half years, Pua has worked in the Wailuku Patrol Division.
He is married to Melissa and has six children – daughters Courtney and Shaye and sons Hanalei, Kayden, Levi and Elias.
In his personal time, Pua helps coach his children’s basketball and volleyball teams. He also makes and sells kulolo.
He is assigned to the Wailuku Patrol Division.
* Rockwell Silva, who began his MPD career in 1992 as president of the 45th recruit class. After graduating, he worked in the Wailuku Patrol Division, where he was a field training officer.
He transferred to the Vice Narcotics Division in November 2010, then transferred to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Section in January 2013.
Silva has been a member of the Crime Reduction Unit, Clandestine Laboratory Team and Special Emergency Enforcement Detail. He is a firearms instructor and Glock armorer instructor.
He is assigned to the Wailuku Patrol Division.
* Surendar Singh, who began her MPD career in 1992 in the 43rd recruit class. After graduating, she worked in the Lahaina and Wailuku patrol divisions. In 1993, she was assigned to the Hana Patrol Division, where she worked for two years before returning to Wailuku patrol in 1995.
In 2001, she was transferred to the Plans, Training, Research & Development Section as a training officer. Singh was a mentor for numerous recruit classes and was involved in planning, organizing and conducting training sessions and projects for the department.
Most recently, Singh has coordinated MPD’s five Crisis Intervention Team trainings.
In her personal life, she likes to spend time with her son, Zion, and his Boy Scout adventures.
Singh is assigned to the Communications Section.
