KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – Kona’s “Officer of the Year” was named at a luncheon ceremony on Wednesday.

Officer Jason Foxworthy was awarded the honor by the Kona Crime Prevention Committee during the event held at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona.

Police say Foxworthy responded an auto theft at a shopping center in Kona on January 16, along with a recruit he was training, Officer Dayson Taniguchi.

Foxworthy’s investiagtion led to the location of the suspect, who also had drug paraphernalia and brass knuckles in his possession, police say. After his arrest, detectives recovered the stolen vehicle, along with 2.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Foxworthy and Taniguchi investigated 36 incidents in January, as well as three traffic accidents and 50 miscellaneous public complaints. They made 14 adult arrests and issued 57 traffic citations.

Foxworthy received an “Officer of the Month” award in March for the same investigation, which made him eligible for the officer of the year recognition.

Also honored at Friday’s ceremony were the other “Officer of the Month” recipients over the past year, who stood on the stage when the “Officer of the Year” was announced: Officer Darren Cho, Officer Marco Segobia, Officer Kaea Sugata, Officer Brandon Mansur, Officer Bradden Kimura, Officer Peter Tourigny, Officer Nicholas McDaniel, Officer Officer Brian Beckwith, Officer Mike Thompson and Officer Wyattlane Nahale.

“I’m extremely shocked and surprised,” Foxworthy said when accepting his award. “Everyone up here deserves this.”

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee is an organization that encourages community involvement in aiding and supporting police in West Hawaii.