“Officer of the Year” Ryan Domingo and “Firefighter of the Year” Ian Smith at a March 14th dinner ceremony. (photo courtesy Mayor Billy Kenoi on Facebook)

by Hawaii County Police

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi recognized Officer Ryan Domingo as “Officer of the Year” and Ian Smith as “Firefighter of the Year” in a dinner ceremony Thursday evening (March 14).

Domingo joined the Police Department in 2003 and is a patrol officer in the South Hilo District.

Smith, who joined the Fire Department in 2004, is a Fire Equipment Operator assigned to the Kawailani Fire Station in Hilo.

During a ceremony at the Hilo Yacht Club, each honoree received a plaque from the Aloha Exchange Club, a Certificate of Commendation from the mayor’s office, and a gift basket of donated items and gift certificates.

Domingo was honored for administering life-saving first aid to a victim who had been shot. On May 13, police responded to a disturbance involving gunshots in Hilo. At the scene, officers quickly identified and arrested a suspect, and Domingo found a 55-year-old woman with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood. He immediately applied pressure to her wounds to control the bleeding.

The victim believed she was going to die. For more than 20 minutes, Domingo reassured her and kept her focused and calm. His comfort and compassion were critical in saving her life.

Domingo also obtained important evidence by recording his conversation with the woman. A suspect was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, burglary and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. The victim was expected to make a full recovery after months of rehabilitation.

Last September, Hawai’i State Law Enforcement Officials Association named Domingo Hawaiʻi Police Department’s “Officer of the Year” for the same incident.

Smith was considered one of the more energetic and enthusiastic firefighters in his recruit class. Following in the footprints of his late father, a paramedic, Smith became a paramedic in 2007 and was assigned as an MICT on aero-medical unit C-2. He continued his career and was promoted to fire equipment operator in 2010.

Smith is a seven-year member of the E PCR committee, a four-year member of the peer fitness committee and was part of the AFG grant committee that received funding to update the Fire Department’s EKG monitors.

His certifications include CPR Instructor in the Fire Department through the American Heart Association and ACC Instructor. He continues to provide instruction and support to his peers through these leadership roles and regularly offers mentoring and support to his brother and sister firefighters.

The “Officer of the Year” and “Fire Fighter of the Year” awards are projects of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi.