Officer Thad Fumio Sugai
Hawaii Department of Defense Police
Hawaii
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 20, 1983

Biographical Info
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, December 20, 1983
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and wounded

Officer Sugai was shot and killed with his own service weapon when he confronted a naked man who was harassing visitors to Diamond Head Crater.

Hiker's in the crater had advised police that the man, who they believed was high on drugs, was throwing rocks at them and had also been seen jumping on the hoods of cars in the parking lot. The suspect then appeared inside of secured Hawaii National Guard facility inside of the crater. When Officer Sugai drove up to the man he was immediately attacked. The suspect was able to drag Officer Sugai out of his patrol truck, disarm him, and then shot him multiple times.

Another guard who arrived at the scene then shot and critically wounded the suspect. On October 4, 1984, the suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state department of health.

Officer Sugai had served with Hawaii Department of Defense for 1 year. He was survived by his parents and sister.