Merlin Clyde Kaeo
Agency patch
Officer

Merlin Clyde Kaeo

Honolulu Police Department — Honolulu, HI
Accident
End of Watch March 16, 1977
Age 34
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 118 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Merlin Kaeo and Pilot Thomas Moher were killed when the helicopter they were flying struck utility wires. Officer Kaeo had served with the Honolulu Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmv1fgjybdx8r52add38
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Merlin. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Kaeo gave the Honolulu Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Honolulu community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Kaeo.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI
Platform Identity hpd.honolulu.hi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 16, 1977
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Merlin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1977, 64 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Merlin was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Merlin had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Honolulu Police Department has 52 officers remembered here, Merlin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Merlin Clyde Kaeo

Honolulu Police Department · End of Watch March 16, 1977

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

↑