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Incident
Officer Joseph Whitford was struck by a passing vehicle while citing a motorist for a traffic violation at 2:00 am. He had stopped the vehicle on Kamehameha Highway near the Hawaiian Electric Company generating plant at Waiau when a motorist struck him. He was transported to Queen's Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer Whitford was a United States Coast Guard veteran and served with the Honolulu Police Department for over ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Whitford gave the Honolulu Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Honolulu community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph K. Whitford Jr. served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Honolulu Police Department has lost 52 officers; 28 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 28 officers lost to accidents in HI, 43.1% of the 65 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1962, 1 officer at Honolulu Police Department was lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 2.
In 1962, 1 officer in HI was lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 2.
In 1962, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1962, 80 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 57th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 38. Of the 27 lost to accidents at Honolulu Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29.5 and 38.5; the middle age was 34. Joseph had served 10.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 38. Of the 27 lost to accidents in HI whose age is recorded, half were between 29.5 and 38.5; the middle age was 34. Joseph had served 10.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 38. 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. Joseph had served 10.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 38. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 10.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 14.3% of these deaths at Honolulu Police Department; July holds the most, 17.9%. Sundays: 25%.
October holds 14.3% of these deaths in HI; July holds the most, 17.9%. Sundays: 25%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 53.8% of all 52 deaths at Honolulu Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 43.1% of all 65 deaths in HI, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Honolulu Police Department has 52 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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John W. Wulbers May 22, 1901
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John W. Mahelona
Nov 19, 1903
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Manuel Dionizio Abreu
Nov 7, 1913
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Frederick Wright
Apr 30, 1916
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John Huihui Dec 7, 1916
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James K. Keonaona Aug 8, 1923
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David Mahukona
Oct 28, 1923
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Edwin H. Boyd Aug 5, 1925
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George H. Macy
Jul 22, 1926
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Samson Kalohelani Paele, Sr.
Jul 24, 1927
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William K. Kama
Oct 5, 1928
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George Rogers Sep 10, 1930
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David Kahikoula Kaohi
Feb 22, 1931
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Henry A. Chillingsworth Feb 18, 1936
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Wah Choon Lee
Aug 3, 1937
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Alfred W. Dennis May 2, 1942
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Joseph K. Whitford, Jr.
Oct 28, 1962
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Abraham E. Mahiko
Dec 16, 1963
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Andrew R. Morales
Dec 16, 1963
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Patrick K. Ihu
Jun 1, 1964
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Benedict Eleneki
Nov 21, 1964
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Bradley N. Kaanana
Jul 3, 1965
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Frank R. Medeiros
Jan 25, 1967
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Ernest G. Lindemann
Oct 30, 1969
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David Richie Huber
Jun 20, 1971
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Benjamin N. Kealoha, Jr.
Nov 27, 1971
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Robert Allen Corter
Oct 4, 1975
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Larry James Stewart
Feb 12, 1976
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Merlin Clyde Kaeo
Mar 16, 1977
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Thomas Anthony Moher
Mar 16, 1977
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Ernest A. Grogg
Aug 26, 1979
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David Winslow Parker
Mar 1, 1985
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David Nicholas Ronk
Jun 15, 1987
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Troy Louis Barboza
Oct 22, 1987
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Roy Eugene Thurman
Oct 20, 1990
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Randal N. Young
Aug 28, 1991
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Pedro Robert Avillanoza
Apr 19, 1995
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Bryant Brennon Bayne
Jul 22, 1995
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Tate Douglas Kahakai
Jul 22, 1995
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Dannygriggs M. Padayao
Apr 30, 2001
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Glen Alvin Gaspar
Mar 4, 2003
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Ryan Keith Goto
Jul 23, 2003
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Issac Veal
Aug 16, 2004
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Steve Bastidas Favela
Nov 26, 2006
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Harry Joseph Coelho
May 20, 2007
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Eric Charles Fontes
Sep 13, 2011
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Garret Collin Davis
Jan 21, 2012
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Chad Michael Morimoto
Jul 23, 2012
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Neville Stanley Kealii Colburn
Feb 23, 2015
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Tiffany-Victoria Bilon Enriquez
Jan 19, 2020
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Kaulike Saylor Gerard Kalama
Jan 19, 2020
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Bill Sapolu
Aug 8, 2023
Where
Military Service
Joseph K. Whitford Jr. served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph K. Whitford Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from Honolulu Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
