Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Manuel Abreu was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a U.S. Army deserter who had sexually assaulted an 13-year-old girl. Officers had received reports that the man was seen along the main road near Kuliouou. As Officer Abreau and several sheriff's deputies approached him the man opened fire without warning, striking Officer Abreau in the abdomen. Despite his wound, he and the deputies struggled with the subject and placed him into custody. Officer Abreu was transported to a local hospital where he died early the next morning. The 19-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Less than a year later Governor Lucius Pinkham commuted his sentence to life. He was paroled on December 24, 1925. Officer Abreu had served with the Honolulu Police Department for eight years and was assigned as the inspector of weights and measures.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-HI-883637D8- Stewardship
- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Abreu gave the Honolulu Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Honolulu community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Abreu.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Manuel Dionizio Abreu is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In HI, 31 of 64 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.4% of this state's fallen. That is 48.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Honolulu Police Department, 20 of 51 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Manuel Dionizio Abreu's cause is highlighted.
How Manuel Dionizio Abreu Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manuel Dionizio Abreu is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manuel Dionizio Abreu was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Honolulu Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
