HAWAIʻI DLE NAMED 2025 AGENCY OF THE YEAR BY WESTERN STATES INFORMATION NETWORK

STATE OF HAWAIʻI 

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 

JOSH GREEN, M.D. 

GOVERNOR 

KE KIAʻĀINA 

DEPARTMENT OF LAW ​​ENFORCEMENT 

KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOKŌ KĀNĀWAI 

MIKE LAMBERT 

DIRECTOR 

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

HAWAIʻI DLE NAMED 2025 AGENCY OF THE YEAR BY WESTERN STATES INFORMATION NETWORK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 23, 2026

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) is the recipient of the 2025 Western States Information Network (WSIN) agency of the year award. The WSIN region includes Hawaiʻi, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. 

“This national recognition is a true testament of the hard work and tireless efforts of our Department of Law Enforcement to ensure the safety of our communities,” said Governor Green. “Being named the agency of the year by the Western States Information Network is a highly prestigious honor that points to the excellence of our law enforcement team in intelligence-driven investigations, regional collaboration and officer safety.”  

“We are honored, but more importantly I am proud of our team,” said Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert. “This recognition shows that DLE uses its crime- fighting tools to the fullest extent for the ultimate purpose of protecting our citizens.” 

“Under the DLE leadership, the agency fosters information sharing, collaboration and multi-agency partnerships while promoting officer safety for Hawaiʻi’s law enforcement personnel through its deconfliction policy,” said WSIN Director, Kent Shaw. “Especially noteworthy is DLE’s willingness to take responsibility for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) program for all of Hawaiʻi, which was a heavy undertaking in the expansion of equipment and staffing.”       

With the NIBIN investigative tool, the Hawaiʻi Safe Neighborhood Initiative can now record bullet cartridge casing signatures into the database for automated match comparison evidence.   

WSIN notes DLE investigative units are extremely active contributors to the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Criminal Intelligence database and the RISS Officer Safety Event Confliction System. In 2025, DLE investigative units conducted 68 event deconflictions, which involve coordinating undercover operations or raids to ensure different police units do not mistake each other for suspects. In addition, DLE submitted 156 inquiries. 

The RISS program assists local, state, federal and tribal criminal justice partners by providing adaptive solutions and services that facilitate information sharing, support criminal investigations and promote officer safety and wellness. RISS has been supporting the law enforcement and criminal justice communities for 50 years. 

RISS is composed of six regional centers and the RISS Technology Support Center (RTSC). RISS works regionally and on a nationwide basis to respond to the unique crime problems of each region, while strengthening the country’s information sharing environment. More than 10,800 local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement and public safety agencies are members of RISS. RISS is used and trusted by hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers and criminal justice professionals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, England, New Zealand and parts of Canada. 

Attached and enclosed are the press release, photos of the award and photos of the award presentation.

Photo With Lambert and WSIN Hawaii Coordinator

• (L – R) Mike Lambert, Director of Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement / Major Phillip Johnson (Ret.) Honolulu Police Department, Western States Information Network (WSIN) Hawaii Coordinator

Group Photo

• (L- R) Ernest Robello DLE Deputy Director of Administration / Mike Lambert, Director of Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, Major Phillip Johnson (Ret.) Honolulu Police Department, Western States Information Network (WSIN) Hawaii Coordinator / Jared Redulla, DLE Deputy Director of Law Enforcement

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 Media contact: 
David Patterson 

Public Information Officer 

Department of Law Enforcement, State of Hawai‘i 

Cell: 808-225-4283 

Email: [email protected]