Event honors heroic civilian

The Honolulu Police Department also honors 20 officers

It was "just" a ratchet, 39-year-old Eduardo Natividad thought to himself.

If it were a gun or a knife, Natividad said he probably would have thought twice about tackling and fighting with the armed robber. But because it was just a ratchet, Natividad did not think, he acted.

Natividad was honored along with 20 police officers yesterday during an award ceremony at the Honolulu Police Department's headquarters. Natividad was given the Civilian Medal of Valor, the department's highest civilian award.

At about 7:30 p.m. July 19, Natividad and his cousin were at a gas station on Sand Island Access Road when the store clerk ran out and said he was robbed.

The suspect ran out of the store carrying a cash register and a ratchet. Natividad yelled at him to stop. The suspect turned and threatened to kill Natividad, who was undeterred.

Natividad said the suspect swung at him with the ratchet, but he was able to block the blow with his forearm before tackling his attacker. "If it was a gun or knife, I probably wouldn't have ran after him," he said.

Officer Joshua Eagle was honored as the HPD employee of the quarter, for 65 felony arrests, 63 misdemeanor arrests, 28 warrant arrests and numerous citations.

Several officers from District 8 also were recognized for their Liquor/Noise Task Force in the Leeward area. The force made 58 arrests and issued 228 citations for a range of liquor, noise and traffic violations, resulting in a 22 percent decline in noise complaints and 18 percent fall in liquor violations.

"It speaks extremely highly of what you're made of," said acting Police Chief Paul Putzulu of all of the recipients.