HPD Officers recognized at the South Bay Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony
Daily Breeze article HERE
Distinguished Service Award
Doctor Joe Nakagawa began his service with the Hawthorne Police Department as a volunteer in 2007. Although a fulltime emergency room physician, Doctor Nakagawa volunteered his time with the Hawthorne Police Department’s SWAT Team. Whenever the team had training, warrants or call-outs, Doctor Nakagawa ensured that he made himself available to provide any assistance as needed.
Almost instantaneously, he felt at home within the organization and understood the innovative vision of the organization. Within just a short time, the Hawthorne Police Department Tactical Medicine Program was changing the way medical services were provided to the citizens of Hawthorne.
In addition to donating his time for the department’s operational needs, Doctor Nakagawa began instructing department members and teaching valuable medical skills. These skills have been taken to the streets and has been credited with saving the lives of countless citizens. In 2010, Doctor Nakagawa became a reserve officer, where he was able to bring his expertise to the streets of Hawthorne as a peace officer.
Although extremely active within the police organization, Doctor Nakagawa was still trying to find ways to better amalgamate law enforcement and medical services as a means to better serve the citizens of Hawthorne. Furthermore,
Doctor Nakagawa wanted to bring a focus to employee health. In 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctor Nakagawa was hired as a fulltime police officer. Although a capable sworn peace officer with the City of Hawthorne, Nakagawa also became the Hawthorne Police Department’s Medical Director.
This proved to be a critical asset to the Hawthorne Police Department, as we, like the rest of the world, were learning how to navigate the pandemic. Doctor Nakagawa’s expertise and leadership through the pandemic helped mitigate the effects of the virus on our organization and staff, while it raged through society. Over the course of the pandemic, Doctor Nakagawa has overseen the recovery of our staff, continually assessed for any further need of treatment and coordinated over six hundred inhouse COVID-19 tests.
Doctor Nakagawa has also aided in the City’s response to the pandemic by coordinating testing and vaccine clinics for citizens and employees alike. Doctor Nakagawa made himself available to all staff, answering phone calls and emails at all times of day and night. Doctor Nakagawa’s office door is always open and he is always available to talk with. His presence within the department has also proved priceless, with his active engagement and readiness to aid. He has recognized critical medical emergencies occurring amongst our department staff members.
On one occasion, Doctor Nakagawa reviewed a diagnostic exam performed by a Hawthorne Police Department paramedic. Upon reviewing the results of the exam, Doctor Nakagawa recognized and confirmed that a medical emergency was occurring. He was able to activate the emergency medical services at a local hospital to expedite the treatment and care of the individual in need; all while he was across the globe. This rapid recognition and expedient treatment of a life- threatening medical emergency ultimately saved the employee from lifelong impairment.
Doctor Nakagawa’s influence does not just stop at the walls of the Hawthorne Police Department and with medical engagement of employees and their family members. Doctor Nakagawa also goes out on the streets and proactively engages with some of society’s less fortunate to ensure that they are receiving medical treatments that they need. He enters into unhoused communities around the city and provides medical services otherwise not available to them and ensures that these individuals are never overlooked. They are offered free COVID-19 tests, open wounds and sores are cleansed and bandaged. Their medical complaints/aliments are acknowledged and assessed for any further need of treatment.
Through his instruction, engagement and dedication to the employees and citizens, Doctor Nakagawa’s influence has reached thousands of officers and citizens from around the City of Hawthorne and the world alike.
He is to be commended for his selfless acts and distinguished service to law enforcement and the City of Hawthorne.
From the Daily Breeze article:
When the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, Dr. Joe Nakagawa just started a new job: the former emergency room physician had become a police officer.
Drawing on his medical background, Nakagawa taught other officers how to provide health care, visited homeless encampments to tend to the sick, and set up coronavirus testing and vaccination sites.
His work saved countless lives, Hawthorne Police Chief Michael Ishii said Thursday at an awards banquet for South Bay first responders who’ve gone beyond the call of duty.
“(Nakagawa) changed the way we look at policing, and his expertise helped train our officers to act quickly when life-saving measures are needed,” Ishii said.
Nakagawa was one of 11 South Bay first responders honored for their bravery at the 46th annual Medal of Valor Ceremony hosted by South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation, which represents the cities of El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Redondo Beach and Torrance.
Three officers — including Nakagawa — received the Distinguished Service Award, and eight the Lifesaving Award.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to first responders whose efforts exemplify the finest standards of the police and fire departments, while the Lifesaving Award goes to those who take extraordinary action to save lives. Only police were nominated this year.
Officer Broc received the EMS Recognition Medal