Police chief’s secretary killed in crash while pursuing thief
Terry Jones remembered for her positive spirit and love for others
Police officers investigate the scene of a fatal crash early Thursday that killed 55-year-old Makawao resident Terry Jones, who was the police chief’s secretary. Courtesy photo
Terry Jones is shown in a photo provided by the Maui Police Department during a news conference on Thursday. Friends and co-workers remembered Jones for her “exceedingly joyful spirit” after she was killed in a car crash. MPD photo
Police officers investigate the scene of a fatal crash early Thursday that killed 55-year-old Makawao resident Terry Jones, who was the police chief’s secretary. Courtesy photo
Terry Jones is shown in a photo provided by the Maui Police Department during a news conference on Thursday. Friends and co-workers remembered Jones for her “exceedingly joyful spirit” after she was killed in a car crash. MPD photo
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Longtime Maui Police Department secretary Terry Jones was remembered for her "exceedingly joyful spirit" and volunteer work to help others, after she died in a vehicle crash early Thursday in Makawao while pursuing someone who stole her purse, police said.
The crash occurred at 4:40 a.m. on Kula Highway at the intersection of Haleakala Highway. Preliminary investigation showed Jones was driving a 2018 Honda Pilot that was heading downhill on Kula Highway, police said. While trying to turn right onto Haleakala Highway, she lost control of the vehicle and hit a large tree, police said.
Jones, a 55-year-old Makawao resident, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to help her family with funeral and burial costs, Jones had been helping her daughter by delivering newspapers in the early morning when someone stole her purse from her vehicle. The thief got back into a car and attempted to flee when Jones began to follow the car and called 911.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Police Chief John Pelletier said Jones, who worked for the department for over 32 years, was the first person he hired and she worked as his private secretary.
"This did not need to happen," he said. "Terry's a victim. Terry was in a car accident. What people don't know, why she's a victim, is someone stole her purse. They either took it from her personally or they broke into her car and Terry was chasing the suspect or suspects that took a little old lady's purse.
"I would encourage you to turn yourself in," Pelletier said.
He said Jones "was the matriarch or mom of this department."
"Everyone knew Terry," he said. "Everyone loved Terry. She would do anything for anyone.
"There's a void MPD has that most likely will never be filled," Pelletier said. "Terry did so much for so many people, so many charities.... All the fundraisers she did, all the bake sales she did, she gave of her time, her effort and her own money to do everything she could for everybody else."
Jones coordinated fundraisers at MPD whenever an employee needed help, according to the GoFundMe page. She was involved with the Maui Police Relief Association, Special Olympics, Relay for Life and the annual Troy Barboza Torch Run.
"Terry was always positive, full of life, and had an exceedingly joyful spirit," the GoFundMe post said. "She was a very giving person who everyone loved. She always supported her friends and family in everything that they did and went above and beyond anyone's expectations, never expecting anything in return.
"Her loss is an unfathomable tragedy that her loved ones, co-workers and her community will struggle with for years to come."
Pelletier said that six days earlier, he commended Jones in front of police command staff "for her unselfish volunteer work and dedication to the betterment of this community."
Maui police spokeswoman Alana Pico said that "due to the sensitive nature of the incident, we will not be taking questions" at the news conference.
She later provided information about the crash. Police said investigation showed Jones wasn't wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash and the vehicle's airbags were deployed. Police hadn't determined whether speed was a factor in the crash pending further investigation.
The fatal crash was the sixth this year on Maui County roads, compared with one at the same time last year.
The police Criminal Investigation Division was investigating the purse theft.
"We are devastated by the loss of Terry and send our prayers to her family," said MPD Sgt. Nick Krau, Maui chapter chairperson of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers board of directors. "No matter an officer's rank, she always greeted us with a smile, asked about our families and saw to it that we always had the support we needed.
"Terry didn't seek the spotlight, but she was the quiet force behind coordinating events like the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics and other charitable initiatives," Krau said.
He worked with Jones for over 20 years.
"The department just won't be the same without seeing Terry at her desk, armed with a smile and care," he said. "We will miss her greatly."
As of Thursday evening, the GoFundMe had raised $11,275 of the $25,000 goal. For more information, visit gofundme.com/f/help-terrys-family-with-funeral-and-burial-costs?qid=590a210aef8e0882b92a45189df913e9.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.