HAWAII lawmakers have honoured TV bounty hunter Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman and his wife, Beth, for getting crooks off the street.The state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution honouring the couple for their work at capturing criminals.

Duane Chapman is the star of the Hawaii-based A&E reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter, which follows his exploits in apprehending people who have avoided arrest.

“I hate to say this, but for felons and ex-cons, I’m their president. What I do, they shall follow,” Chapman said after receiving a commendation at the state Capitol. “I’m the poster child for rehabilitation in America.”

The commendation comes as Mexico seeks the extradition of Chapman and two colleagues on charges that they made an illegal arrest in the country in 2003. A separate resolution before the Legislature urges Mexico to drop its efforts.

Before he hunted fugitives, Chapman was a member of a biker gang and was convicted in 1977 of being an accessory to murder. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

“Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman is part preacher, part father figure to many fugitives he captures and then prays with,” said Rep. Gene Ward, a Republican who presented the resolution honouring the Chapmans.

“They continue to spread justice and aloha around the world.”