Veteran police officer arrested in meth c

[Woodman]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/30/
ln/ln03p.html

Veteran police officer arrested in meth
case</font>



By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Federal agents arrested a 22-year veteran police
officer Monday after he allegedly sold
methamphetamine to a confidential informant, and
on another occasion did so while dressed in his
Honolulu Police Department uniform, according to
affidavits filed in U.S. District Court yesterday.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
arrested Robert Sylva, 48, at HPD headquarters
Monday morning on three counts of distributing
methamphetamine. A search warrant was also
served at Sylva's apartment in Makaua Village in
Ka'a'awa.

"What we have here is a situation that I'm sure
troubles all of us in law enforcement," said U.S.
Attorney Ed Kubo, who attended Sylva's initial
appearance in federal court yesterday along with
Charles Goodwin, special agent in charge of the FBI
in Hawai'i. "It's just gut-wrenching. Mr. Sylva's life as
a police officer is no more and so is his freedom."

Sylva, he said, is the first Honolulu police officer
arrested for dealing meth in recent history.


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That's BULLSHIT there are obviously other officers
involved in the drug trade.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Dec/14
/ln/ln05p.html
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A conviction could net sentences of between 10
years and life in prison on each count, Kubo said.

According to the criminal complaints, Sylva sold
methamphetamine to a confidential informant on
three separate occasions this month. Sylva allegedly
showed up wearing his HPD blue uniform during
one sale.

Agents and officers on March 21 followed Sylva when
he drove to the Marukai Market parking lot next to
Sports Authority on Ward Avenue.

Sylva, the investigators said, was dressed in his full
HPD uniform, sold the informant 3 ounces of
methamphetamine and was paid $5,400.

The informant purchased more than 4 ounces from
Sylva this month and told prosecutors that Sylva had
been supplying meth since November 2004.

During the March 21 buy the informant was wearing
a recording device strapped to his body, according to
the affidavit.

On the tape, Sylva is heard telling the informant,
"Give me a break. The risk I taking. You not setting
me up, are you?"

Police Chief Boisse Correa, in a written statement
released yesterday, said, "Drugs are a serious
problem in our community and it is disheartening
that there are serious allegations against one of our
officers.

We want to reassure the public that we will
investigate anyone who is suspected of being
involved in drug-related or other criminal activity."

Correa said the investigation was initiated by the
HPD Narcotics/Vice and Internal Affairs division after
the department received complaints from the
community.

Sylva was assigned to the District 5 (Kalihi) patrol
division, but for the past month had been working in
the non-emergency call center at HPD. He is on
leave without pay from the department.

Sylva made an appearance yesterday before U.S.
District Court Judge Barry Kurren. Sylva's daughter
and several family members were in court but
declined to comment.

Sylva's alleged drug supplier, Albert "Bully" Kakuda
of Waimanalo, also appeared.

Kakuda, who has a prior federal drug conviction for
cocaine possession, is accused of being Sylva's
methamphetamine source, Kubo said. Kakuda's
arrest was a result of the same investigation that
netted Sylva.

According to a separate criminal complaint, Kakuda
was also arrested Monday in Kailua after he
allegedly sold an ounce of methamphetamine to a
confidential informant working with the FBI. A search
of Kakuda's car turned up another 2 ounces.

Detention hearings for both men are scheduled for
Friday.Edited by: Woodman