Black knew of traps,
Nakamura says

'We tried to build a case for her, and now
she's trying to turn it around'

By Gordon Y.K Pang
Star-Bulletin

Police Chief Michael Nakamura says Sharon Black knew he had a police team place traps on her phone and pager that compiled a log of calls made and received.

The chief had the traps placed shortly after Black filed a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor, then-Assistant Chief Joseph Aveiro Jr., in April 1996.

Black, a contractual employee, said that Aveiro coerced her into having sex four times over five years and that she went along out of fear for her job and safety.

Black is expected to file suit against Aveiro, Nakamura and the city seeking $3 million.

Nakamura said yesterday that he had officers with the Criminal Intelligence Unit follow Black without her knowledge, but he denied that the traps were placed without her permission.

The law says police would have needed a court order or Black's permission to place the traps.

"Sharon knew everything we were doing with the exception of the stakeout," Nakamura said.

Black told Internal Affairs officers that she confronted the surveillance team after security guards in her building spotted them following her.

"She knew there was a trap," Nakamura said. "We tried to build a case for her, and now she's trying to turn it around."

Rodney Veary, Black's attorney, denied his client knew of the trap. "As I understand it, Sharon Black was not informed that her phone and pager were going to be electronically monitored, and it was only after she discovered she was being surveiled that she was told her phone and pager were also being monitored."