By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Kalihi Cushman patrol officers, from left, Marlo Rivas,
Darren Nihei, Harold Cabbab, Steven Ono,
Chad Branco and Lugene Simeona.

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Special unit tames
Kalihi drug district

Police 'Delta Watch' makes
businesses and residents feel safe

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Since July 1994, Kalihi police have arrested 214 people and seized 47 vehicles for forfeiture in 11 street operations targeting drug dealing around Mayor Wright Housing.

Until police adopted a follow-up strategy two months ago, the operations provided only short-term relief.

"They were back dealing as soon as we left," said Maj. Stephen Watarai, commander of the Kalihi patrol district. "We'd clean up a place and assign patrol officers to keep it clean.

"But it never worked because our patrol guys have to respond to calls for service and could not dedicate enough time to it," Watarai added. "It was out of sheer frustration that we found an answer."

A few years ago, Watarai took two officers from each of the three existing duty watches and formed "Delta Watch" to fill in the gaps created by shortages in manpower.

Delta Watch was recently converted into a Cushman patrol and assigned to what Watarai calls "Kalihi's drug rectangle." It used to be a triangle -- Kanoa Park, Pua Lane and Akepo Lane -- but drug dealing shifted to Kingsgate Plaza at 555 N. King St.

That site was cleaned up April 15 as police busted four dealers in buy busts before setting up a reverse sting that netted 32 buyers in 41/2 hours. Police seized 15 vehicles worth $90,400 for forfeiture.

The Cushman patrol's presence in the area since April 15 has clearly affected drug activity on the streets.

"Their function is dedicated to the drug rectangle," Watarai said. "By addressing small problems like illegal parking, jaywalking, loitering and drinking in public, they're disrupting the drive-through dealing.

"The response we've received from residence and businesses has been very positive," he added.

Sungpyo Hong, manager of North King Shell, has noticed a difference.

"Before we had a lot of guys hanging around in front of the store scaring off customers," Hong said. "Now more people are coming in who never used to. They say they don't feel scared now because the guys are gone."

Austin Lane residents Ching and Poly Nam are enjoying their nightly walk now that the Cushman patrol has become so visible.

"I thought something happened the first time I saw them because they were coming around so often," Ching Nam said. "It's safer now so we don't have to walk as fast. I feel much better."

Sgt. Kyle Nobriga, who heads the six-officer unit, says at least one Cushman patrols Mayor Wright Housing while the other five check out areas nearby.

By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Officer Harold Cabbab, a Cushman patrol officer in Kalihi,
talks to a man in the area. The patrol officers constantly
cruise the area looking for new faces, running checks
on people and pulling vehicles over.

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Drug dealers are feeling the effects.

"A couple of weeks ago, graffiti appeared on the Pua Lane wall of Mayor

Wright Housing threatening the Delta Watch officers," Watarai said. "One officer was named in the graffiti and three others were identified by description.

"We arrested a 19-year-old dealer who told us he did it because we were putting so much pressure on him," Watarai added. "Other criminal elements within Mayor Wright were so upset with him that they cleaned off the graffiti."

The Kalihi strategy against drug dealing includes enforcement through street operations, maintenance by Delta Watch and community involvement through citizen patrols.

The recent Kingsgate Plaza sweep was set up by two months of surveillance work by Kalihi's Crime Reduction Unit and involved 65 officers.

Members of the Delta Watch unit are Chad Branco, Harold Cabbab, Darren Nihei, Steven Ono, Marlo Rivas and Lugene Simeona.

Not everyone is happy with increased police presence around Mayor Wright.

"It good that they're around, but why are they here and not in front of rich people's houses protecting them?" said Shirnell Sefo, 17. "They treat us like we got no rights, stopping us for everything."

Julia Uiagalelei, 25, says she is stopped by officers at least five times a day.

"They're always asking where I'm going and telling me not to hang out on the street," Uiagalelei said. "I feel like if I don't have to answer to my parents, why should I have to answer to them?

"I'm not doing anything wrong and what they're doing is irritating," she added.

But Mayor Wright resident Faleiva Afoa thinks police should go one step further and patrol inside the housing area too.

"We got lots of people who don't live here hanging around," Afoa said. "I feel safer now that more police are around."