Posted on: Thursday, September 16, 2004
Kaua'i police officer alleges harassment in corruption claim
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — One of Kaua'i's most decorated police officers has filed a federal "whistleblower" lawsuit against the county police department, alleging she was harassed and threatened after reporting a drug suspect's claim that another officer had been paid protection money.
Officer Darla Abbattielo said in the U.S. District Court complaint that a woman arrested last December in a major crystal methamphetamine bust told her that a drug associate had paid $6,000 in protection money to police Sgt. Irvil Kapua. The suit said Abbattielo did not know whether the allegation was true or false, but reported it to her superiors as she felt she was required to do.
She said Kapua subsequently verbally harassed her in the police station and in public places. Abbattielo said that when she asked for a transfer out of the vice squad, she was sent to the Waimea patrol unit but also demoted, and she said she had received threats to her safety. At one point, the suit said, someone wrote her name in red ink next to the word "death" in her personal office dictionary.
County and police officials said they had not seen a copy of the complaint and would not comment. Kapua could not be contacted yesterday.
Abbattielo, a 15-year veteran of the force, has been the department's police officer of the month three times, was the department's Officer of the Year in 1999, and received an honorable mention as the 1999-2000 Top Cop of the National Association of Police Organizations.
The complaint names Kapua, along with former acting Chief Wilfred Ihu, acting Chief K.C. Lum, Assistant Chief Gordon Isoda, acting Assistant Chief Dean Pigao and the County of Kaua'i. It was filed by attorneys Daniel Hempey, Margery Bronster, Jeff Crabtree and Jeannette E. Holmes.
In a separate action in 5th Circuit Court, Abbattielo was granted a restraining order against Kapua, requiring that he avoid contact with her.
This is the second lawsuit against the Kaua'i Police Department that has alleged corruption within the department's vice unit. A previous case, filed last year, is still outstanding.
