On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, Sergeant Marco Segobia was recognized as the 2020 Hawai’i Narcotic Officer of the Year, receiving the prestigious “Troy Barboza Memorial Award”. This award is presented annually to a member of the law enforcement community in the State of Hawai’i who has distinguished themselves through dedicated service and personal achievement in their drug enforcement duties.
The award presentation took place at the Kona police station and was presented by the Hawai’i Narcotic Officers Association coordinator, Ken Tano. In attendance were Assistant Chief Chad Basque, Major Sherry Bird, officers from the Area II Vice Section, Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kauanoe Jackson, who submitted the nomination for the award.
Segobia, a 13-year veteran, spent nearly six years as a narcotics investigator in the Area II Vice Section. In August 2020, he was promoted to Sergeant where he was assigned to North Kohala Patrol and transferred to Kona Patrol in March 2021.
Some of Segobia’s career highlights are listed below:
While investigating the head of a drug trafficking organization who was known to distribute narcotics in the Kona and Waikoloa areas, Segobia contacted the male and recovered 56 grams of methamphetamine from his pocket and a .40 caliber pistol from his vehicle. Additional search warrants were executed, resulting in the recovery of an additional 28 grams of methamphetamine, seven grams of cocaine and 230 pharmaceutical pills. In addition, officers also seized for forfeiture over $10,000 worth of collectible coins & jewelry and $116,000 in cash. While officers investigated an associate of this male, they recovered an additional 170 grams of heroin and a pistol.
In a separate investigation, Segobia’s work led to the recovery of 346 grams of methamphetamine from a known distributor. This resulted in the male receiving a twenty-year prison sentence.
In yet another investigation, after recovering nearly 12 pounds of methamphetamine in Kona from a male and female, Segobia contacted Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Hawai’i. Special Agents from the DEA continued the investigation and were able to identify the supplier in California. Special Agents there recovered 114 pounds of methamphetamine, three pounds of heroin and seized $350,000 in cash.
Through Sergeant Segobia’s determination, investigative skills and hard work, his criminal investigations have resulted in the recovery of a substantial amount of narcotics and proceeds. Criminal convictions of these narcotic distributors have resulted in lengthy prison sentences.
Photo courtesy of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department