Officer arrested for bribery, prostitution was UH volleyball standout

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Honolulu police officer arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of bribery, prostitution and unauthorized use of a computer was a former University of Hawaii volleyball standout.

Sources say was using his work computer to commit some of the alleged crimes.

Maulia Labarre was arrested by the state Attorney General's office after an investigation with the Honolulu Police Department and the FBI.

Sources say he tried to bribe a known prostitute by offering to help after an arrest, in exchange for sex.  He allegedly used his computer to get information on the woman and her case.

Labarre played for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team in 2001 and from 2004 to 2006, and was also a volunteer coach. He took two years off to complete a Mormon mission, according to the university.

Labarre has eight years of service with HPD. His police powers have been restricted and he will be placed on unpaid leave, he was released pending investigation.

The arrest is another black eye for a department whose embattled police chief is facing an FBI probe, and that recently hired a PR firm to improve its image.

Earlier this month, HPD fired three police recruits and reassigned officers after a cheating scandal at the police academy.

And in February, a sergeant was given a "courtesy" ride home by officers who suspected him of driving drunk. He was rushed back to the scene after officers discovered he might have been in an accident in his police-subsidized vehicle.

HPD Deputy Chief Marie McCauley said in a statement that HPD "holds its personnel to a higher standard of conduct."

"Illegal or unethical behavior is not tolerated and any alleged breach of these standards is taken very seriously. An internal administrative investigation has been opened," McCauley said.

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