Press Release: Investigator Brandon Olivera wins state award

July 10, 2009

Bradford R. Fenocchio

District Attorney

PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: July 10, 2009

Contact:

Art Campos

Public Information Officer

916-543-8076

Scott Owens

Acting Assistant District Attorney

916-543-8000

PLACER DA’S INVESTIGATOR WINS AWARD FROM STATE NARCOTICS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Brandon Olivera, recently hired as an investigator for the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, was honored at a luncheon in Sacramento this week as “Officer of the Year” for Region II by the California Narcotics Officers Association.

Olivera won the CNOA’s Alfred E Stewart Award for his work with the Rocklin Police Department, where he served for seven years as a narcotics officer.

Region II consists of 17 counties in Northern California, including Sacramento, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Yolo, Sutter and Yuba.

Olivera played a role in breaking up an international drug smuggling organization that ran from Tijuana, Mexico, to the Canadian border.

The Sacramento area was a stopping point for the smugglers, who hid the drugs in secret compartments of their vehicles and would register and insure the autos locally in an effort to avoid suspicion from border officials in Canada, Olivera said.

Olivera said the investigation originated in Rocklin following a tip. The investigation widened and various law enforcement agencies combined to arrest 16 people, he said.

Officials also seized 26 kilograms, or 54 pounds, of cocaine, Olivera said.

“The drugs had a street value of about $2 million.” he said.

Olivera graduated from Enterprise High School in Redding and attended Shasta College before going to the Redwoods Police Academy for training in law enforcement.

He was a deputy with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department for two and a half years before being hired by the Rocklin Police Department in 1998. Earlier this year, he received an award from the Rocklin Veterans of Foreign Wars for distinguished service to the community.

Olivera has been with the investigations unit of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office for two months.