WAILUKU, Maui - In the three years that Maui police Sgt. David Silva has led a team of juvenile investigators, arrests for underage drinking, graffiti, curfew violations and truancy have risen.

But he and the officers also have gotten involved with youths, helping coach a school flag football team and taking time to talk to students they encounter during regular checks of parks, beaches and other spots frequented by young people.

"Sometimes, for these kids, that's all they have - if the officers lend an ear or are more helpful and understanding," Silva said. "A lot of times, something's happening in the household or something's happening to the child that nobody knows.

"If you befriend them, they might open up. That's a way of helping them find the right track."

For his work, including investigations into a couple of robberies in recent months, Silva was selected as the Maui Police Department's 2009 Officer of the Year. He will be honored by the Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association. He and officers from other law enforcement agencies statewide received the awards Friday at a banquet at the association's annual conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

Assistant Chief Sydney Kikuchi, head of the department's Investigative Services Bureau, said that the award recognizes Silva's work not just in his current assignment but throughout his 21-year police career.

Silva, a Wailuku resident and 1977 Maui High School graduate, served four years in the Army before joining the department in 1987.

"He's strict and fair," Kikuchi said. "He leads by example."

In March, Silva himself took on the task of investigating a robbery of a man at an automated-teller machine in Wailuku. Through his work, two 16-year-old boys were arrested and a third juvenile was identified as having information about the crime.

As juvenile officers have adjusted their schedules to check for illegal activity on nights and weekends, Silva has been "out there in the front with them," Kikuchi said.

The juvenile officers have handled cases involving adults as well, helping ease the workload of short-staffed patrol officers.

"He's a supervisor that his boss would love working for," Kikuchi said. "He doesn't have to be told what to do. He knows his job. He knows what's expected of him. He expects his officers to do the same."

After working as a juvenile investigator in 1994 and 1995, as graffiti wipeout efforts were beginning, Silva returned to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division to supervise investigators in 2006.

In nominating him for the award, supervisors described Silva as a "true professional" who has effectively managed employees while sharing his knowledge of investigative techniques.

After a Haiku family was victimized in a robbery last December at Paia Bay, Silva and juvenile investigators identified and arrested four adults and two juveniles as suspects in the felony case, submitting reports to the prosecutor's office.

Last year, juvenile investigators made 322 arrests for truancy, 62 arrests for curfew violations and at least 88 arrests for underage drinking. In both 2007 and 2008, Silva and juvenile investigators received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Law Enforcement Award for work in preventing underage drinking.

"What they do is very, very important," Kikuchi said. "It's not only enforcement but preventive work. They're trying to educate youth so youngsters don't put themselves in bad situations. It helps the community."

During his career, Silva has worked in the Wailuku, Hana, Lahaina, Molokai and Kihei patrol districts. He also has been assigned to the Communications and Internal Affairs sections and the Criminal Investigation Division.

In 1991, he was awarded an MPD Silver Medal of Valor.

Silva is a trained police crisis negotiator, mobile command vehicle operator and recruit class instructor.

Outside of work, he and juvenile investigators Sam Gasmen and Gordon Sagun coach flag football at Maui Waena Intermediate School, advising students to make positive choices in life as well as sharing football strategy.

Silva gave credit to juvenile investigators and juvenile commander Lt. Mollie Klingman for the award.

"It's good to win an award, but it's not why we do this job," Silva said. "The recognition should go to the juvenile section, not to me."