White collar prosecutor is named Hawaii’s Top Cop

October 22, 2015

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher T. Van Marter today was presented with the Elwood J. McGuire Award as Hawaii’s Top Cop for 2015.

The presentation was made at the 31st annual Law Enforcement and Security Awards Banquet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

Van Marter, chief of the prosecutor’s White Collar Crime Unit, was recognized for his efforts in strengthening laws against computer-related crimes and for winning convictions in several high-profile identity theft cases involving criminals who were extradited from the mainland.

“I cannot say enough about the work that Chris has done to protect Hawaii residents from computer-related crimes,” Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro said. “Thanks to Chris’ efforts, criminals can no longer target Hawaii residents and think they can get away by leaving the Islands.”

Van Marter thanked Kaneshiro for hiring him in 1992 and for later assigning him to white collar crimes. Van Marter also credited the Honolulu Police Department’s Financial Crimes Detail, the U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations for collaborating on many cases.

“I’m just the spokesman for a very dedicated team,” Van Marter said.