Brian Miali was born in Northridge, California and moved to Orange County when he was nine years old. He attended elementary school at St. Barbaras and later went to la Quinta High School where he was the captain of the football and wrestling teams. Upon graduating from high school Brian went into the United States Navy where he was stationed in San Diego and was assigned as a Boatswains mate of small boats. After honorably discharging from the Navy, Brian taught one of his passions, Scuba Diving. Brian was hired by the Tustin Police Department on August 14th, 2007 and works in the patrol. He currently lives in the City of Tustin with his Wife (Heather) and two sons (Nicholas and John).

On September 9, 2010, Officer Brian Miali was dispatched to 2331 Ana Tree Pl. to investigate a child annoyance of a 16 year old female victim. The victim was apparently followed home from Tustin High on two separate occasions by an adult male Asian suspect in a silver Nissan Altima. The second time the victim was followed home she advised her mother of her suspicions. The victim pointed out the suspect who was seated in the driver seat of the Nissan Altima parked nearby. The victim and her mother noticed the suspect was holding a camera with a telephoto lens and it appeared he was attempting to conceal it with a towel. They obtained the license plate number from the suspect’s vehicle and provided it to Officer Miali. Officer Miali also obtained a thorough description of the suspect to assist him in identifying this predator.

Officer Miali conducted follow-up on the license plate number and identified the owner as, Kevin Osako, with an address on Holt Ave. in Santa Ana. A further search revealed Osako matched the suspect description given to him. Officer Miali went to the Holt Ave. address in an attempt to locate the suspect vehicle with negative results. Officer Miali obtained the assistance of Tustin High School (THS) Resource Officer Wright in attempting to track down the suspect. Officer Wright went to Osako’s last known address in an attempt to locate him. He determined that Osako no longer lived there, but was eventually able to obtain a phone number for him with the assistance of neighbors.

On September 11, 2010, Officer Miali contacted Osako on the phone and was able to convince Osako to speak to him in person reference an incident he possibly witnessed. Officer Miali knew that Osako possibly had evidence of this criminal behavior at his home on a camera or computer, so he used his interview skills to persuade Osako to give an interview at his current address (13366 Savanna).

Officer Miali was able to obtain a confession from Osako reference following the victim and several other juvenile females from THS and to taking pictures of them for sexual gratification. Officer Miali was able to get Osako to admit he has a problem and that he needed help with it. Officer Miali got Osako to consent to a search of his camera, which revealed numerous photos of young high school aged females on it. Officer Miali knew this criminal behavior is frequently associated with child pornography, so he asked Osako if he possessed any of this type of material. During the questioning, Osako admitted there was possibly child pornography on his home computer and gave Officer Miali permission to collect and search his computer and camera by signing a Consent to Search form. Osako’s computer equipment, camera and mobile phone were collected and booked as evidence so they could be audited by the DA’s Office for the presence of child pornography.

Officer Miali completed in-field identifications from both the victim and witness to further solidify his case.

Osako was arrested for child annoyance after a thorough investigation was completed. He was booked at OCJ for the safety of the victim and with the possibility the offense was likely to continue.

Officer Miali even went the extra mile to protect the victim and the community by requesting and obtaining a bail enhancement and an Emergency Protective Order.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed two counts of child annoyance against Osako with the potential of further charges to be filed, based on the examination of the evidence collected.

Officer Miali recognized the danger this suspect posed to the victim and to the community and knew he had to do everything possible to identify the suspect, in order to bring him into custody. Officer Miali’s thorough and complete investigation brought this case to a successful conclusion and possibly prevented further criminal acts and additional victims.

Therefore, in recognition of Police Officer Brian Miali for his relentless efforts to hunt down a predator, it is with great pleasure we honor him as the Chamber of Commerce "Officer of the Month" for September, 2010.