LOS ANGELES (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League will confer the “Helene & Joseph Sherwood Family Prize for Combating Hate” to three individuals and two law enforcement units at an awards ceremony on March 10, 11:30 a.m. at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Honorees include a deputy district attorney from San Diego County, Oscar Garcia.
The Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize for Combating Hate recognizes law enforcement activities during 2013 and 2014 that demonstrate relentless dedication to containing and minimizing the prevalence and severity of hate motivated behavior perpetrated in their communities, and performed with professionalism, effectiveness and visibility.
“This year’s honorees have taken creative and effective steps to make our communities safer,” said Amanda Susskind, Director of ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region. “They demonstrate a high level of commitment to reducing terrorism, and hate against the most vulnerable in our society. All three individual honorees and both group honorees have made exceptional contributions to investigation and prosecution of extremists and potential terrorists, making a tangible difference locally, nationally and globally.”
The awards ceremony will include community impact statements, including from the victim of a transgender hate crime. ADL will honor the following law enforcement personnel who have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their efforts to combat hate:
2015 GROUP HONOREES
International Terrorism Investigation and Prosecution in the Inland Empire
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles Field Division, Riverside Resident Agency: Intelligence Analyst Alisen Adame; Special Agent Joel Anderson; Special Agent Martin Burry; Special Agent N.T. Elias; Special Agent Mujde Gursel; Special Agent Wade Lee; Special Agent Sergio Lopez; Special Agent Michael Nader; Special Agent Theodore Nevatt; Special Agent Randy Plotkin; Special Agent Paul Rex Warner; Special Agent Matt Weber; Special Agent Scott Winrow
United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California: Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Chiu; Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan DeWitt; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Grigg
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department: Investigator Jose Peralta
Riverside Police Department: Officer Liam Doyle
Using innovative investigative techniques, including an undercover informant and sophisticated trial preparation, this Inland Empire law enforcement task force was able to disrupt a potential international terrorism incident. Four Southern California men were prevented from traveling overseas to join Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and kill members of the U.S. armed forces.
Nguyen Terrorism Investigative Team
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles Field Division, Orange County Resident Agency: Special Agent Charles “Mark” Civiletto; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Scott Gicking; Task Force Office Vicki Gizzi; Task Force Officer Theodore “Ted” Lopez, Jr.; Special Agent John Spratlin; Supervisory Special Agent David Thorp; Special Agent Julie Viana; Special Agent Erin J. Westfall
United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California: Assistant U.S. Attorney Deirdre Eliot; Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Heinz
After months of investigation and data collection, including the use of social networking sites, this law enforcement team was able to prove U.S. national Sin Vinh Ngo Nguyen provided material support to a terrorist organization and was planning to do so again. Nguyen had travelled to Syria and fought with opposition forces, and was planning to travel to Pakistan to join Al Qaeda and train foreign fighters to kill coalition forces before his plans were disrupted.
2015 INDIVIDUAL HONOREES
Detective Ross Nemeroff, Los Angeles Police Department, 77th Division
In the aftermath of a hate crime targeting the LGBT community, Los Angeles Police Detective Ross Nemeroff displayed his passion for seeking justice for those who are victimized because of hatred and prejudice by resolving the case and furthering his education. He continues to use his experience and knowledge to assist with hate crime investigations, advise his peers on the topic and give a voice to those in society who are most vulnerable to bias and bigotry.
Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Committed to prosecuting hate crimes and educating the community about the impact that bias-motivated incidents have on everyone, Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia has built a reputation as a prosecutor who has dedicated his life’s work to fighting against hatred and bigotry both in the courtroom and in the classroom. He is recognized in the community as someone who provides protection to all and hope to victims by holding those who would engage in hate accountable for their actions.
Officer Jason Lehman, Long Beach Police Department/Executive Director, “Why’d You Stop Me?” Program
Realizing a need in his community to promote trust and decrease violence, Long Beach Police Officer Jason Lehman created a community educational program that delivers a powerful message to encourage empathy and understanding between law enforcement and inner-city youth. He took a simple concept of building mutual respect and the result was a decrease in significant use-of-force incidents throughout the inner-city area.
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The honorees were selected from many nominations received from throughout Southern California by the distinguished Sherwood Prize Selection Committee: Chair, Chief David L. Maggard, Jr., Irvine Police Department; Assistant Director in Charge David Bowdich, FBI, Los Angeles; Chief Dan Bower, California Highway Patrol; Chief Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino Police Department; Sheriff Geoff Dean, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff William D. Gore, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Robert Handy, Huntington Beach Police Department; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eric Harden, ATF, Los Angeles; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Orange County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff Jim McDonnell, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; Assistant Chief Michel Moore, Los Angeles Police Department; Chief Camerino Sanchez, Santa Barbara Police Department; Sheriff Stanley Sniff, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Greg Williamson, Bakersfield Police Department.
The Sherwood Prize was created in 1996 by Joe and Helene Sherwood, founders of family owned and operated Daniel’s Jewelers, to recognize those in the law enforcement community that go above and beyond their job descriptions in combating extremism, bigotry, and hatred.
The Helene and Joseph Sherwood Family Prize recognizes law enforcement officers, units, agencies or programs that:
* Demonstrate an outstanding commitment to combating extremism, bigotry and hatred by performing acts outside the normal scope of duties.
* Make an impact on victims of hate crimes or bias-motivated incidents.
* Provide opportunities for education to reduce hate crimes and bias motivated activity.
* Use innovative approaches to enforce or prosecute hate crime laws.
* Make a significant difference in their community and served as a role model for his or her agency.
Luncheon cost is $40 per person. RSVP to ADL at 310-446-4244 or LA@adl.org; http://adl2015sherwoodprize.eventbrite.com
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Preceding provided by the Anti-Defamation League