2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium: 2010 AMBER Alert Awards Presented

Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention presented the following awards at the 2010 National AMBER Alert Symposium:

AMBER Alert Broadcaster/Media Person of the Year Award: Dennis Lyle

Ron Laney, Dennis Lyle, Marilyn Roberts

Illinois Broadcasters Association President Dennis Lyle helped develop a state AMBER Alert program in 2001 and enlisted more than 500 broadcasters to help make the plan work. Lyle promotes the state’s “no budget” AMBER Alert Plan to enlist partners to educate the public and create public service announcements.

AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Year: Charles Fleeger

Ron Laney, Charles Fleeger, Marilyn Roberts

College Station, Texas Police Lt. Charles Fleeger is the Region Three Texas AMBER Alert Coordinator. He also oversees the Brazos Valley Child Abduction Response Team for seven counties in Texas. He organizes training sessions and donates his own time and money to get the training he needs to bring children home safely.

AMBER Alert Law Enforcement Leadership Award: Eric Garcia

Ron Laney, Eric Garcia, Marilyn Roberts

New Mexico Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Eric Garcia works tirelessly to educate law enforcement officers and broadcasters on AMBER Alert laws, regulations and protocols. He developed a Missing/Endangered Alert to find children who may not meet the AMBER Alert criteria. He has also been a leading force to bring AMBER Alerts in bordering states in Mexico.

AMBER Alert Citizen Award: Mike Grant and Victor Perez

Ron Laney, Mike Grant, Marilyn Roberts

Mike Grant helped save a two-year-old girl after an AMBER Alert was issued in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The girl was abducted by her father who had assaulted the victim’s mother at knife-point. Grant was hunting in the woods when he spotted the suspect and convinced him to turn himself in.

Ron Laney, Victor Perez, Marilyn Roberts

Victor Perez responded to an AMBER Alert in Fresno, California after an eight-year-old girl was abducted and forced into a truck. Perez followed the suspect until he pushed the child out of the truck. The suspect was arrested 40 minutes later.

CART Certification Recognitions