8/2/2005
Media Contact:
Roger Rayl, 327-5765
rrayl@indygov.org |
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Prosecutor's Staffer Wins "Crime Fighter of the Year" Award
INDIANAPOLIS—Michelle Waymire, Supervisor of Community Prosecution for the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, has won the "Crime Fighter of the Year" award from the Indianapolis Police Department's (IPD) Downtown District. Waymire was presented the award at today's "National Night Out" ceremonies held at the City Market.
"Michelle is an invaluable member of my staff," said Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. "Under her leadership, the Community Prosecution Division continues to fight crime in Marion County at the grassroots level, involving not only law enforcement but neighborhood associations and residents themselves."
In nominating her for the award, the district said that Waymire "has been an invaluable partner to Downtown District's community policing efforts over this past year and has had an enormous impact on the quality of life in the Downtown District." The nomination cites her efforts in battling the problems of panhandling, graffiti and abandoned buildings downtown. The nomination further says that "Michelle is the first person Downtown District calls when we have issues that we need help from the Prosecutor's Office to solve."
IPD's four other districts presented awards, as will the two districts from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and the communities of Beech Grove, Cumberland, Lawrence and Speedway.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office presented its own award to three participants in the Court Watch Program, Margaret Ream, Pat Boyce and Pat Vernon. In 2004, the three ladies attended almost 300 court hearings. Brizzi said, "Deputy prosecutors have seen the direct results of having community representatives in the courtroom to testify about the direct impact that so-called 'victimless' crimes have on their lives. When a prosecutor argues to a judge that prostitution or drug possession has a detrimental impact on a neighborhood, that argument is much more effective when residents like Margaret, Pat and Pat are present to testify."
The Court Watch Program is a partnership between the Community Prosecution Division and residents of the neighborhoods that the office serves. Its objective is to persuade all of the actors within the Marion County criminal court system to take a more proactive rule in preventing crime in the community by imposing meaningful sentences on offenders who chronically victimize the community. Participants who testify in court selflessly volunteer their time to make sure that justice is done.
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