WASHINGTON –
The Justice Department today presented Sergeant Amy Dudewicz of the Bernalillo
County, New Mexico, Sheriff’s Department with the Allied Professional Award
during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in
Washington, D.C. This honor recognizes individuals from a specific discipline
outside the victim assistance field for their service to victims and/or
contributions to the victim assistance field.
“Sergeant
Dudewicz has dedicated almost a dozen years with the Bernalillo County
Sheriff’s Office to helping child and adult victims of sex crimes,” said
Attorney General William P. Barr. “By implementing innovative programs and
fostering new partnerships, she has been a steadfast ally of victims and a
staunch advocate of children who are at risk of harm—and other jurisdictions
are catching her vision.”
During her
career with the Crimes Against Children and Special Victim units of the
Bernalillo Sheriff’s Department, Sgt. Dudewicz has helped to implement the
Operation Safe Child program. Using a referral system through the New Mexico
Children, Youth and Families Department, detectives make contact with high-risk
families and help them access services to prevent further family deterioration.
Sgt. Dudewicz has expanded Operation Safe Child to include other county and
state entities, nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies. Under her
leadership, the program sorts through about 150 referrals per month.
“Law
enforcement efforts to protect victims can benefit from collaboration with
child protection services as well as other county, state and nonprofit
organizations,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant
Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “Sergeant Dudewicz’s inspiring work shows
how these agencies can work together to prevent crimes as well as close cases.”
The
Department’s Office for Victims of Crime, a component of OJP, leads communities
across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and hosts
an annual award ceremony. President Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights
Week in 1981, calling for greater sensitivity to the rights and needs of
victims. This year’s observance takes place April 7-13, with the theme
“Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.”
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