H.E.A.T. Honors Outstanding Individuals Committed to Fight Against Auto Crime

LIVONIA, MI--Oct. 18, 2011: As part of its twenty-sixth anniversary celebration, H.E.A.T.(Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) today hosted an award ceremony during its annual Anniversary Breakfast to honor extraordinary law enforcement and insurance investigators. The event, featuring a keynote address by Michigan State Police Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, was held at Ford Field and drew an audience of over 200 government officials, law enforcement personnel and representatives from the insurance industry.

"The H.E.A.T. program is an excellent example of how public agencies and private companies can work together to produce positive results in our state," said Terri Miller, director of H.E.A.T. "The personal commitments that our partners are making to eliminate auto theft is helping our neighborhoods, communities and our state become a better place to live."

Col. Etue spoke to the crowd about the measurable impact the H.E.A.T. program has made on communities statewide. "Over the past 26 years, the H.E.A.T. program has helped recover more than $53 million in stolen property," said Etue. "I would like to congratulate and thank H.E.A.T., as well as the law enforcement officers, prosecutors and insurance representatives on the front lines for their fight to end auto theft-related crimes."

Several awards were presented at the event, including the prestigious William V. Liddane Award and the H.E.A.T. Investigator of the Year Award. The Liddane Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the fight against auto theft in Michigan. The H.E.A.T. Investigator of the Year Award honors law enforcement and others for their tenacity and hard work in auto theft investigation, arrest, recovery and prevention. This year's award recipients included:

WILLIAM V. LIDDANE AWARD

• Sgt. Don Lusk -- Michigan State Police, Macomb Auto Theft Squad
• Doug McCallister -- Michigan State Police, Retired

H.E.A.T. INVESTIGATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

• Detroit Police Department-- Screen Door/Carjacking Squad
  • Sgt. Jonathan Parnell
  • Ofc. Rico Hardy
  • Ofc. Alfredo Jimenez
  • Ofc. John Berryman
  • Ofc. Jon Metiva
  • Ofc. Derek Owens
  • Ofc. Steven Turner
  • Ofc. Dana Russell
  • Ofc. Kenneth Leonard
  • Ofc. Mark Burke
  • Ofc. Shawn Schmelter
  • Ofc. David Jakeway (Retired)

• ACTION- Arresting Car Thieves in Our Neighborhood
  • Sgt. James Vogler - Grosse Pointe Park Police Dept.
  • Sgt. Frank Carroll - Detroit Police Department
  • Det. Steven Belcher - Harper Woods Police Dept.
  • Ofc. R. Marc Loosvelt - Grosse Pointe Park Police Dept.
  • Ofc. Albert Graham - Detroit Police Department
  • Agent Larry LaFond - National Insurance Crime Bureau

• Oakland County Sheriff's Department- Investigators on H.E.A.T. Tip 10055
  • Sgt. Charles Bernard - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.
  • Sgt. Kevin Banycky - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.
  • Det. Xavier Piper - Hazel Park Police Dept.
  • Det. Herman Bishop - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.
  • Det. Harvey Wilson - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.
  • Det. Joseph Fortier - Detroit Police Department
  • Det. Frank Lenz - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.
  • Det. Steve Law - Oakland County Sheriff's Dept.

For more information about the Anniversary Breakfast, please visit 1-800-242-HEAT . If you have any information on auto theft-related activities, report it to H.E.A.T.'s 24/7 toll-free tip line at 1.800.242.HEAT or to the H.E.A.T. website. You may be eligible for rewards up to $10,000 for your information.

About H.E.A.T.

H.E.A.T. works with Michigan law enforcement agencies to follow-up on tips. Tipsters are awarded up to $1,000 if the tip leads to the arrest and prosecution of a suspected car thief or a person suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud.  Rewards of up to $10,000 are issued if a tip results in the arrest and binding over for trial of a suspected theft ring or chop shop operators. H.E.A.T. rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the issuance of a warrant for a carjacking suspect.

The H.E.A.T. tip line is monitored by the Michigan State Police and funded by Michigan's auto insurance companies.