Office and Unit Specific Awards

Bad Check Program in 2003 and again in 2004 and 2006 was ranked number 1 in the nation by the Bounce Back Corporation for the amounts collected and returned to victims who had received bad checks.  

The Office:  In the Summer 2007 the office was selected by the State Bar of Arizona’s Standing Committee on Persons with Disabilities in the legal profession as the recipient of the Excellence in Disabilities Accessibility Award.

Victim Witness and the Criminal Division were commended in 2006 by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office audit for their outstanding performance individually responding to victims.

Agnew, Harlan, Deputy County Attorney, received the 2005 Western Coalition of Arid States Committee (WESTCAS) Craig Reece Award in recognition of outstanding integrity, scholarship and dedication to making WESTCAS the “Voice of Water Quality” and has received several other awards from the organization.  In 2004 he received an honorable mention in the 2004 Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award for Environmental Education for his work with the Pima County Association of Government’s Stormwater Management Working Group.

Agrillo, Susan, Deputy County Attorney, 2006 received the State Bar of Arizona award of Special Merit for her volunteer work for gun safety an her professional work of ensuring appropriate medical treatment to individuals suffering tom mental illness who present a danger to themselves or others.
Stephanie Barker, Legal Secretary, received the Tucson Police Chief's Medal of Merit in January 2008 for her work on cold cases.

Brandes, Lewis, Deputy County Attorney, honored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund February 2009 for his strong advocacy on behalf of abused animals.

Burbank, Kent, Victim Witness Director, was selected in the fall of 2007 as the Man of the Year for the Men’s Anti-Violence Partnership, a program of the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.  He also has been honored as a recipient of the 2008 Reveille Reaches Out Award for promoting human rights, diversity and a world free from AIDS.

Chalk, Bruce, Deputy County Attorney, in 2006 received the Excellence in Adjudication Award by the Arizona Chapter of the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Cramer, Amelia, Chief Deputy County Attorney, was a 2003 recipient of the Tucson YWCA Women on the Move Award; and a 2004 recipient of the Arizona Human Rights Fund’s Community Activist Award.

Davis, Nancy, Deputy County Attorney, 2003 recipient of the Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award for Criminal Justice; and a 2004 recipient of the Governor’s Arizona Clean and Beautiful Award for her prosecution of violations of state and county environmental laws.

Deluca, Phyllis, (retired) Victim Compensation Coordinator, 1997 received a Distinguished Service Award from the Office of the Attorney General for work done in the field of Crime Victim Compensation; and in 2002 received an award for exceptional service from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for the development of a program management data base to be used state wide for crime victim compensation programs.

Dickinson, Bill, (retired) Deputy County Attorney,  2006 recognized by the Tucson Fire Department for his outstanding work in arson prosecution.

Diebolt, Mark, Deputy County Attorney, 2005 nominated for felony prosecutor of the year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council; featured in ABC News series “In the Jury Room,” August 2004.

Dryden, Karen, Legal Secretary, received a Special Recognition Award in 2005 from the Arizona Chapter of the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Dupnik, Susie, Director 88-CRIME, was a 2007 recipient of the YWCA Women on the Move award, in 2008 she received The Women of Dedication Public Service Award from the Salvation Army.

Eazer, Susan, Deputy County Attorney, was the 2007 recipient of the Victim Advocacy Award from the Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council.

Gale, Kathleen, Paralegal, in 2006 received an award of special recognition for her dedication to and support of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Jensvold, Shawn, Deputy County Attorney,   2006 nominee for the Victim Advocacy Award from the Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council.

Kamps, Danielle, Deputy County Attorney, 2005 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Felony Prosecutor of the Year.

Lauritzen, Paul, Deputy County Attorney, 2001 honored Prosecutor of the Year by the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Mayer, Kathi, Deputy County Attorney, was the 2006 recipient of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council Life Time Achievement Award; 2001 the Arizona State Attorney General’s Office named her the outstanding Sexual Assault Prosecutor of the Year; 1998 was honored by the Arizona State Bar for her work providing education and training to prosecutors statewide; 1997 Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council Prosecutor of the Year.

McCollum, Bill, Deputy County Attorney, received the Tucson Police Chief's Medal of Merit in January 2008 for his work on cold cases.

McNeely, Fran, (retired) Special Staff Assistant, received the 2002 Community Service Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Mendola, Ben, Deputy County Attorney, 2005 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Pima County Attorney’s Office D.U.I. prosecutor of the year.

Nassen, Regina, Deputy County Attorney, 2006 recognized by the Arizona Open Land Trust for her exceptional contributions toward the preservation of open space in Pima County.

Padilla, Francisco, Victim Witness Trial Advocate, received the 2002 Community Service Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Also in 2002 he received the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award presented by Northern Arizona University to alumni who have committed themselves to volunteer work and community service.

Peterson, Wendy, Deputy County Attorney, in 1999 and again in 2005 received the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Special Recognition Award for outstanding performance; volunteers her time as a tutor in the Lawyers for Literacy Program; 2001 received the YMCA’s Volunteer of the Year award.

Roberts, Terri, Deputy County Attorney, was honored at the 2005 Annual YWCA Women on the Move awards banquet for her outstanding service to the community at large.

Russell, Nicole, Paralegal, was featured in ABC News series “In the Jury Room,” August 2004.

Salgado, Ed, PCAO Detective, received the Tucson Police Chief's Medal of Merit in January 2008 for his work on cold cases.

Straub, Chris, Chief Civil Deputy, was honored in October of 2005 by the University of Arizona’s Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science which held a faculty/staff lecture to recognize him.

Unklesby, Rick, Chief Trial Counsel, was named in 2005 as Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Association; 2005 received the Association of Government Attorney’s Capital Litigation Trail Advocacy Award; 2006 recipient of first annual Michael C. Cudahy criminal justice award from the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council.

Valencia, Valerie, Paralegal, received the2007 Affiliate Award from the National Association of Legal Assistants. 

Von Destinon, Mark, Special Staff Assistant, was honored in May 2007 with a national teaching award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development.

Ward, Chris, Deputy County Attorney, 2006 recognized by Tucson Police Department for outstanding work in prosecuting complex narcotics trafficking cases in conjunction with the Counter Narcotics Alliance; was recognized in February 2008 by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The award reads: “In grateful appreciation for the invaluable assistance provided to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in the interdiction of narcotics and narcotics proceeds totaling one million dollars in the U.S. Mail.”

Weaver, Tom, Deputy County Attorney, was a 1996 nominee for Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council.

Weidhopf, Pat, Special Staff Assistant, was the 2007 recipient of the YWCA Women on the Move Award.

Wintory, Richard, Deputy County Attorney, 2005 named Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Narcotics Officers Association, 2006 recognized by Tucson Police Department for outstanding work in prosecuting complex narcotics trafficking cases in conjunction with the Counter Narcotics Alliance; 2007 named the Arizona Felony Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council; was recognized in February 2008 by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The award reads: “In grateful appreciation for the invaluable assistance provided to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in the interdiction of narcotics and narcotics proceeds totaling one million dollars in the U.S. Mail.”