HEAT DIRECTOR'S AWARD

The HEAT Director's Award
Year	Recipient
2005	Suzanne Allen - Retired MAIPF/HEAT
2003	Ken Tassie - ATPA - Retired MSP
2002	Doug McCallister - Retired MSP
2001	Gasper Fiore - Boulevard & Trumull Towing, Inc.

The HEAT Director's Award was established to recognize those who have proven themselves to be dedicated to HEAT and to fighting auto theft in Michigan. We honor individuals from many different areas with this award. This award replaces the Media Award that was presented in 2000.

QUALIFICATIONS

The individual
- may be a member of the insurance industry;
- may work in federal, state or local government; or
- may be involved in another business entity or community organization engaged in initiatives to combat auto theft.
Nominees will be judged
- on their overall contribution and
- their positive impact toward the reduction of auto theft in Michigan.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Completed nomination forms will be accepted with postmarks up to September 1.
Nomination forms and supporting documents become the exclusive property of the HEAT® Program. Furthermore, the nomination forms and supporting documents may be used at the discretion of the HEAT® Program to publicize the award, award recipient, and promote the Director's Award program.
Self nominations are accepted.
The recipient will be recognized at the annual anniversary breakfast in October.
Articles promoting the award will appear in future news releases and other publications from the HEAT® Program.

Send all nomination forms and supporting documents to:

Terri A. Miller, CPCU

Director, HEAT® Program

17177 N. Laurel Park Drive, Suite 243

Livonia, MI 48152-2647

Suzanne Allen, humble, dedicated and hardworking, was the HEAT® program's first program coordinator and worked closely with HEAT® founder, William Liddane. Together they launched the program that would change the way law enforcement would investigate auto theft crimes in Michigan. While managing the HEAT® tips and compiling statistics, Suzanne was also the chairperson of the HEAT® committee and served on the ACT committee. She actively fought to increase the awareness of HEAT® by seeking opportunities statewide that could also benefit from the HEAT message. Her contributions behind the scenes and in front of the cameras led HEAT® to being one of the most influential authorities on auto theft. The groundwork that she laid has helped HEAT® continue its mission of helping to eliminate auto theft and to educate the public about the extent and true cost of auto theft.

Ken Tassie is a 23-year veteran of the Michigan State Police, retiring from the department in January 2002 as a D/Sgt. He also had prior public service as a sheriff department marine deputy, municipal reserve officer, and emergency medical technician with both municipal and private emergency medical services. Ken's last assignment was as the Team Leader of the MSP/Washtenaw Area Auto Theft Team. He has also been assigned to the State Police post at Brighton Mi., MSP/Training Division - Ordnance and Marksmanship Training Unit, MSP/E. Lansing - Criminal Intelligence Unit, MSP/E. Lansing CID Auto Theft Team, MSP/E. Lansing CID - Tri-County Metro Narcotics Squad and served on the departments' tactical team. Ken is currently a deputy sheriff with the Livingston County Sheriff Dept., the Founder of Trident Performance Group LLC, and an adjunct staff instructor at the Washtenaw Community College in Public Service Training in the areas of Firearms, Use of Force, and Vehicle Theft. In addition, Ken teaches vehicle theft related classes and consults on vehicle theft related issues to the law enforcement community through a grant awarded to the Michigan Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators by the Michigan Automobile Theft Prevention Authority in association with the Michigan Department of State Police.

Ken has also been instrumental in promoting the HEAT program throughout Michigan. He first accepted the challenge of narrating a roll-call video, designed to inform auto theft investigators and road officers about the benefits of the HEAT program and how to use it in their area. In addition, he's starring in the interactive portion of our exhibit. Last, but certainly not least, he made contacts on our behalf that allowed us to produce and distribute a series of three training videos to law enforcement units statewide.

Ken is someone who never says "no" to anything that would help fight auto theft in Michigan, and he is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet - unless you're a car thief, that is.

Doug McCallister knows the importance of training officers and auto theft investigators in the detection of stolen vehicles and insurance fraud. Investigators are only as strong as the tools they were given and it is crucial to keep them up to date with the latest technology and techniques. Through the Auto Theft Prevention Authority, he took on the challenge of developing a training program for all the auto theft investigators and police officers and in the past two years he has conducted 120 training sessions, including 140 different police departments and more than 1,400 officers trained. He has incorporated HEAT into every training session. His contributions to the fight against auto theft are greatly appreciated.

Gasper Fiore doesn't seek attention for his efforts. He assists law enforcement efforts in the way in which his company handles impounded vehicles, many times at the expense of profit. He has educated his employees to be the "eyes and ears" of law enforcement when they are in the field, and he has provided both staff support and the use of his peroperties to the HEAT program for media opportunities and other filming, including the roll call video. His generosity and willingness to help are greatly appreciated.

The HEAT Director's Award