| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Kim Davies |
| 2008 | Neal Wisner |
| 2005 | Suzanne Allen - Retired MAIPF/HEAT |
| 2003 | Ken Tassie - ATPA - Retired MSP |
| 2002 | Doug McCallister - Retired MSP |
| 2001 | Gasper Fiore - Boulevard & Trumull Towing, Inc. |
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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
NOMINATION PROCESS
Send all nomination forms and supporting documents to:
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Kim Davies is the backbone of the Macomb Auto Theft Squad (MATS). As their Account Clerk since 1992, Kim is in charge of maintaining records, files, statistics, budgets, reports and daily office operations for the 7 different police agencies that make up the unit. She is the "go to" person whenever there is a question about procedures and all of the paperwork it takes to get the job done. She is responsible for preparing reports for 10 detectives which are legendary at the Macomb County Sheriff's Office. She is committed to fight auto theft. She handles the HEAT tips investigated by MATS and tracks them from start to finish. She is an avid supporter of the program always encouraging the team to use HEAT to further enhance their investigations.
Kim's vast knowledge of auto theft and the laws relating to the crime are well known in the industry. She corresponds with different police agencies, insurance companies, prosecutors and committees to ensure that they are working together towards the goal of eliminating auto theft. Kim is continuously training new incoming officers on the steps needed to take a sound arrest and turn it into a guilty conviction.
Kim is not a sworn officer and she does not carry a gun, but the impact she has on auto theft in Macomb County should send the bad guys running.
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Neal Wisner, former Senior Special Agent for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a court recognized expert on vehicle identification and vehicle theft matters. Neal’s special interests and skill were in commercial vehicle theft and identification and he played an active role as an educator to law enforcement and other fraud investigators. He was a six time guest instructor at the FBI Academy and lectured extensively on vehicle theft issues at state and local police academies as well as several vehicle theft & fraud seminars throughout the United States.
Neal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Kent State University in 1977. He entered the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and was commissioned as a State Trooper in January of 1978. Stationed on the Ohio Turnpike, Neal won several awards for proficiency in recovering stolen vehicles and was a guest instructor on this topic at the Patrol Academy.
After three years of service, Neal accepted a position as Special Agent with the National Automobile Theft Bureau (NATB), now known as the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). He was assigned to Detroit, southeastern Michigan, and northwest Ohio to investigate vehicle theft and fraud cases. He also began to regularly tour southeast Michigan’s automobile manufacturing facilities and lecture on vehicle theft related topics. In addition to his duties in the Midwest, Neal was assigned to assist in vehicle identification in Louisiana following the Katrina disaster.
Neal is a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, the North Central Regional Chapter of IAATI, the Michigan Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators (MAVTI), the Michigan Anti-Car Theft (ACT) Committee and the Ohio Auto Theft Investigators Association (OATIA).
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |