LIVONIA, Mich., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) celebrated its 28th anniversary today with a breakfast and awards ceremony at Comerica Park. Andrew Arena, executive director of the Detroit Crime Commission, delivered the event's keynote address before an audience of more than 200 individuals comprised of law enforcement personnel, government officials and representatives from the insurance industry. 

"The H.E.A.T. program wouldn't be as successful in fighting auto theft without the dedication and teamwork of our hardworking partners," said Terri Miller, executive director of H.E.A.T. "Today is about celebrating our partners in law enforcement and the insurance industry, who work tirelessly to fight auto theft-related crime and insurance fraud to help keep our neighborhoods and families across Michigan safe. Thank you for all that you do!"

Arena also thanked attendees for their efforts and emphasized the importance of H.E.A.T.'s partners working as a team in the fight against auto theft. In addition, he spoke to the crowd about the need to fight unconventional auto theft-related crime, including insurance fraud, as this type of crime is on the rise in Michigan.

Several awards were presented at the event, including the prestigious William V. Liddane Award, the H.E.A.T. Investigator of the Year Award, and the Director's Award. Given annually, the Liddane Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies and demonstrates a strong commitment and effort to reducing auto theft-related crimes in Michigan, as Liddane did throughout his career. Liddane pursued alliances between law enforcement, business leaders and the community to fight rising insurance costs and auto theft-related crimes in Michigan, setting the foundation for H.E.A.T. and what the program is today.

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. The Director's Award, selected by Executive Director Terri Miller, celebrates an outstanding individual dedicated to reducing auto theft. This year's award recipients included:

WILLIAM V. LIDDANE AWARD

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

• Detroit Police Department – Conspiracy and Metro Insurance Fraud Squads
  • Sgt. Vernal Newson
  • Sgt. Jonathan Parnell
  • Sgt. Robert Wellman
  • Det. Frank Lenz
  • PO Dana Russell
  • PO Clive Stewart
  • PO Shawn Schmelter
  • PO Christopher Staton
  • PO Rohit Joshi
  • PO Ken Leonard
  • PO Rico Hardy
  • PO Alfredo Jimenez
  • PO John Berryman
  • PO Jon Metiva
  • PO Derek Owens
  • PO Steven Turner
  • ID Tech Keith Dawson

Director's Award

• Keith Dawson – Detroit Police Department

Outstanding Work with a Multijurisdictional Case

• Det. Mike Reilly – Livonia Police Department
• Tpr. Adam Henderson – Michigan State Police
• Sgt. Robert Wellman – Detroit Police Department, Commercial Auto Theft Section (CATS)

For more information about the Anniversary Breakfast, please visit www.1800242HEAT.com or follow H.E.A.T. on Facebook and Twitter @1800242HEAT. 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 of 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 warrant of a suspected car thief or a person suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud. H.E.A.T. rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the issuance of a warrant for a carjacking suspect. 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. The H.E.A.T. tip line is monitored by the Michigan State Police and funded by Michigan's auto insurance companies.

SOURCE H.E.A.T.

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