Santa Clara Co. Honors Prosecutors

SAN JOSE, CA -- An investigator who helped track down a loose-knit gang of cryptocurrency thieves who hacked their victims’ cell phones. A community prosecutor who helped tackle human trafficking along Monterey Highway in San Jose. A criminalist who used a blue bullet coating to tie a gang member to a murder.

These are just some of the 2018 winners of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Annual Awards. The honorees were recognized Thursday for outstanding work by the district attorney office’s prosecutors, investigators, criminalists, paralegals and support staff.

Each year the office also recognizes a courageous crime victim.

“I am awed by the amazing work that you all do,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen told his staff gathered in the Isaac Newton Senter auditorium in San Jose. “I am inspired by the grit, ingenuity and intelligence that I see when I come to work every single day.”

Rosen gave a “State of the Office” speech praising how the 650 people in the office had dedicated their lives to public service and justice. He singled out other notable achievements of the past year, including the resolution of a 1973 murder of a Stanford graduate student.

Here is a complete list of the 2018 Annual Award winners:
• The Karyn Sinunu-Towery Courage Award: Chloe Howard
• Napoleon J. Menard Award for Felony Trial Advocacy: Deputy District Attorney Kin Tong
• Robert L. Webb Award for Misdemeanor Trial Advocacy: Deputy District Attorney Jordan Kahler
• Rolanda Pierre-Dixon Award for a Non-Trial Attorney: Deputy District Attorney Josue Fuenes
• Lowell W. Bradford Achievement of Excellence Award for Crime Lab Division: Criminalist Melissa Dupee
• Michael P. Brown Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Investigations Unit: Investigator David Berry
• Paralegal Excellence Award: Senior Paralegal Maggie Cheng
• Legal Support Award of Excellence: Information Systems Manager Brian Chan