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FBI Director Recognizes Distinguished Community Leaders

FBI Portland March 20, 2009
  • Beth Anne Steele (503) 460-8099

Washington, D.C.—In a ceremony today at FBI Headquarters, Director Robert S. Mueller, III recognized the recipients of the 2008 Director’s Community Leadership Award.  These leaders, selected by their area FBI field office, have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their local communities through service. The FBI is grateful for the work of each of these individuals and organizations on behalf of their communities.

“Whatever the motivation – an unfilled need, a tragic occurrence, a desire to give back – these are people who make things happen and enlist others in their cause,” said Director Mueller.  “They are activists who have earned their prestige through good works.”

In Oregon, the FBI's Portland Division selected Eugene Police Department's Capt. Charles R. Tilby to receive the award. Capt. Tilby, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, has earned distinction within his department, and, in 2004, he was promoted to Captain. His current responsibilities include oversight and management of the Investigations Division.

In nominating Capt. Tilby for this award, the Portland Division cited two specific examples of his efforts that demonstrated his dedication to community safety. The first was his long-standing leadership in guiding the Operation Backfire investigation. Operation Backfire was a nine-year joint investigation targeting more than a dozen members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Capt. Tilby was vital to the overall effort, providing strong investigative leadership, coordinating with the FBI and other partners, and a showing a commitment to seeing a difficult case through a successful prosecution.

The second example of Capt. Tilby’s work cited in the nomination was his work leading up to the 2008 U.S. Track and Field Trials in Eugene. The event included approximately 1,000 athletes, 17,000 spectators and 1,000 members of the media. The nature of the event, its significance as a symbolic target, and other factors created unique difficulties in terms of protecting the athletes, fans and the general community. During this time, Capt. Tilby served as the primary force behind the Eugene Police Department’s efforts and coordinating with other agencies, including the FBI.

“Really good work does not happen in a vacuum,” said Capt. Tilby. “It happens in an environment where different players work together, with all of their individual strengths. In both of these cases, numerous agencies, law enforcement and others, worked in an extremely collaborative way, with only one goal in mind - complete the mission.”

Other recipients of the Director's Community Leadership include:

  • Lamar Advertising, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Clear Channel Outdoor, and Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia (FBI Headquarters)
  • Charles Muller, Pastor of Victory Christian Church (Albany)
  • John E. Ratmeyer, Deputy Chief and Member of the Child Protection Team, Gallup Indian Medical Center (Albuquerque)
  • Mao Tosi, Founder of the Pride Club (Anchorage)
  • Tapestri Immigrant & Refugee Coalition (Atlanta)
  • Yahya Hendi, Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick, Maryland and Muslim Chaplain at Georgetown University (Baltimore)
  • Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (Birmingham)
  • Christopher DiCenso, CEO of Growth Strategy Partners, LLS (Boston)
  • John Schunak, President of InfraGard (Buffalo)
  • John Chen, Vice-Chair of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (Charlotte)
  • Lawrence J. Wert, President, Central and Western Region, NBC Local Media (Chicago)
  • John R. McConnaughey, Owner and President of JRM Associates Life Insurance Company (Cincinnati)
  • David B. Alvarez, President and CEO of MEC Construction, Inc. (CJIS)
  • Beachwood Schools Foundation (Cleveland)
  • Pete Frommer, Director of the Aiken Department of Public Safety (Columbia)
  • Dallas Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents (Dallas)
  • Susan Oliva, Director of the Advocacy Center for the Children of El Paso (El Paso)
  • Chris Duque, Retired Detective for the Honolulu Police Department and President of the InfraGard Alliance (Honolulu)
  • Katherine Cabaniss, Director of Houston Crimestoppers (Houston)
  • Bilal Eksili, Executive Director of the Holy Dove Foundation (Indianapolis)
  • Marsha Thompson, Investigative Reporter/Anchor for WLBT television station (Jackson)
  • Ann Dugger, Executive Director of the Justice Coalition, Florida Victims’ Advocacy Organization (Jacksonville)
  • The Career Criminal Squad, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (Kansas City)
  • David Keith, Grassroots Advisory Board Member of the National Association to Protect Children (Knoxville)
  • Hezekiah D. Stewart, Executive Director of the Watershed Human and Community Development Agency, Inc., and Pastor of Moody Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Little Rock)
  • Dafer Mohhamed Dakhil, Director of Community Development and External Affairs for the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation (Los Angeles)
  • Mohammed Moinuddin, former President of the Muslim Society of Memphis (Memphis)
  • Handy, Inc. (Miami)
  • Susan A. WhiteHorse, State Coordinator of the Wisconsin Missing Child and Adult Clearinghouse and Administrator of the Wisconsin Amber Alert Program (Milwaukee)
  • Erika Binger, Chair of the Board of Directors of The McKnight Foundation (Minneapolis)
  • Ronald Pierce, Member of the Advocacy and Advisory Committee for Searcy Hospital and Chaplain for the State of Alabama's Mental Health & Mental Retardation Department (Mobile)
  • Alan J. Robinson, Director of Protection and Security Services for Atlantic Health (Newark)\
  • The Petit Family Foundation (New Haven)
  • Anthony Bergamo, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (New York)
  • James Graves, Teacher, Coach, and Head of Operation Think Smart (Norfolk)
  • Michael P. Norris, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska (Omaha)
  • James J. Binns, Lawyer and Founder of  the Hero Cop Plaque Program (Philadelphia)
  • Clarence W. Dupnik, Sheriff of Pima County and Chairman of the Southwest Border Executive Committee (Phoenix)
  • Barbara Smith, Head of the Roanoke Refugee and Immigration Services Office (Richmond)
  • Laurel White, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California (Sacramento)
  • Dewayne Bordeaux, CEO of the Colors of Success (Salt Lake City)
  • Nancy Kellogg, Division Chief of Child Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (San Antonio)
  • Bruce Churchill, Senior Project Manager for Delcan's Emergency Transportation Operations Division (San Diego)
  • Richmond BUILD Program (San Francisco)
  • Brad Richmond, Detective, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Violent Crimes Gang Enforcement Team (Seattle)
  • Timothy J. Davlin, Mayor of  Springfield, Illinois and member of the Governor's Law Enforcement Standards and Training Board (Springfield)
  • Dave Sinclair, Chairman and CEO of Dave Sinclair Auto Group (St. Louis)
  • Ann Johnson, Founder of the House of David (Tampa)
  • Jose Rodriguez, President of Fort Myers Construction Company (Washington Field)