Director’s Community Leadership Award Presented to Susan A. WhiteHorse

On January 22, 2009, Richard K. Ruminski, Special Agent in Charge of the Milwaukee office of the FBI, was joined by J.B. Van Hollen, Attorney General of Wisconsin, to present the Milwaukee Division’s Director’s Community Leadership Award to Susan A. WhiteHorse, the Coordinator of the Wisconsin Missing Child and Adult Clearinghouse and the Administrator of the Wisconsin Amber Alert Program.

WhiteHorse is a 30-year veteran of the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation (DOJ- DCI). She was given responsibility of the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for missing children and adults in 1999 when she was assigned as Clearinghouse Manager and has maintained oversight of the program since then.

The Clearinghouse serves as a resource for both law enforcement and families in investigating cases involving missing and exploited children and adults and forms part of a nationwide network that works in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to reunite missing and abducted children with their families. The Amber Alert Program is a collaborative partnership between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to alert the general public when a child is abducted.

On January 22, 2009, Special Agent in Charge Richard K. Ruminski presents the Director’s Community Leadership Award. Shown from left to right are: State of Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Susan WhiteHorse, and Special Agent in Charge Ruminski.

WhiteHorse has also been noted for her development of unique programs for missing and exploited children in Native American tribal communities and spearheaded the creation of a Child Abduction Response Team.

Colleagues and community partners describe WhiteHorse as tireless in her efforts to assist the victims and families she serves. WhiteHorse is very visible working in the Native American community on communication and education with youth and adults.

She goes above and beyond, sometimes working weekends and holidays to make phone calls to connect the people she serves with right resources.

In 2007, WhiteHorse was named Missing Child State Clearinghouse Coordinator of the Year by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Since 1990, the FBI has publicly recognized the achievements of individuals and organizations at the local, state, or national level devoted to inform the public about crime and crime prevention with the distinction of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.