FRESNO -  U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced the two winners of the Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Awards, recognizing the outstanding professionalism and dedicated public service of our local and state law enforcement partners. These awards, presented annually to a law enforcement agency and an officer in each of the Sacramento and Fresno divisions of the Eastern District of California, recognize outstanding collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement in addressing public safety issues in this region.

The winner of the Fresno division’s Outstanding Investigator Award is Detective Robert Pair of the Bakersfield Police Department for his outstanding work as case agent for Operation Blind Mice, a multi-agency investigation into Bakersfield’s West Side Crips gang.  Detective Pair was instrumental in obtaining federal indictments against 11 West Side Crips members or associates as well as state charges against approximately 30 individuals for crimes ranging from burglary to murder.  He helped draft wire applications, monitored wires, and conducted associated investigations.  As a member of the Bakersfield Police Department’s gang squad, Detective Pair brought an extensive knowledge of the West Side Crips gang to the investigation that the other investigators relied upon repeatedly.

The winner of the Fresno division’s Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award is the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office for its contributions to law enforcement in the Central Valley.  In recent years, that office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have worked together closely as partners to tackle the violent gang problem in Fresno County, including MS-13, as well as on other major cases and outreach efforts.  Not only is the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office a reliable partner in Project Safe Neighborhood, a national program to reduce violent crime, it has been an effective partner in investigating and prosecuting child pornography and sexual exploitation cases.

U.S. Attorney Scott stated, “Both winners of this year’s award have demonstrated a deep commitment to collaborating with our office and other federal, state and local partners to work toward the mutual goal of public safety. Detective Pair’s tireless work has made Bakersfield a safer place for its residents. The open lines of communication between our office and the District Attorney’s Office have ensured that our violent-crime fighting efforts are maximized.  We are grateful to their continued partnership in our joint effort to make Fresno County a safer place to live.”