FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AG

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1998

(202) 616 2765

TDD (202) 514 1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HONORS 178

AT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CEREMONY

OKLAHOMA BOMBING INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION TEAM

RECEIVES TOP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARD

WASHINGTON,D.C. Justice Department officials who

investigated and prosecuted the Oklahoma bombing case, coordinated
the National Church Arson Task Force, pursued the World
Trade Center bombers, and tracked the Unabomber were among more
than 170 individuals honored today by Attorney General Janet
Reno.

At the 46th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony, held at

Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., Reno presented the
Department's top award, the Exceptional Service Award, to six
members of the Oklahoma bombing investigation and prosecution
team.

"This award is the highest honor I can bestow for their

unparalleled dedication and perseverance in investigating and
prosecuting those responsible for the worst act of domestic
terrorism in American history," said Reno.

The Exceptional Service Awards were awarded to Danny A.

Defenbaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Dallas Field Office, FBI;
Joseph Hartzler, Senior Litigation Counsel, Springfield,
Illinois, U.S. Attorney's office; Larry A. Mackey, Senior
Litigation Counsel, Indianapolis, U.S. Attorney's office; Beth
Wilkinson, Special Assistant to the Director for the Executive
Office of U.S. Attorneys; Sean Connelly, Trial Attorney, Criminal
Division; and K. Lynn Anderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Oklahoma
U.S. Attorney's office.

Eleven other members of the Oklahoma bombing investigation

and prosecution team received the Department's second highest
award, the Distinguished Service Award and 13 others received
Special Commendation Awards or an Attorney General's medallion
for their contributions as members of the McVeigh/Nichols
prosecution team.

"Every member of this team deserves the thanks of the

American people for their commitment, hard work, and personal
sacrifice in bringing the perpetrators of this horrific crime to
justice," Reno added.

The Department's second highest award, the Attorney

General's Award for Distinguished Service, was presented to 58
employees and five other individuals for their work in several
other high profile cases including the Unabomb Task Force, the
National Church Arson Task Force, the FBI laboratory
investigation, the World Trade Center bombing, New York La Cosa
Nostra probe, and the John Fife Symington loan and wire fraud
case.

Five correctional officers with the Federal Bureau of

Prisons (BOP) received the Attorney General's Award for
Exceptional Heroism for their courageous actions on April 3,
1997, at the U.S. Penitentiary at Lompoc. On that day, an inmate
mortally wounded officer Scott Williams in an unprovoked, vicious
attack. Although mortally wounded, Williams' last act of life
was protecting a fellow officer. Officers Scot Elliott, Scott
Leedham, Marcos Marquez, and Mark Stephenson each suffered
serious injuries as they came to Williams' aid. In addition to
the four who received awards, Williams received his award
posthumously.

"The bravery and heroic valor is in the highest tradition of

the BOP and all law enforcement agencies," said Reno. "Their
selfless disregard for their personal safety, and courageous
willingness to risk their own well being to protect the lives of
fellow officers, make them among the best of correctional
professionals."

The Attorney General's Award for Meritorious Public Service

was presented to Alonzo Carpenter, Resident Co Chairperson of the
St. Petersburg Weed and Seed Steering Committee. Carpenter was
honored for his unfailing commitment to the Weed and Seed
program.

"In the face of opposition from a local organization, as

well as personal insults, threats, and vandalism to his home,
Carpenter has never wavered in his resolve to assure a better
quality of life for the residents of South St. Petersburg," noted
Reno.
 The Attorney General's William French Smith Award for
Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement was
presented to Charles Moose, Chief of Police, Portland, Oregon.
Moose was honored for his dynamic leadership in promoting the
effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement through
cooperative policing and his efforts to create a true spirit of
partnership among law enforcement entities, bridging the gap
between those agencies and the communities they serve.

"Today's awards acknowledge the exceptional achievements,

leadership and heroism of Department employees, Reno said. "The
events of the past year have once again presented many challenges
for the Justice Department, and I am proud of how we have
responded to them."

In all, 59 awards, in 28 different categories, were

presented to 178 individuals, including 165 Department employees
and 13 others. Award recipients were selected from more than 420
nominations. For more information about individual award recipi
ents and the corresponding activities which led to their awards,
please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 202 616 2765.

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