NACOLE recognizes contributions to and accomplishments in the field of civilian oversight with two awards categories:
- The NACOLE Flame Award recognizes long-term contributions to the field of law enforcement, jail, and prison oversight and a demonstrated commitment to NACOLE's mission, vision, and values.
- The NACOLE Achievement in Oversight / Contribution to Oversight Award recognizes a specific accomplishment or contribution to civilian oversight by an individual, organization, or agency that demonstrates a commitment to the effective oversight of law enforcement, jails, or prisons and to NACOLE's mission, vision, and values.
Following are common questions about the nomination process:
Who can submit a nomination? NACOLE members, including employees of agencies with a NACOLE Organizational Membership
What happens after a nomination is submitted? The Awards Sub-committee of NACOLE’s Training, Education, and Standards Committee will review all nominations and make recommendations to the NACOLE Board of Directors. The Board will review the nominations and recommendations and then make final decisions regarding award recipients.
What are the criteria for each award? Please click the respective award above for the criteria. Please ensure that your nomination clearly addresses specific criteria. The Awards Sub-committee assesses a nominee's qualifications primarily on the information submitted by the nominator. Do not assume the sub-committee will be familiar with your nominee and/or their qualifications. Please provide clear and specific information that links to respective criteria.
Can one nomination be for two or more people rather than an individual? Yes. If you submit a nomination for multiple individuals to share an award, please provide sufficient information for each person to be evaluated individually on respective criteria. Each person will be evaluated individually, and all individuals must be deemed deserving in order for a joint nomination to succeed.
What information is required for the Award Nomination Form?
- Nominee's name and email address
- Approximate time period of the nominee's achievement and/or contribution
- Geographic area(s) (neighborhood, community, city, state, country, etc.) and/or facility (specific jail or prison, etc.) of the nominee's contribution/achievement
- If the nominee is a member of a campaign, group, or collaborative effort, an explanation of why the individual, rather than the group, is being nominated
- Identification of which of the six respective criteria you will address in your nomination (Criteria can be found by clicking the respective award above.)
- A description of how the nominee has met the selected criteria (up to 1,000 words)
- Optional: Up to three statements/letters from individuals in support of the nomination (You will have the ability to upload the statements/letters.)
- Optional: Existing documents (not one created for purposes of the nomination) that would provide insight into the reasons the person is being nominated. For instance, if nominating a legislator for legislation, attaching the legislation is appropriate and would be helpful. If nominating a journalist for an article, attaching the article is appropriate. (You will have the ability to upload the statements/letters.)
Nomination for this year's awards will be accepted through (TBD). For more information and to submit your nomination(s) please click HERE
The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement has recognized the following individuals for their contributions to the field of civilian oversight with a NACOLE award. The year and location of the annual conference in which they were recognized are noted.
FLAME AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Flame Award, the association’s highest honor, recognizes significant long-term contributions to the field of civilian oversight of law enforcement, jails, and prisons.
Sharon R. Fairley Tucson, AZ 2024
CAMELIA NAGUIB Chicago, IL 2023
LIANA PEREZ Tucson, AZ 2021
MICHELE Y. DEITCH Detroit, MI 2019
HON. THELTON E. HENDERSON St. Petersburg, FL 2018
L. PIERCE MURPHY Spokane, WA 2017
CHRISTY E. LOPEZ Albuquerque, NM 2016
CHARLES D. REYNOLDS Riverside, CA 2015
JOHN W. MACK Kansas City, MO 2014
PHILIP K. EURE Salt Lake City, UT 2013
MICHAEL GENNACO San Diego, CA 2012
RICHARD ROSENTHAL New Orleans, LA 2011
AL LACABE Seattle, WA 2010
NUALA O’LOAN San Jose, CA 2007
ANTHONY D. ROMERO San Jose, CA 2007
SAMUEL WALKER Miami, FL 2005
JANET RENO Miami, FL 2005
MERRICK BOBB Los Angeles, CA 2003
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERSIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
CONTRIBUTION TO OVERSIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Both the Achievement in Oversight and the Contribution to Oversight Awards recognize a specific, significant accomplishment or contribution to civilian oversight by an individual, an organization, or an agency.
Barbara Kenney Tucson, AZ 2024
Seattle, WA, Office of Police Accountability Tucson, AZ 2024
EDWARD HARNESS Chicago, IL 2023
AREWA KAREN WINTERS Chicago, IL 2023
ANDREA ARMSTRONG Fort Worth, TX 2022
JAYSON WECHTER Fort Worth, TX 2022
SIMONE LEVINE Tucson, AZ 2021
IMANI JAAFAR Detroit, MI 2019
CONSTANTIN SEVERE Detroit, MI 2019
NEW YORK CITY CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE PROSECUTION UNIT Detroit, MI 2019
NO ON PROPOSITION H CORE COMMITTEE St. Petersburg, FL 2018
COMMISSIONER TERRENCE F. WILLIAMS & THE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATIONS (INDECOM) St. Petersburg, FL 2018
JUDGE ANNE LEVINSON (Ret) St. Petersburg, FL 2018
DIANA TERAN St. Petersburg, FL 2018
SUSAN HUTSON & THE STAFF OF THE NEW ORLEANS INDEPENDENT POLICE MONITOR Spokane, WA 2017
DONNA SALAZAR Spokane, WA 2017
COALITION FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY Spokane, WA 2017
PETER S. HOLMES Spokane, WA 2017
NICHOLAS E. MITCHELL & THE STAFF OF THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR Albuquerque, NM 2016
SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA & COMMUNITY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TASKFORCE Albuquerque, NM 2016
INVISIBLE INSTITUTE Albuquerque, NM 2016
TERRY KENNEDY, ANTONIO FRENCH Riverside, CA 2015
SAMARA MARION Riverside, CA 2015
BRAD LANDER, JUMAANE WILLIAMS Kansas City, MO 2014
PATRISSE CULLORS-BRIGNAC Kansas City, MO 2014
KELLY DAVIS, LIAM DILLON & DAVE MAASS Kansas City, MO 2014
JOHN DAHLBURG, SALLY KESTIN & JOHN MAINES Salt Lake City, UT 2013
CENTER FOR JUSTICE Salt Lake City, UT 2013
ANDRÉ MARIN San Diego, CA 2012
TOM JENNINGS, LAURA MAGGI, BRENDAN MCCARTHY & A. C. THOMPSON San Diego, CA 2012
STATE ASSEMBLYMAN MARK LENO San Jose, CA 2007
STATE SENATOR GLORIA ROMERO San Jose, CA 2007
MARK SCHLOSBERG San Jose, CA 2007
JOHN CREW Denver, CO 2001
ADDITIONAL AWARD RECIPIENTS
In previous years, the Board has chosen to honor Board members for long-term and outstanding service to NACOLE. Although a more formalized process has replaced this practice in recent years, we must not forget the long-term and outstanding service by the following individuals to the NACOLE Board of Directors:
CAROL SCOTT Seattle, WA 2010
DONALD CASIMERE Cincinnati, OH 2008
ROBIN LOLAR San Jose, CA 2007
ROSE CEJA-ARAGON Miami, FL 2005
SUE L. QUINN Miami, FL 2005
TERESA GUERRERO-DALEY Chicago, IL 2004
ROBERT AARONSON Chicago, IL 2004
DENISE DEFOREST Chicago, IL 2004
JOE SANDOVAL Los Angeles, CA 2003
DEDE WILHELM Los Angeles, CA 2003
NACOLE FOUNDERS Cambridge, MA 2002