FOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS HONORED BY THE PHILADELPHIA COALITION FOR VICTIM ADVOCACY FOR THEIR SERVICE TO CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES

Annual luncheon celebrates awardees during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week

PHILADELPHIA (April 6, 2017) – In celebration of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, the Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy (PCVA) today honored four public servants at their annual luncheon and award ceremony. All of the honorees work in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO).

“On behalf of the Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy and the District Attorney’s Office, congratulations to these four outstanding professionals for making such a difference in the lives of so many victims and witnesses of crime,” said John Delaney, Deputy of the Trial Division for the DAO. “It’s fitting that we honor these men and women during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week because, without their hard work and passion, we would not be able to make Philadelphia a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.”

The awards and awardees included:

• Catherine Bachrach Victim Advocate Award – Amanda Bee, Victim Witness Coordinator, DAO Homicide Unit is being honored for making significant contributions to the lives of crime victims. As a liaison between the DAO and the Office of the Attorney General, Amanda has become a victims’ champion and works tirelessly to empower victims who are being relocated due to intimidation.
• Barbara McPherson Award/Police Personnel Award – Officer Yusuf Jackson, DAO Police Officer is being celebrated for his role as a volunteer, youth advocate, and dedicated Officer. In addition to being assigned to the DAO, he is a volunteer presenter for the DAO’s Bridge to the Future Project, helping youth and preventing crime.
• Lynne Abraham Prosecutor Award – Branwen McNabb, Assistant District Attorney, DAO Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit (FVSAU) began working in the Unit in 2008. Since then she has made a name for herself as an advocate for the victims and witnesses of crime by successfully prosecuting several high profile cases. Ms. McNabb prosecuted Leon Watson, a youth football coach, who sexually abused five of the boys between the ages of eight and eleven years old, as well as Sumo Dukulah, an elementary school teacher, who was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter over the course of eight years.
• Volunteer Award – Robert “Bob” Cavanaugh has served the victims and witnesses of crime during and after his professional career. Bob, who had a lengthy career in law enforcement, is being honored for his more than 15 years of support for the DAO’s Juvenile Division and for making each victim feel special. When Bob is not volunteering with the DAO, he volunteers at the Breast Feeding Resource Center.

PCVA began in 1980 as the Philadelphia Crime and the Elderly Coalition and was changed to Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy in 1983 to reflect its changing service population.

The annual luncheon is held during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week to honor those who have made significant contributions in addressing or advocating for the needs of crime victims. The mission of PCVA is to promote the rights of crime victims through systematic advocacy, education, and collaboration.

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