LANSING -- From Invest in Kids Michigan:

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan – a statewide crime prevention non-profit organization led by more than 400 of Michigan’s best-known police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and crime survivors – honored two Saginaw County leaders, Prosecutor Mike Thomas, and Sheriff Charles Brown, with Fight Crime’s prestigious “Crime Fighter Award” during a recent training conference.

K.P. Pelleran, State Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, said, “Preventing crime at the front end is in each communities’ best interest and in the best interest of our children.  Fight Crime is honored to convey its 2008 ‘Crime Fighter Award’ to both Prosecutor Thomas and Sheriff Brown for their outstanding support and leadership on behalf of investments in child abuse and neglect prevention, high-quality preschool, and high-quality after-school programs.”

Pelleran added, “Since joining Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, these two dedicated leaders have been a constant voice for proven investments that have helped lead children to success and opportunity, rather than letting them slip to delinquency.  They have both taken leadership roles in several of our Fight Crime-sponsored ‘Community Conversations’ where they shared the benefits of these important programs with lawmakers and community leaders.  Their efforts have encouraged lawmakers to increase state funding for vital child abuse and neglect prevention programs by 39% over the past five years, and brought about a $20 million increase since 2006 in the state-funded preschool program for at-risk four-year-olds. The members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan are honored to convey the prestigious ‘Crime Fighter Award’ to both Prosecutor Thomas and Sheriff Brown for their distinguished advocacy on behalf of these proven prevention programs.”