By Bob Bianchi
CDA Investigator in Victoria County & Investigator Board Chair
Friends, investigators, all TDCAA members: Lend me your ears. (Sorry, I just couldn’t think of how to start this article.) As the Investigator Board Chair, I’d like to write about the different awards that the Investigator Section hands out each year. Don’t get me wrong, all investigators are professionals, but some of them really stand out, and they deserve the recognition. There could be one you work with who’s done something special, who always seems to go above and beyond to help others and get things done. If there is someone like that in mind, you might consider nominating him or her for one of the awards I’m about to cover.
The Investigator Board gives out at least five different awards each year:
• Professional Criminal Investigator (PCI) certificates
• Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year award
• Career Investigator award
• Oscar Sherrell award
• Lifetime Achievement.
We’ve recently had a few minor changes to the awards process so be sure to carefully follow the instructions on the nomination forms before submitting to avoid them being returned.
There may be older versions of some of the nomination forms floating around; please note that all current forms will have a revised date of June 2024 in the upper right corner. The revised dates should change every year with the new contact person’s name and email address. Also pay attention to the deadlines as the nominations will not be accepted after those dates and will need to be resubmitted for the following year (PCI certificates are the only exception). If an application is received before the December 1, deadline, the award will be given at the Investigator Conference in February; if it is received after December 1, it will be awarded at the Investigator Conference a year later.
The awards
Professional Criminal Investigator (PCI) certificate. This is available to any TDCAA investigator who meets the following criteria:
1) must be a licensed peace officer and employed full time as an investigator by any elected county, district, or criminal district attorney,
2) minimum of eight years of full-time employment with an Advanced TCOLE Certificate or five years of full-time employment with a Master TCOLE Certificate, and
3) must be a paid member of TDCAA.
Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year Award. This award is given annually to a prosecutor’s investigator who exemplifies the commitment of the law enforcement community to serving others, serving his office and remaining active with TDCAA. Chuck Dennis was the first DA investigator in Victoria County back in 1973. Prior to accepting the position, he was a U.S. Air Force veteran, patrol deputy for Bexar and Fort Bend Counties, patrol officer for Castle Hills and Olmos Park police departments, Deputy U.S. Marshal in San Marcos, and police chief in Stafford. Chuck was a Victoria DA Investigator until his untimely passing in 1980 after undergoing heart surgery. This award was created by the Investigator section shortly after his passing.
Career Investigator Award. This award recognizes an investigator who is retiring and has given of himself to the Association and the profession, worked with and for the goals of the Association, and spent a considerable amount of time as a prosecutor’s investigator. Nominees must also meet the following criteria:
1) obtained his or her PCI certificate
2) has been a paid TDCAA member for 10 years (may be cumulative but not broken by more than 10 years)
3) retiring after 15 years of service as a prosecutor’s investigator that has at least 20 years total service as a sworn Texas peace officer.
Oscar Sherrell Service to TDCAA Award. The Oscar Sherrell Award recognizes those enthusiastic investigators who excel in TDCAA work. This award may recognize a specific activity that has benefited or improved TDCAA or may recognize a body of work that has improved the service that TDCAA provides to the profession.
Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes exemplary service and contributions to the profession and the Association and is not intended to be awarded on a regular basis. Those nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award must meet the following criteria set forth by the Association prior to being forwarded to the TDCAA Parent Board for final approval:
1) be a dues-paying member of TDCAA and in good standing
2) have a least 10 years’ experience in a prosecutor’s office (cumulative, not continuous)
3) have received the Professional Criminal Investigator (PCI) certificate
4) be a past recipient of the Chuck Dennis Award
5) be retiring or retired from a prosecutor’s office.
More information is available at TDCAA’s website (search for “Investigator Section awards”). You can also reach out to your Regional Investigator Board members or myself, and we can assist you in the award application process or anything else you might need.
I’d like to personally thank the Investigator Board for their hard work and dedication to TDCAA and their respective offices:
Ruben Segovia in Bexar County (ex oficio)
Robert Bianchi in Victoria County (Chair)
Joe Medrano in Bell County (Regions 3 & 8 Director)
Mike Holley in Kaufman County (Secretary & At-Large Director)
Chris Hamilton in the 97th Judicial District (Regions 1 & 7 Director)
Fred Gutierrez in Webb County (Regions 2 & 4 Director)
Oscar Ruiz in the Special Prosecution Unit (Regions 5 & 6 Director)
Amber Howell in Milam County (At-Large Director)