Senator Chris Dodd Receives National Crime Fighter Award

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – a national crime prevention organization of more than 4,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and crime survivors, including 42 members in Connecticut – honored Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd with the prestigious Champion for Children Award during a ceremony held today at the Green Street Arts Center in Middletown, Conn.

Connecticut law enforcement officials recognized the five-term senator for his tireless work on early childhood education initiatives, such as Head Start. Dodd is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee and Chairman of the Children and Families Subcommittee, which handles early education issues.

Wethersfield Police Chief James Cetran recognized Senator Dodd for his outstanding efforts, noting that increased investment in quality early childhood education is one the most important weapons in fighting future crime.

“America’s anti-crime arsenal contains no weapons more powerful than the proven programs that help kids get the right start in life,” Cetran said. “Quality early childhood education, effective abuse and neglect prevention programs like home visiting, and quality after-school are all crucial components in laying a solid foundation for success for our state’s most precious resource – our children. These investments give our children the opportunity to wear a graduation gown, rather than an orange jumpsuit.”

Connecticut Homeland Security Commissioner Jim Thomas added: “Under your excellent stewardship, Head Start and Early Head Start have expanded to help meet the vast unmet need. You have also insisted on higher quality teachers, requiring more of them to have college degrees, while enhancing the coordination of Head Start with child care, state preschool programs, and other early education and care programs.”

East Hampton Chief Matthew Reimondo, who presented Dodd with the award, praised the Senator for his commitment to investing in the next generation.
Reimodo said that Dodd is “an outstanding advocate for providing quality programs to our nation’s children, especially at-risk children and their families.”

“You have raised the bar for all your colleagues,” Reimodo said. “We look forward to continuing to work together to benefit our youngest citizens and help reduce crime.”

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FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is a bipartisan, anti-crime organization led by more than 4,000 sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors and victims of violent crime, including 121 in the state of Massachusetts. Its mission is to identify what really works to keep kids from becoming criminals.