MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Alabama Retail Association in their continuing partnership to limit driver license fraud today presented the Driver License Examiner of the Year Award to Eric Lucas and Driver License Specialist of the Year Award to Cynthia Ash.
Cynthia Ash and Eric Lucas
WHY RETAILERS CARE ABOUT ACCURATE DRIVER LICENSES
The work Lucas, Ash and other Driver License personnel do protects Alabamians and combats identity theft, which cost U.S. consumers $15 billion in 2015. Alabama ranks 30th among the states in identity theft complaints. Our state’s citizens filed almost 5,000 complaints with the Federal Trade Commission in 2015, equaling 102.3 cases per 100,000 residents.
Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler said ALEA simply will not tolerate identity theft. “Alabama takes seriously the security of each and every driver license and the integrity of the licensing system,” Stabler said.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Alabama Retail President Rick Brown said, “Since the inception of these annual awards in 2001, Alabama’s retailers have proudly honored those who are on the frontline every day protecting citizens from identity theft.”
Each year, the driver license examiners and specialists in the License Services Division of ALEA’s Support Services Bureau save thousands of lost retail dollars by preventing individuals from obtaining false identities, or stealing an individual’s identity and using that identification to obtain checking and credit accounts for unlawful purposes. In 2015, License Services was responsible for 342 felony arrests, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests (both felonies) and 1,050 misdemeanor arrests. The division’s personnel also recovered 10 missing persons in 2015, seven juveniles and three adults.
>> Driver License Unit Arrest Record
THE AWARDS
Those within License Services who excel at recognizing fraudulent activity and go the extra mile to fight deceptive criminals and prevent fraud receive the annual driver license awards. In 2015, division staff members initiated arrests for charges including failure to appear, felony fraud, forgery, robbery, larceny, child neglect, rape, parole violations, firearms violations and even making terrorist threats.
In determining the award recipients, a point system is used, with points allocated for each arrest. The more serious the offense, the more points awarded. In 2015, Driver License Specialist Cynthia Ash of Birmingham earned 294 points to claim the Specialist of the Year award to become a first-time Specialist of the Year. Examiner I Eric Lucas, also of Birmingham, earned 152 points to become a first-time Examiner of the Year based on the point system.
>> Driver License Award Winners Since 2001
Ash was also recognized as Specialist of the Quarter for the 4th Quarter of 2015 with 48 points and for the 2nd Quarter of 2014 with 119 points. Also recognized were:
- Driver License Examiner I Stacy Fuqua in the Decatur District, Decatur Driver License Office, with 70 points, as Examiner of the Quarter for the 4th Quarter of 2015;
- Driver License Specialist Sharon Perry in the Mobile District, Mobile Driver License Office, with 99 points, as Driver License Specialist of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter of 2015;
- Driver License Examiner I Pamela Rawlinson in the Montgomery District, Montgomery Driver License Office, with 50 points, as Examiner of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter of 2015;
- Driver License Examiner I Tonya O’Banion in the Montgomery District, Montgomery Driver License Office, with 61 points, as Examiner of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter of 2015;
- Driver License Specialist Regina Hardy in the Birmingham District, Birmingham Driver License Office, with 130 points, as Driver License Specialist of the Quarter for the 1st Quarter of 2015;
- Driver License Examiner I Carlos Flores in the Mobile District, Mobile Driver License Office, with 67 points, as Examiner of the Quarter for the 1st Quarter of 2015.
The Driver License Examiner and Specialist recipients were recognized during an 11:30 a.m. luncheon today at the Wynlakes Golf & Country Club in Montgomery. Secretary Stabler was the keynote speaker.
ABOUT ALABAMA RETAIL
The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,100 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Nancy King Dennis | 334.551.0643 | 800.239.5423 | ndennis@alabamaretail.org
Sgt. Steve Jarrett, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency| steve.jarrett@alea.gov