For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Contact: Captain Richard Flynn, PIO
Office: 781-316-3907
Cell: 781-844-1224
Email: rflynn@town.arlington.ma.us

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Arlington Police Inspector James Smith Receives Law Enforcement Public Service Award from U.S. Attorney’s Office

ARLINGTON — Chief Frederick Ryan is very pleased to announce that Arlington Police Inspector James Smith received a Law Enforcement Public Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice for his work rescuing victims of sex trafficking.

Each year, regional U.S. Attorneys recognize men and women of law enforcement whose investigations and police work lead to justice for numerous victims of violent crime, drug offenses and white collar crime/fraud.

During a ceremony on May 16 at the Federal Reserve Bank, Inspector Smith received the U.S. Attorney’s Investigative Achievement Award, which is given to those whose actions led directly to the arrest of a dangerous subject or the exposure of significant criminal conspiracy.

Inspector Smith was involved in Operation Cross Country, a FBI-led, multi-jurisdictional operation designed to identify victims of sex trafficking, especially minors. Through an investigation, police were able to rescue four victims from a sex trafficking operation led by three people: Tyrell Gorham, Lee Young and Chelanje Greene. All three suspects were sentenced to serve prison time after pleading guilty to the charges.

“Inspector Smith represents the highest standards of modern investigation and policing, and I am proud of the Arlington Police Department’s partnership with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has found and prosecuted those who exploit the innocent,” Chief Ryan said. “The identification, apprehension and prosecution of these human traffickers was a major achievement for our department, and this work will go on.”

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