FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2012
Contact: Liz Mills, Director of Media Relations and Communications, 571-251-5568 (mobile) Liz.mills@loudoun.gov
Loudoun County, VA – A recently retired Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office detective was recognized by the Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney, Victim Witness Program and the Loudoun Child Advocacy Center today for her relentless pursuit of justice for victims of crime.
Detective Bobbie Ochsman was presented with a Victims’ Services Award at the 14th Annual Victim Service Awards. During today’s ceremony Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Jim Plowman remarked on Bobbie’s persistence in not only solving the case, but ensuring the victim is not forgotten.
Detective Ochsman was also recognized at the services award in 2004 for her work on numerous high profile cases. She retired from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office after 22-years of service in December 2011.
“Bobbie was unyielding in her investigations and her determination led to numerous arrests in major crimes,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman. “Throughout each investigation she always kept the victim in mind,” Chapman added.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week runs April 22nd through April 28th. This year’s theme, “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim” encourages us to think about victims’ past struggles and our nation’s duty to help them rebuild stronger lives. For victims’ reshaping the future may mean confronting the challenges of being a victim of a crime such as just knowing your rights as a victim, coming up with funds to bury a loved one or paying medical bills. Victims also may want information on the criminal justice process, their rights to be present or heard in court, and to be notified about court proceedings and offenders’ whereabouts. For those who work with crime victims honoring the past means recalling a time, not too many years ago, when victims had no voice in the criminal justice system. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week honors the victims and advocates who had to confront these obstacles. It also is a time for us to recognize those who work with crime victims’ and go above and beyond in their work for crime victims’.
The ceremonies special guest speaker was Janet Pelasara, mother of Taylor Behl and victims’ rights advocate.
Also recognized at today’s ceremony were Susan M. Curtis, Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/LAWS; Detective Matt Hackney, Leesburg Police Department; Jodie Kent, MSW, Department of Family Services, Child Protective Services; and Jason Bickmore, Juvenile Probation Officer, Juvenile Court Services Unit.
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