With Veterans Day approaching, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office would like to thank and honor our nation’s veterans. In our Office, we have over 65 employees who selflessly served their country in the military. In this issue, we would like to feature one of them, Deputy County Attorney David Irwin.
 
David came to work for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2012 and is a prosecutor in the Sex Crimes-East Bureau of MCAO’s Special Victims Division. For David, “being a prosecutor is all about service to something bigger than myself. I honestly believe that, like the US Army, MCAO’s mission is to protect people that cannot protect themselves and serve the greater good.”
 
David joined the active duty Army as a private in 1997 and left the Army as a captain in 2005.
 
From 1997 to 1999, he served as a Tank Gunner, loader and driver on an M1A1 Main Battle Tank in the 1st Battalion 8th US Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. During this time, he deployed with his unit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to support Operation Joint Endeavor.
 
Between 2001 and 2005, David served as a tank platoon leader and then as a tank company executive officer in 2nd Battalion 8th US Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Baghdad, Iraq from 2004 through 2005.
 
David’s unit was featured in the National Geographic mini-series “The Long Road Home,” which recounts the ambush of an infantry platoon in Sadr City which led to an eight-hour battle now known to many as “Black Sunday.” The mini-series was based on the book of the same name written by Martha Raddatz.
 
David received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq, and a Combat Action Badge for direct engagements with enemy forces. David also earned the parachute badge upon his successful completion of airborne school.
 
David describes being a tanker as “the best job I ever had” but also thinks that “being a sex crimes prosecutor is an amazing job.” MCAO salutes David’s service as an armor officer in the United States Army and his service as a Deputy County Attorney in Maricopa County, and applauds his commitment to serve causes greater than himself.

During the entire month of October, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) was dedicated to spreading awareness about the issue of Domestic Violence in our communities as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Established more than 30 years ago, DVAM has three goals; to celebrate those who have survived abuse, mourn those who have died because of domestic violence and collectively work toward ending the violence.
 
As part of DVAM this year, MCAO wanted to raise awareness of the danger domestic violence poses to children, even if they are not directly targeted by the abuser. Every 44 minutes one or more children are witnesses to domestic violence in Arizona, an exposure that can put kids at higher risk to become the next generation of abusers and victims.
 
Partnering in this awareness campaign was New Life Center, who is on the front lines of this issue not only one month per year, but year-round. On average 70 percent of those they help provide a safe place to reside are children, who are part of families attempting to leave an abusive situation.
 
The New Life Center’s comprehensive 120-day program empowers families to craft independent lives while providing necessary living needs. Throughout October, employees from MCAO hosted an employee donation drive for children’s shoes to assist with fulling such necessary needs, collecting over 100 pairs for New Life Center’s young residents.
 
Domestic Violence remains one of America’s most underreported crimes. It is a crime that affects all ethnicities, social classes, cultures and ages and may be difficult to identify as it takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse.
 
As we move into November, it is important that we continue to discuss the importance of domestic violence awareness and its effects. Every family and every child has a right to live free from violence.
 
If you or someone you love is in need of help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit the Maricopa County Attorney’s Website MaricopaCountyAttorney.org/DV

In October, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office partnered with the Arizona Foundation for Women to host a public screening of the documentary “I Am Evidence” at the downtown Phoenix independent theater The FilmBar. About 60 people were in attendance to view the story of four survivors whose rape kits went untested for years and followed them as they navigated their way through the criminal justice system. The film showed historically the way sexual assault crimes were treated in this country, and the positive effects that occur when perpetrators are held accountable and survivors are given an opportunity for healing and justice.

On an early Saturday morning in October, over 600 walkers gathered at the Phoenix Zoo to take a stand against drunk and drugged driving. Celebrating a decade of remembering, inspiring and committing to a future of no more victims, MCAO staff joined in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) signature fundraising event, Walk Like MADD. Walk Like MADD provides the community an opportunity to do something about drunk driving while also providing an opportunity for people to share and connect with one another. On average, two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime.
 
County Attorney Bill Montgomery was among the opening ceremony speakers highlighting the issues to make our community a safer place. Walk Like MADD Phoenix raised over $76, 000 that will stay in our community to stop the tragedy caused by this 100% preventable crime on our roadways.

During National Bully Awareness month, MCAO in partnership with KTAR and sponsors Earnhardt Dealerships, the AZ Cardinals and Harkins Theatres held two Bully Free AZ events in Maricopa County.
 
Specifically targeting elementary school and junior high school students, the events served as an opportunity to get the conversation started between parents and students as 1 in 4 students in grades 6-12 report being bullied. The events allowed for parents and students to take a Bully Free Pledge, take pictures with Big Red from the AZ Cardinals, and listen to a presentation identifying what bullying is, how a bystander can intervene and when it can cross the line into a criminal act. Nearly 200 parents and students took the bully free pledge and were given important information from our community affairs presenters.
 
Bullying is unwanted and aggressive behavior that is repeated and involves an imbalance of power. It requires us to start assisting with these kinds of conversations early to create a better community for the youth of Maricopa County.