Redwood City Police Detective James McGee has been selected for the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge Officer of the Year Award.

Though Detective McGee has successfully investigated a number of sexual assault cases, including one in which the suspect was sentenced to 230 years in prison, he recently investigated one case that highlights his compassion, professionalism, and tenacity. In this case, the suspect began the sexual victimization of his eldest daughter when she was only eleven years old. He continued to victimize this daughter until she was twenty-four years of age and the crimes were reported to police. The suspect also victimized his second eldest daughter from the age of sixteen, until she was nineteen years old. Both victims were his biological daughters, and they were led to believe that by enduring the sexual assaults, they were protecting their two youngest siblings from the same fate.

Detective McGee was able to provide the victims with the necessary sense of trust and reassurance to allow each to fully disclose to him those secrets of sexual abuse that had been kept for years. Detective McGee arrested the suspect and ultimately obtained a complete confession from him.

Based on the case compiled against the suspect by Detective McGee, the suspect is facing 167 felony counts of rape and incest, and imprisonment for the rest of his life.

The successful investigation of this case is just one example of the work consistently performed by Detective McGee and the reason for his nomination as officer of the year by the Redwood City Police Department.

The International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP) has selected Redwood City Police Department as a national award winner for this year’s Law Enforcement Challenge. The Law Enforcement Challenge program recognizes law enforcement agencies for the prior year's performance in three major traffic safety priorities: occupant protection, impaired driving, and speed enforcement. The Redwood City Police Department was selected for its overall enforcement, public education, and innovative efforts related to traffic safety.

This year there were 42 finalists nationwide for this award and Redwood City Police Department was selected in a three-way tie for third place with Harrisonburg, Virginia and Mount Prospect, Illinois.

The IACP will present the Redwood City Police Department the award during their International Conference on November 15, 2004 in Los Angeles California.