The Anti-Defamation League Pacific Southwest Region honored two law enforcement units and four individuals with the coveted "Helene & Joseph Sherwood Prize for Combating Hate" at an awards ceremony on January 20 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Individual honorees are Scott Millington, Deputy-in-Charge, Hate Crimes Unit, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office; Sergeant Donald Mueller, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, West Hollywood Station; Stacy Ratner, Senior Deputy District Attorney, Ventura County; and Guninder Singh, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Unit Honorees are: Ontario Police Department Nazi Low Rider Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Community Liaison Unit.

As the premier civil rights organization confronting bigotry of all kinds, the ADL promotes harmonious relations between diverse religious and ethnic groups. "The ADL monitors and exposes extremist groups, fights hate crimes, tracks Internet hate and educates law enforcement personnel, teachers, parents, children and community leaders to thrive in a pluralistic society," said Amanda Susskind, Director of ADL's Pacific Southwest Region.

Howard Sherwood, First Vice Chair, and member of the family that confers the prize, along with his father Joseph and brother Larry and in memory of his mother Helene, noted that the annual award is designed to recognize law enforcement officers, units, agencies or programs that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to combating bigotry and stereotyping by performing acts outside the normal scope of duties. "We want to pay tribute to law enforcement personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty to combat hate and bigotry and demonstrate that bias-related conduct will not be tolerated in our communities," Sherwood noted. "Acts of hate are devastating to those at whom they are aimed. These law enforcement personnel, through their acts, make our communities safer."

The honorees were selected from many nominations received from throughout the seven-county region of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The distinguished Sherwood Prize Selection Committee, chaired by Chief Mike Brown, Southern Division, California Highway Patrol, includes: Sheriff Bob Doyle, Riverside County Sheriff's Department; Chief Tom Hoefel, Burbank Police Department; Ron Iden, Assistant Director in Charge, Los Angeles Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (retired); Chief Deborah Linden, San Luis Obispo Police Department; Chief Art Lopez, Oxnard Police Department; Chief Jim McDonnell, Los Angeles Police Department; Chief Camerino Sanchez, Santa Barbara Police Department; Sheriff Mack Wimbish, Kern County Sheriff's Department; and Chief Garrett Zimmon, San Bernardino Police Department.

The special guest speaker on "Terrorism Today" was John Miller, Bureau Chief and Commanding Officer, Critical Incident Management Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department.

(left to right, standing) Howard Sherwood, First Vice Chair, Pacific Southwest Region, ADL; Stephanie Sherwood; Joseph Sherwood; Chief Mike Brown, California Highway Patrol, Sherwood Prize Committee Chair; Elaine Sherwood; Larry Sherwood; and Amanda Susskind, Regional Director. Seated are individual honorees (l-r) Scott Millington; Stacy Ratner; Guninder Singh; and Sergeant Donald Mueller.

Collaborative effort of Ontario Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and U.S. Attorney's Office to disrupt and dismantle Nazi Low Rider criminal enterprise resulting in numerous arrests and convictions and a drastic decline in NLR criminal activity. Click here to learn more about the NLR Task Force

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Community Liaison Unit
Works to build community relations with minority groups, train law enforcement personnel, prevent hate crimes and provide support to hate crimes victims

Scott Millington, Deputy-in-Charge, Hate Crimes Unit, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
A recognized expert in hate crimes and hate incidents who has established comprehensive alliance and educational networks for prevention, investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

Sergeant Donald Mueller, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, West Hollywood Station
Has dedicated his career to educating members of law enforcement and the community about hate crimes with a particular emphasis on outreach to the gay community.

Stacy Ratner, Senior Deputy District Attorney, Ventura County
An aggressive advocate of hate crimes prosecution and champion of victims of hate crimes.

Guninder Singh, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Developed education program about and for the Sikh community resulting in increased understanding and cooperation.

The Helene and Joseph Sherwood Family Prize recognizes law enforcement officers, units, agencies or programs that:

• Demonstrate an outstanding commitment to combating bigotry and stereotyping by performing acts outside the normal scope of duties;
• Demonstrate that bias-related conduct will not be tolerated in our communities;
• Support individuals, communities and organizations victimized by hate crimes or bias-motivated incidents; or
• Provide opportunities for education directed at reducing or eliminating hate crimes and bias motivated activity, or which promote community understanding.