Thursday, September 10, 2009

Crime Stoppers of Michigan to Honor Local Leaders

DTE Energy's Anthony F. Earley Jr. to chair Oct. 13 event
DETROIT, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthew Cullen, president and chief financial officer of Rock Enterprises; Robert Bobb, emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools; and Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit Division, will be honored by Crime Stoppers of Michigan for helping to make the state a better place to live, work and play.
The trio will be honored at Crime Stoppers' annual Recognition Dinner at DTE Energy Headquarters in Detroit on Oct. 13. DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Anthony F. Earley Jr. is the event chairman.
"Especially in the current economy, Michigan residents recognize the critical importance of safety in promoting business growth and a healthy economic climate," Earley said. "We all need to be vigilant - to keep our eyes and ears open - and do what we can to keep communities safe - and that includes sending the message that we won't condone crime in our communities."
John W. Broad, Crime Stoppers president, noted that the organization's honorees this year have played important leadership roles in Southeast Michigan.
"These three men have been instrumental in making our area a good place to live and do business," Broad said. "They show what can happen when people get involved in communities in both professional and personal ways."
Before joining Rock Enterprises in 2008, Cullen, a Grosse Pointe Woods resident, spent 29 years at General Motors Corp. and was its general manager for economic development. Cullen is credited for driving GM's $500 million acquisition and development of the Renaissance Center as its global headquarters and has played an active role in private-public efforts to rebuild the Detroit riverfront. Now, Cullen has responsibility for Rock's effort to promote development in downtown Detroit.
Bobb was appointed by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm earlier this year as emergency financial manager for the Detroit public school system. In this role, he has assumed full financial authority for the school district. Bobb brings to the job more than 30 years of executive management experience in both the public and private sectors. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the designation as "Most Valuable Public Official" by City &
State magazine.
Arena, of Northville, was appointed to his position in 2007, and in addition to the headquarters office in Detroit, he oversees 11 FBI satellite offices within the division's territory. Arena joined the FBI in 1988. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Arena was promoted to chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. The following year he was appointed special assistant to the executive assistant director for counterterrorism and counterintelligence.
Sponsorship opportunities for the dinner are still available. Proceeds from the event will be used to support Crime Stoppers, an alliance of business, law enforcement and community leaders with the mission to empower people to make their neighborhoods, schools and businesses safer through the anonymous reporting of crime. The guarantee of anonymity encourages the participation of tipsters who might otherwise be reluctant to get involved because of fears of
retaliation.
Money raised from previous recognition dinners has contributed to impressive gains in Crime Stoppers performance. Over the last 12 months, Crime Stoppers has recorded the following results:
Nearly 3,400 tips, or nearly 10 per day, everyday, and double the tips received in 2006
Nearly 400 cases cleared
More than 700 arrests made from Crime Stopper tips
Nearly $200,000 in recovered property
More than $800,000 in drugs recovered
65 weapons recovered
Nearly $75,000 in rewards approved
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.1800speakup.org or
call Athena DeWulf on (313) 922-5000, extension 12.
SOURCE Crime Stoppers of Michigan
John Broad, +1-313-922-5000 Ext. 10