UK Law Enforcement Leaders Recognized by U.S. Attorney's Office

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 5, 2012) ― University of Kentucky Assistant Vice President for Campus Services Anthony Beatty Sr., and UK Police Chief Joe Monroe were recognized recently for assisting the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) in the Eastern District in the areas of training and outreach with the USAO’s civil rights initiative.

The award presentation was part of a Civil Rights Symposium held at the Lyric Theater in Lexington Aug. 29, featuring Thomas E. Perez, head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Beatty and Monroe were recognized for being instrumental in assisting the USAO in its civil rights community outreach initiative by connecting the USAO with key groups in the community to establish training in the area of civil rights.

"We have had a long working relationship with the U.S. Attorney's Office, and we work closely with diverse groups of the university community, so it was only natural that we could help bring them together for this important civil rights education initiative," Beatty said.

Chief Monroe said, "I am committed to promoting civil rights not only at the University of Kentucky but also within our community through engaging our partners in Lexington to provide quality training and education to ensure the awareness of cultural diversity. It is about not only being good citizens but good community partners."

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has been active in investigating and prosecuting civil rights cases, also awarded seven Lexington Police detectives for their work in a recent sex trafficking case. Earlier this month, the leader of a sex trafficking ring in Kentucky was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to the charges, making it Kentucky’s first conviction for sex trafficking. Three other defendants were also convicted and sentenced.

While in Lexington, Assistant Attorney General Perez also spoke to Fayette County Schools' ninth graders about bullying, and he spoke about civil rights at the University of Kentucky College of Law and to representatives from several ethnic community groups in the area.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Kathy Johnson, (859) 257-3155 or kathy.johnson@uky.edu