Northern Virginia Law Enforcement Honors NRA Crime Prevention Program

The Northern Virginia Crime Prevention Association (NVCPA) has selected the National Rifle Association's Refuse To Be A Victim^® program to receive its 2001 Program of the Year Award.

Commenting on the decision, NVCPA President Ed O'Carroll of the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department, said, "We're excited about the partnership with NRA's Refuse To Be A Victim^® program and local law enforcement, in an effort to make our community safer. We appreciate the NRA being involved in helping to protect our city. Law enforcement can't do it alone and this partnership between the NRA and local law enforcement can make a difference."

"NRA is honored to have its crime prevention program recognized by the Northern Virginia Crime Prevention Association," said NRA Executive Director of General Operations, Craig D. Sandler. "NVCPA joins the growing number of law enforcement agencies nationwide that incorporate Refuse To Be A Victim^® in their community outreach efforts."

Coinciding with the award presentation November 20, held at the Fairfax County Police Association Hall, a total of 50 Northern Virginia police officers went through an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW), which certifies them to teach the Refuse program. Included were officers from Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Vienna Police Department, Herndon Police Department, and military police from Quantico.

Refuse To Be A Victim^® seminars promote awareness and prevention of criminal confrontation. Seminar topics include: home, automobile, phone, technological, travel, and personal security. Seminar participants are presented with a variety of common-sense crime prevention and personal safety strategies and devices they may integrate into their daily lives.

Refuse to Be A Victim^® was developed in 1993 in response to requests from women nationwide for crime prevention seminars. In 1997 the program became co-ed. With over 1,500 instructors nationwide, seminars have been presented in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. More than 36,000 women and men have benefited from the program’s life-saving message. For more information, call (800) 861-1166 or log onto www.nrahq.org/rtbav.