ARIZONA (Dec. 18, 2014) - Wendy Halloran is receiving an Alfred I duPont-Columbia University Award along with her team, Jeff Blackburn, Mark Phillips, Bryan West and Station Manager, Mark Casey. This is the first duPont Award for a Phoenix reporter since 1979.
Halloran and her team's year-long investigation exposed local firefighters who had falsely testified in numerous arson cases. As a result, at least four people were falsely accused. Halloran discovered that the root of the problem was the Phoenix Fire Department's reliance on the nose of a dog trained to detect accelerants at fire scenes. One Phoenix Fire arson investigator swore under oath that his Labrador Retriever was better equipped to detect arson than scientific labs. When alerted by Halloran to their methods, national experts challenged the squad's finding, even as Phoenix Fire had boasted the highest arson clearance rates of any major fire department in the nation. This triggered a criminal investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety which recommended felony charges against two of the arson investigators for lying under oath, engaging in criminal conduct and several acts of dishonesty. Two arson investigators and their supervisor were suspended and returned to work but were all removed from fire investigations. The arson dog was retired by State Farm Insurance, which sponsors the national arson dog program. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the arson investigators but instead banished them to the Brady List, a database of peace officers with marred integrity.
The County Attorney is declining to prosecute any cases they previously investigated or rely on any work conducted by the arson dog saying, "These decisions are made in the interest of justice and to prevent any further damage to the Phoenix Fire Department Arson Investigation program." It has also requested the Phoenix Fire Department develop an extensive retraining program for all of its arson investigators. "I am honored beyond measure as this is the pinnacle, the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, our nation's top award in broadcast journalism," said Halloran.
"I am always searching for the truth and giving a voice to the voiceless, it is my calling. I am forever grateful to the Alfred I. duPont Columbia University jury for bestowing this prestigious honor upon my team. It's a dream come true."
Over the years Halloran has been honored with five Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She has 15 Emmy nominations to her credit. Her investigations have led to policy changes, resignations, internal affairs investigations, firings, arrests, grand jury indictments, felony convictions and prison sentences.
"We're very pleased that duPont-Columbia has recognized the excellent work Wendy and this team delivered with the 'Raked Over The Coals' series of reports," said Vice President and Station Manager, Mark Casey. "12 News is routinely reporting these types of stories; the failures of our government systems and public servants that often lead to awful outcomes for innocent people. These stories aren't easy to deliver and the expenses incurred in our investigations can be quite high. We're grateful to be part of the Gannett Company, which supports our reporting and by doing so, exposes wrongdoing and advocates for our communities."
This is the first duPont Award for Halloran and the first for 12 News.
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