FBI Honors Founder of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s STOP Violence Program

Special Agent in Charge Eric Barnhart is pleased to announce Bernie LaSarte as the recipient of the 2017 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for the Salt Lake City Division.

Ms. Lasarte is the founder of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s STOP Violence Against Women Program, which aims to end a cycle of violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, stalking, and bullying through education and intervention and developing partnerships within the community.

The program provides critical and much-needed services for American Indian women who, according to LaSarte, are beaten three times more than women of any other race in this country.

The STOP Violence Against Women Program is the only victim assistance program on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation and also offers a Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program to reduce recidivism. Ms. LaSarte’s efforts have resulted in more cohesive and effective response to domestic violence-related crimes. She is also an advocate for children of suspected abuse or neglect and was the driving force for the creation of the Coeur d’Alene Child Advocacy Center.

Since 1990, the DCLA has been a principle means for the FBI to publicly recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations for their contributions to crime and violence education and prevention within their communities.

In addition to the award, Ms. LaSarte will travel to Washington, D.C. in April to attend a formal ceremony, which honors all DCLA recipients selected by each of the 56 FBI field offices.