Today, FBI Director Robert Mueller III awarded the 2005 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award to Target for their extraordinary contributions to communities and law enforcement throughout the United States.
Director Mueller presented the Director's Community Leadership Award to Tim Baer, Executive Vice President & General Counsel and Brad Brekke, Vice President Assets Protection in a ceremony attended by employees of the Minneapolis FBI office in downtown Minneapolis. The Director’s Community Leadership Award is reserved for those individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution within the community towards crime prevention and community awareness.
Target has a long-standing commitment to the communities it serves. Since opening its doors more than 45 years ago, Target has given five percent of its income to the communities it serves. Today that equals more than $3 million every week to support education, the arts, and safe families and communities. In addition, Target team members give more than 315,000 volunteer hours to more than 7,000 projects annually.
As a part of Target’s commitment to communities comes a long history of support, collaboration and partnership with law enforcement, both locally and nationally. Through these partnerships, where resources, connections, information and expertise are shared, Target makes a difference.
Safe City – Target developed this community-based initiative where partnerships among businesses, police and local government increase the health and vibrancy of a community. Safe City is a comprehensive communication network designed to help detect and prevent crime in a geographic area such as a downtown area, mall or neighborhood. Since Safe City began in Minneapolis, Minn. in 2004, the concept has been introduced in more than 30 communities around the country.
National Night Out – Target is the corporate sponsor of National Night Out, a partnership among citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and neighborhood organizations to promote crime and drug prevention awareness, local anti-crime programs, and neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Target sponsorship included help with organizer kits, and volunteer and financial support for events near stores and distribution centers.
Emergency Preparedness Starter Kit – Target has supported disaster relief with reliable financial resources through the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program and other disaster relief efforts. To help make preparedness easier for families, the American Red Cross and Target teamed up to create the First Aid and Emergency Preparedness Starter Kit that contains essential emergency items to use during an emergency or disaster. Target will donate $10 of every kit purchased to the Red Cross.
Sponsorships – Target sponsors many local , national and international criminal justice conferences, training and events including those for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National District Attorneys Association, FBI National Academy Associates, Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE), Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
Law Enforcement Grant Program – Target has supported local law enforcement agencies across the country by awarding them millions of dollars in grants. Typically, the grants help fund items such as bicycles for patrols, child identification kits, binoculars and night-vision scopes, engravers for Operation Identification programs, crime prevention literature, equipment to outfit Police Explorer and Citizen Patrol groups, and computers and digital cameras.
Twin Cities Security Partnership – Target, in partnership with the FBI in Minneapolis, has redefined public/private collaboration and led some of the top law enforcement agencies and Fortune 500 companies to forge new partnerships at an unprecedented level. The TCSP is comprised of high-ranking and top-level business, law enforcement, community, and government leaders who share an interest in ensuring their communities are safe, secure places to live and work. Members regularly share resources and useful information regarding security equipment, technology, rumor control, nuisance issues, available supplies, inventory and other resources, including training programs and conferences.
Methamphetamine Suppression – Target was the first national retailer to voluntarily place pseudoephedrine-based cough, cold and allergy products behind the pharmacy counter in an effort to help curb the growing production and distribution of methamphetamine. In addition, in Target stores where there is no pharmacy, products containing pseudoephedrine are not sold.
Spotlight on Crime – Target served a lead role in creating this reward fund that focuses exclusively on helping law enforcement agencies solve violent crimes in Minnesota. Since June 2001, Spotlight on Crime has offered more than $1 million in rewards for 19 cases. Four of these cases have been solved and a suspect in a fifth case has been charged .
CriMNet – Target shared its inventory and knowledge management expertise with the state to help develop and support this program. The focus of the CriMNet program is to help criminal justice agencies in Minnesota integrate, not by helping agencies procure the same hardware and software, but by creating a framework of business and technology standards for sharing information.
Investigative Support – Target’s Investigations team works closely with law enforcement and has rapidly become one of the most effective investigative teams in retail. Its investigators have successfully combated organized retail crime rings, cargo and trailer theft groups, e-fencing operations, and extensive credit card fraud operations. Investigators are stationed in more than 30 markets throughout the United States.
Forensic Services – Target Assets Protection operates two forensic labs – in Minneapolis and Las Vegas -- to help solve complex cases affecting the company and communities. These labs provide forensic services such as video analysis, computer examinations and latent fingerprint capabilities. The analysts and examiners are qualified experts in their respective disciplines and have assisted law enforcement with hundreds of cases since the first lab opened in 2003 by examining evidence from violent crimes such as homicides, sexual assaults and robberies.
Financial Investigative Services –Target’s Financial Investigative Services team works on cases of financial fraud, identity theft and credit scams. The team regularly assists law enforcement in gathering the evidence necessary to prosecute financial fraud. Target has also contributed a full-time resource to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a FBI-led task force. Through this partnership, Target has protected consumers by identifying and removing Web sites that facilitate the trading and sale of compromised credit accounts.
Crisis Management – Target is focused on preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, and follows an “all-hazards” approach to crisis management. The program works with public and private-sector partners to ensure best practices and a broad range of resources and expertise, including issues of incident management systems, infrastructure protection, pandemic response, business continuation and information-sharing.
Intelligence – Target’s AP Intelligence Team works closely with the retail industry, government agencies and law enforcement to address the growing problem of Organized Retail Crime (ORC), which includes the relatively new trend of “e-fencing,” the sale of stolen merchandise over the Internet. They have strong working relationships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), to share information that supports ongoing and future investigations and safeness issues.
International Supply Chain – Target’s Asset Protection International Supply Chain Security Team specializes in supply chain and cargo security operations and policy. In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently re-validated Target’s Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) supply chain security Program at Tier 3, the highest level of security to 2009. Target’s C-TPAT program improves homeland security, minimizes security inspections and supports the company’s goal of speed to market.
Target Sting Trailer – Target’s Investigations team routinely partners with law enforcement to combat cargo theft and has two semi trailers equipped with surveillance and tracking capabilities used during cargo theft prevention operations. Our trailers provide the required evidence to aid in successful apprehensions of organized cargo theft rings.
Workplace Violence Prevention – Target has a company-wide violence-free workplace policy t o protect guests and team members. A common practice step-by-step document guides store and DC leadership through preventing, assessing and responding to incidents of workplace violence.
Store Crime Prevention Measures – Target embraces crime prevention initiatives such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to create an environment in our stores and parking lots that maximizes the safety of our guests and team members. This includes regular parking lot patrols and design elements such as enhanced parking lot lighting.
Target & BLUE ToolBox – Target believes strongly in collaboration with law enforcement and has a “how to” guide that provides the tools and information Target stores and distribution centers need to build successful partnerships and strong working relationships with their local law enforcement and criminal justice partners. This may involve sharing resources, information and tools that local police departments may not have, or ensuring that law enforcement partners have fast access to them should the need arise.
Youth Mentorship
Target partners with local law enforcement agencies to help at-risk youth in local communities by collaborating with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, youth advisory councils and others. By providing positive role models and learning opportunities for these children, Target and law enforcement help youth to identify their personal values, interests and talents.
FBI Director's Community Leadership Award Recipients
2006
Gordon Thayer
The Minneapolis Division nominates Gordon Thayer, Executive Director and founder of both Overcomers Ministry and the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC), for his strong participatory involvement and dedication to addressing issues of homelessness that result from chronic alcoholism and for his compassionate assistance to those living with chronic alcoholism in the American Indian community in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
2005
Target Corporation.
Supporting local communities is the cornerstone of Target Corporation. Target gives more than $2 million a week to local and national nonprofit organizations in education, the arts and social services. Target team members and retirees give more than 345,000 volunteer hours to more than 7,000 projects annually. As part of Target's commitment to communities comes a long history of support, collaboration and partnership with law enforcement, both locally and nationally. Through these partnerships, where resources, connections, information and expertise are shared, Target makes a difference.
2004
No Award Given
2003
Morton W. Ryweck, Director of the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, for his strong participatory involvement and dedication to the prevention of hate crimes within the State of Minnesota. Mr. Ryweck, in coordination with the league of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, developed community-based action groups to combat hate and bigotry in the aftermath of 09/11/2001.
2002
Robert Olson, Minneapolis Police Chief, for his crime prevention initiatives and relations with the community.
2001
Steven R. Silberfarb, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for his efforts in combating hate crimes within the Minneapolis Division through the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). Mr. Silberfarb is the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
2000
Pastor Rocky White Mountain, McLaughlin, South Dakota, for his multi-discipline Violence Awareness Project targeting violence, gangs, and all types of crime on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
1999
Rev. Devin Miller, St. Paul, Minnesota, for his efforts with area youth in the Black Teens for Advancement (BTA) programs and his recent "Just Stop It" non-violence program.
1998
Sheriff Larry Costello, Clay County, Minnesota, for his hands on approach to decreasing gangs and gang violence in the community.
1997
District Court Judge Kevin S. Burke, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for his innovative efforts with Hennepin County's Drug Court.
1996
Lt. William Whelchel, Sturgis, South Dakota, for establishing a number of drug demand reduction programs on both the state and local level including a crime prevention and School Liaison Program, establishing of a McGruff House Program, and Drug-Free School Zones.
1995
Sheriff Gary L. Waller, St. Louis County, Minnesota, who was very instrumental in implementing D.A.R.E. training for his personnel and furthering the D.A.R.E. program in St. Louis County schools.
1994 Sgt. Michael J. Ganley, Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was the first Minnesota Law Enforcement Officer to complete D.A.R.E. training and initiate the Minneapolis D.A.R.E. Program.
1993
Tom H. Swain, St. Paul, Minnesota, who was instrumental in establishing the D.A.R.E. drug education program in St. Paul schools by personally raising the necessary funding from area businesses and foundations.
1992
No Nomination
1991
Michael Wright and Patrick Mc Gowan. Mr. Wright, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, for his efforts with the Super Valu Stores for the "Hugs Not Drugs" and "Be Educated, Aware, and Responsible" (BEAR) Programs and implementation of the programs in the public schools. Sen. Mc Gowan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for introducing legislation to strengthen career criminal sentencing, promoting drug free school zones for school children, increasing state penalties for transporting drugs/narcotics into the State and redefining a reporting system for dispensing prescription and precursor drugs.
1990
Herschel Walker, Minnesota Vikings, for making a significant contribution toward helping our Nation make the right choice to be drug-free in various public appearances.
