EAGAN, Minn. – In the fall of 2013, officers with the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department in Pasadena, Texas obtained a tip through a crisis hotline that an anonymous caller was threatening to stage a shooting at a local elementary school.

With only a phone number and IP address from the hotline’s interaction with the suspect, officers turned to CLEAR® – a powerful investigative platform for law enforcement and credentialed organizations to identify and locate individuals or organizations – and as a result, were able to identify and apprehend the suspect before he could act.

For their resourceful police work, which likely saved incalculable lives, the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department is the first place winner of the 2013 Everyday Heroes awards, sponsored by the Fraud Prevention & Investigations business of Thomson Reuters.

The awards honor agencies and organizations that use Thomson Reuters public and proprietary records search products to make a difference in their communities. The customer who submits the most compelling story will receive a $5,000 charitable donation made by Thomson Reuters on their behalf to one of several selected charities; two runners-up will receive charitable donations of $2,500 and $1,000, respectively.

The 2013 winners and charitable beneficiaries are:

• First Place – Pasadena Independent School District Police Department, Pasadena, Texas
         $5,000 donation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Second Place – IMC/Memorial Healthcare System/Palmar Consulting Group, Hollywood, Fla. 
        $2,500 donation to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Third Place – Lynn Police Department, Lynn, Mass. 
       $1,000 donation to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
  

“Since the launch of the Everyday Heroes awards three years ago, we’ve seen so many compelling stories, like this year’s winners. One can only imagine how many more investigative professionals go unnoticed in their work to make our society safe and just every day, and that is why we established this program – to give their efforts the recognition they deserve,” said Andy Russell, vice president of Fraud Prevention & Investigations, Thomson Reuters. “Congratulations to this year’s winners and to the worthy charities who also make this world a better place.”

Customers who use CLEAR, PeopleMap on WestlawNext® and other Thomson Reuters public records solutions are encouraged to share their stories on the newly-launched Everyday Heroes homepage at hero.thomsonreuters.com.

A panel of Thomson Reuters employees and experts from the corporate, government and law firm markets will evaluate submissions and select the honorees. Everyday Heroes award nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2014. Winners will be notified by March 15, 2015, and charities selected by the honorees will receive their donation by May 1, 2015.

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