Winter Springs Investigator Rob Cable was named as the 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during a luncheon commemorating the 30th
anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights last week.

Seminole State Attorney Norm Wolfinger said Cable was selected for the honor because his tireless efforts on behalf of crime victims’ safety and well being. The award for the top cop in the county is named in memory of Hugh E. Thomas, a Seminole County sheriff’s deputy who was killed while on duty March 28, 1989.

Seminole Assistant State Attorney Anna Valentini was named Attorney of the Year during the event which focused on treating victims with fairness, dignity, and respect. The Leadership Award went to Seminole Circuit Judge Debra Nelson who nominators said will question victims from the bench as to whether they feel court proceedings are treating them fairly.

Top victim advocates in Seminole were Linda Alicea with Seminole County Safehouse’s INVEST program and Angela Antoniou, Seminole State
Attorney’s Office.

Awards also went to the “unsung heroes,” the support staffs that work with all the above groups. Carmen Nieves, Seminole State Attorney’s office, is a lead secretary in a trial division who also works with victims in any way she can help. She was recognized for volunteering her time to translate and even work on cases at home at night so that victims could have necessary information to keep them
secure.

Posthumously, Wolfinger recognized Bill Rogers from Altamonte Springs
Police Department. Rogers was the Court Liaison for the department but
passed away the week before the awards function.