DA Holley Carnright
Det. Sgt. Jason Bruck
ADA Elizabeth A. Culmone-Mills
ADA Katherine VanLoan
THE 2015 ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
DET. SGT. BRUCK
The Ulster County District Attorney's Office is proud to present Det. Sgt. Jason Bruck of the UCSD with the 2015 Ulster County District Attorney Award of Excellence in recognition of his dedication to the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence in Ulster County.
Det. Sgt. Bruck was the lead investigator in a recent case from the T/Esopus. The case involved a violent felony offender who assaulted his then girlfriend with a metal baseball bat, fracturing her vertebrae. The victim, mired in the cycle of domestic violence, initially refused to cooperate in the prosecution. Through his patience and understanding, Det. Bruck was able to establish a connection with the victim that enabled us to prosecute the case.
This victim, who was initially unwilling to admit to herself, let alone anyone else, the truth about her relationship with a violent and abusive man gained enough confidence and insight to, eventually, assist in the prosecution and testify at trial. That change can be attributed to, in large part, Det. Bruck's compassion and dedication.
Unfortunately, the jury found the defendant not guilty of all but one misdemeanor charge.
You might expect us not to give an award to a law enforcement agency attached to an unsuccessful prosecution. But the battle against domestic violence is not only about winning or losing. It is about not giving up. It's not as much about the cases behind us, as the cases yet to come.
We are giving this award to Det. Sgt. Bruck because he exhibits the most vital trait in the battle against domestic violence: perseverance. For nearly an entire year, Det. Bruck worked tirelessly through preliminary hearings, multiple days of grand jury testimony, and hours of trial preparation. And when the defendant was found not guilty, Det. Bruck immediately found the victim and brought her to our office so that we could create a safety plan for her.
Det. Sgt. Bruck exemplifies all that is required in order to
handle DV cases.
handle DV cases.