Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeff Irwin has tracked down some of this area’s most vicious criminals.
But it is Irwin’s work on behalf of children and families that has garnered him this year’s Lt. John “Ed” Duvall Jr. Detective of the Year award.
The Duvall award is given annually by the Akron Police Department, Summit County Children Services and Akron Children’s Hospital. It was created five years ago to recognize the late detective’s work in child-abuse cases.
Irwin, a Norton High graduate, received the award at a ceremony Friday morning at the Children Service office.
He has been with the U.S. Marshals Office for 16 years and has headed the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force since it began in 2003. During that time, more than 25,000 wanted felons in northern Ohio have been captured.
David Kasulones, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, nominated Irwin.
Irwin “is one of the most dedicated professionals I know,” Kasulones said in his nomination letter. “He is determined to make the communities, more specifically the children and families of Summit County, a safer place to live.”
A special Duvall Outstanding Service Award was presented to social worker Cathy Beckwith Laube, who is retired from Children’s Hospital CARE Center. She was recognized for a career of commitment and service to the families and children of Summit County.
Laube was “able to put children of all ages at ease in order for them to talk to her about their abuse,” said her nomination letter, submitted by the CARE staff.
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Greg Peacock called Laube a great listener and a brilliant interviewer. He credited her with helping the county convict numerous sex offenders.
Irwin’s work targeting sex offenders was especially noted in his nomination.
The married father of three is trained in sex offender investigations and has tracked more than 300 convicted sex offenders who have failed to register their addresses in compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. He has also led 10 sex offender sweeps.
“Those are the kind of cases that hit home. You see the devastation they do,” he said. “They almost turn personal at some point.”
Irwin said the fugitive task force complements local police detectives, whose resources might be stretched. The task force is a collaboration of marshals and police officers from all around northeastern Ohio. They are trained to track down wanted men and women.
“The problem is that there’s not enough detectives around, which makes the fit perfect for the task force,” said Irwin, 45. “They’re making cases and sending them to us to work. I’ve always pushed the task force to make sure crimes against persons go to the top of the list, especially sex offenders and sex offenses.
“If we put them away ... the detectives can move on, the people in the communities can feel safer. So, I guess that’s what drives me and motivates me: making it safer for every community in the area.”
Irwin said the Duvall award belongs to every officer and marshal working alongside him over the years.
“It’s not me, even though I’m the so-called leader. The task force is not one person. The task force is everybody,” he said.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.