Awards

W.A.D. Recognition of Professionals: Awards

Members are asked to submit recommendations for the W.A.D. Awards. All nominations should be submitted to The Executive Director.There are four awards presented annually by the President at the Annual Conference Gala Banquet. Nominations for all the Awards should contain a brief account of the service and contributions given to the profession by the nominee which qualifies him or her for the award in question. Members cannot nominate themselves for Awards.

Norman J. Sloan Memorial Award

Established in 1985, The Norman J. Sloan Memorial Award is The World Association of Detectives’ highest honor and is presented at the Annual Conference. The recipients are W.A.D.’s members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the Association, and who have contributed their time, energy, leadership and dedication to the betterment of the investigation and security professions.

Past Award Recipients
2025
Allen Cardoza
2024
Keith Schafferius
2023
Tony Imossi
2022
Dan Rusu
2021
No Winner - COVID
2020
No Winner - COVID
2019
Eric Shelmerdine
2018
Joel Michel
2017
Jacob Ofir
2016
Matthias Willenbrink
2015
Chuck McLaughlin
2014
Vladimir Solomanidin
2013
Warren Mallard ( posthumously )
2012
Phil Stuto
2011
Siti Subaidah Naidu
2010
A. Dale Wunderlich
2009
Werner E Sachse
2008
John Talaganis
2007
Larry Webb
2006
J.D. Vinson, Jr.
2005
Maureen Jacques-Turner
2004
Gavino Pireda
2003
Neal H. Holmes, Sr.
2002
James O. King
2001
Sumio Hiroshima
2000
Rockne F. Cooke
1999
William J. Lapworth
1998
Robert A. Heales
1997
Richard D. Jacques-Turner
1996
Kathleen M. Cummings
1995
Samuel H. Webster
1994
Joseph D. Vinson
1993
Claude E. “Bert” Hinds
1992
Christopher Nolan
1991
Charlie E. Dennis, Jr.
1990
Jerrold R. Poth
1989
Jack P. Henebry
1988
David Almog
1987
Harold K. Lipset
1986
Vance I. Morris, Jr.
1985
Norman J. Sloan

A cup presented to the World Association of Detectives by Past President Zena Scott-Archer on behalf of the Association of British Investigators ‘in friendship’ in 1976 in Brighton, England and is to be awarded to a W.A.D. member who has demonstrated outstanding professional service or achievement in the calendar year, or who has performed an outstanding investigation in the best traditions of the profession.

Past Award Recipients
2025
Fernando Fernandez
2024
Vinay Kumar Chauhan
2023
John Nardizzi
2022
Stan Bochenski
2021
No Winner - COVID
2020
No Winner - COVID
2019
Jacob Ofir
2018
Alexey Solomanidin
2017
Virendra Mohan Pandit
2016
Mike LaCorte
2015
Gary J. McDaniel
2014
Peter Harkin
2013
Keith Shafferius
2012
Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier
2011
Lise Baker
2010
Vladimir Solomanidin
2009
Ronit Dahan-Edry
2008
Joel Michel
2007
Eric Shelmerdine
2006
Kunwar Vikram Singh
2005
William J. Lapworth
2003
Louis Laframboise
2002
Raniero Rossi
2001
Richard D. Jacques-Turner
2000
Robert A. Heales
1999
Werner E. Sachse
1998
Philip J. Stuto
1997
Rockne F. Cooke
1996
Larry A. Webb
1995
Sumio Hiroshima
1994
Bernard H. Major
1993
Neal H. Holmes, Sr.
1992
Kadish Shermister
1991
A. Dale Wunderlich
1990
Tom Connell
1989
Kathleen M. Cummings
1988
Christopher Nolan
1987
Jack P. Henebry
1986
Sandra Mara
1985
Anthony Kinghorn
1984
Samuel H. Webster
1983
Jerrold R. Poth
1982
Zena Scott-Archer
1981
Vance I. Morris, Jr.
1980
Norman J. Sloan
1979
David Almog
1978
Harold K. Lipset
1977
Charlie E. Dennis, Jr

This award honors members in the security field who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and business acumen in an entrepreneurial endeavor. Renamed in 2003 in memory of Life Member Neal Holmes, Sr., and again in 2015 prior to the passing of Past President J.D. Vinson, Jr., recognizing the long friendship of these two men and their contributions and leadership to WAD and the security profession.

Past Award Recipients
2025
John Jones
2024
Alexy Scherbenev
2023
Dr. Sylvester Okere
2022
R.P. Chauhan
2021
No Winner - COVID
2020
No Winner - COVID
2018
Bernhard Maier
2017
Christine Vinson
2014
Fernando Molina
2012
Mike Duffy
2011
Ponnosamy Kalastree
2010
Brendan Mallen, CPP
2008
Nigel Brown
2007
A. Dale Wunderlich
2005
Raymond A. Pendleton
2004
Rashid Ali Malik
2003
Larry A. Webb
2001
Sergey Morozov
2000
J D Vinson, Jr
1999
Neal Holmes Sr
1998
Celine M. Estill
1997
Kimberly U. King
1996
Major S.S. Shah
1995
Kadish Shermister

This award originated in 1967 when it was introduced by the Officers and Board of W.A.D. as The ‘Truth in Action’ award. It is presented to an individual for service to mankind by outstanding acts of compassion or heroism or leadership or achievement and service outside of W.A.D. in the fields of private investigation, private security, criminal justice, jurisprudence, or technical and scientific expertise. In 1998 the name of the award was changed to the ‘Hal Lipset Memorial Truth in Action Award’ in honor of Past President Hal Lipset. The recipient is normally chosen by the local host, or in their absence by the Conference and Mid-Term Committee with approval by the Awards Committee.

Past Award Recipients
2025
Dr. Jeffrey Simon
2024
Ydh Ig Tan Sri Razarudin Bin Husain
2022
Mickey Foundation -Aruba
2021
No Winner - COVID
2020
No Winner - COVID
2018
Lt. Randy Sutton, Retired, Las Vegas Metro Police, Las Vegas, USA
2017
Dhirendra Pundir, Senior Editor of News Nation, New Delhi India
2016
Dan Fleseriu, Eagle Security International, Bucharest, Romania
2015
Dr. Peter Collins, Forensic Psychiatrist with Ontario Provincial Police
2014
Tim McKinnell, Local Private Investigator
2013
Professor Vincenzo Mastronardi, Rome Italy
2012
Bob Ward of Boston’s FOX 25 News
2011
Priscilla Lui - Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights
2010
Kenneth de Martino of Guard and Warden Services House Ltd, Malta
2009
Leslie De Mello Barreira Leitao – Journalist, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2008
Julia Ormond - International stage and film star, Epsom, Surrey, England, UK
2007
Horst Oertle - Police Officer, Zurich, Switzerland
2006
Sumio Hiroshima - WAD Member, Tokyo, Japan
2005
John Walsh - National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
2004
Gennady N. Zaitsev - The Hero of the Soviet Union, Moscow, Russia
2003
Jimmie N. Mesis - Publisher, PI Magazine, Cedar Grove, New Jersey, USA
2002
Eddy L. McClain - WAD Member, Glendora, California, USA
2001
Professor Dr. Gunther Geserick – Berlin, Germany
2000
Dato’ Lee Lam Thye, DPMP, JMN - Malaysia
1999
David Protess - Professor of Journalism, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Illinois
1998
Major General N. Vishwanathan - Crriminal Investigator, India
1997
Jan Blaauw - Former Chief of Police, Amsterdam
1996
Howard Tagamori - Chief of Police, Maui, Hawaii, USA
1995
Claude Poirier - Investigative Reporter, Montreal, Canada
1994
Guy Shipler - Investigative Reporter, Reno Nevada, USA
1993
Robert Tur - Helicopter Reporter, Los Angeles, California, USA
1992
Louis Tobback - Minister of the Interior, Brussels, Belgium
1991
Rafe Mair - Investigative Reporter/Radio Host, Vancouverm Canada
1990
John Moore - Ireland
1989
Chief Inspector Barry Dunn, Australia
1988
Mike Silva - Helicopter Pilot, KCNC-TV, Denver, Colorado, USA
1987
Abby Nathan - Israel
1986
Wilfred D. Anthony - WAD Member, Singapore
1985
Janes Conway
1984
Y. Katoor - India
1983
Larry Price - Hawaii, USA
1982
Raniero Rossi - WAD Member, Purugio, Italy
1981
Robert List - Governor of Nevada, USA
1980
Herbert Y.H. Liang - Hong Kong
1979
Dr. Alton Ochsner – President Emeritus, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
1978
Jousimaa Kyosti – Inspector General, Finland
1977
Bob Mayer – News Correspondent, Miami, Florida, USA
1975
William J. Keating – Former Member of U.S. Congress
1973
Ellis Sandlin – WAD Member
1967
William J. Raggio – D.A., Reno, Nevada, USA
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