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FBI Director Recognizes Distinguished Community Leader

FBI Newark March 20, 2009
  • Special Agent Michael Whitaker (973) 792-3020

Newark, NJ—In a ceremony today at FBI Headquarters, Director Robert S. Mueller, III recognized Alan J. Robinson of Brookside, New Jersey as one of 50 nation-wide recipients of the 2008 Director’s Community Leadership Award. These leaders, selected by their area FBI field office, have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their local communities through service. The FBI is grateful for the work of each of these individuals and organizations on behalf of their communities.

“Whatever the motivation—an unfilled need, a tragic occurrence, a desire to give back—these are people who make things happen and enlist others in their cause,” said Director Mueller. “They are activists who have earned their prestige through good works.”

Mr. Robinson is the Director of Protection and Security Services for Atlantic Health, Morris Township, NJ which owns Morristown Memorial Hospital, Overlook Hospital and numerous other medical facilities in northern and central New Jersey.

In December 1997, Mr. Robinson joined Project ALERT (America’s Law Enforcement Retiree Team), a division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). As the New Jersey representative for Project ALERT, Mr. Robinson speaks to parents, teachers and law enforcement officials throughout the state on the topic of child abduction. Mr. Robinson teaches his audience how pedophiles and child abductors think and operate, and how to safeguard their children against them. On the average, Mr. Robinson makes these presentations once every two weeks and has been doing so for the previous eleven years. Mr. Robinson gives these presentations on a completely voluntary basis without any compensation. In addition to making these educational presentations, Mr. Robinson assists law enforcement agencies throughout the state on breaking cases of missing children and assists them with unresolved, long-term investigations where assistance is needed, once again on a completely voluntary basis. The Project ALERT Manager has stated that Mr. Robinson “has singularly raised the awareness for child safety in (New Jersey) more than any other effort known to (Project ALERT).” Mr. Robinson’s efforts have resulted in charitable donations of thousands of dollars being made in his name to Project ALERT.

In addition to the above cited contributions to the community, Mr. Robinson regularly presents a three-hour block of training for the FBI Newark’s Advanced Criminal Investigations in-service training to local law enforcement officers. Mr. Robinson’s presentation is entitled “Methods and Techniques Employed by the Pedophile to Lure, Exploit and Abduct Children.” Mr. Robinson also gives similar presentations to police recruits at the Morris County Police Academy and presides over the annual Morris County NCMEC exhibit in support of the National Night Out. He has been providing these educational experiences to the New Jersey law enforcement community and others on a voluntary basis for over ten years. Mr. Robinson is also a graduate of the fourth annual FBI Newark Division’s Citizens Academy.

On October 4, 1999, Morris County Prosecutor John B. Dangler wrote a letter to Mr. Robinson thanking him for an “enlightening and informative session on Child Lures to Morris County Prosecutors and Assistant Prosecutors.” This letter is another example of Mr. Robinson’s continued contributions to the community, all done on a voluntary basis.

Further evidence of Mr. Robinson’s continued contributions to the community can be observed in a letter written by Christopher J. Christie, then United States Attorney, to the Project ALERT Manager, dated July 30, 2003. In this letter, USA Christie wrote that Mr. Robinson has provided over 200 workshops to 2,000 people in New Jersey on the topic of the prevention of the abduction, exploitation and murder of children. USA Christie further stated that Mr. Robinson is “providing a great service to our citizens and is a great resource for law enforcement.”

On March 9, 2005, Acting New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey signed a Proclamation recognizing and commending Mr. Robinson for his continued contributions to NCMEC and Project ALERT, and further stating that Mr. Robinson serves as an “inspiration and encouragement to the countless individuals whose lives he has touched.”

In February 2008, Mr. Robinson and Atlantic Health donated to the Police Unity Tour. The Police Unity Tour serves a dual purpose: to raise awareness of the Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

In May 2008, Mr. Robinson, once again acting as Security Director for Atlantic Health, donated two Smith & Wesson police tactical bicycles to the Morris Township Police Department (MTPD) to be utilized for their creation of a bicycle unit. MTPD Chief Timothy Quinn publicly expressed his gratitude to Mr. Robinson for his generous contribution in support of MTPD’s crime prevention and community relations programs.

For the past two years, Mr. Robinson and Atlantic Health have contributed to the Leonard W. Hatton Memorial Golf Classic which is dedicated to the memory of FBI New York Special Agent Hatton who was killed in the line of duty on September 11, 2001 while rescuing others at the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. All proceeds from this event are donated to a college scholarship fund that provides scholarships to the children of deceased FBI Special Agents. Additionally, Mr. Robinson has made significant contributions to the Barry L. Bush Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Weysan Dun, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, adds: “Alan Robinson’s contributions to the New Jersey community over the past decade are numerous and significant. Few people have made a positive impact on the citizens of this state to the extent that he has made. We are so pleased he has been selected for this recognition.” Robinson continues to volunteer his time as this state’s Project ALERT representative by sharing his wealth of knowledge in the child abduction field with law enforcement officers and parents.

Alan J. Robinson with Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun (3/20/09)