FOLEY — Foley Police Detective Richard Humphrey recently joined the ranks of Alabama legislators when Gov. Robert Bentley presented him with the 2013 Miriam Shehane Award on behalf of leading Victim Advocacy organization Wiregrass Angel House and V.O.C.A.L. (Victims of Crime and Leniency).

The presentation took place at the 11th annual Governor’s Conference for Law Enforcement Training in Montgomery. Plus, it was an honor that Humphrey was not expecting.

“He didn’t know he had won this award nor that he had even been submitted for it,” Foley Police Chief David Wilson said. “He only knew that we were attending the training conference. The look on his face when they announced his name was priceless.”

But nomination guidelines indicate the honor should not have come as a surprise.

“The nomination guidelines for this award specified: ‘Angel House honors extraordinary individuals who exemplify the long-term commitment that characterizes individuals who work with victims with the same caliber of dogmatic passion and concern as the one who this award was named in honor of,’” a news release states. “’The individual will be one that shows respect and dignity above all else to crime victims and their families.’”

Humphrey has been the domestic-violence investigator for the Foley P.D since 2010.

“In that capacity, (he) investigates domestic violence, sexual assault and child-abuse cases,” the release states. “He has spent a great deal of time forming working relationships with various victim services providers, prosecutors and judges.

Humphrey is credited with seeking more effective ways to help victims and vigorously investigating and documenting cases in a manner that facilitates successful prosecution of offenders.

“Detective Humphrey has become well known in the criminal justice and victim services community of Baldwin County for the excellent manner in which cases are developed, documented and prosecuted,” the release states. “He assists victims in navigating the complicated judicial system. As a member of the Baldwin County Domestic Violence Task Force, he has worked tirelessly to try to assist with the ongoing development of an effective and compassionate network of victim service providers in the Baldwin County Area. He has also partnered with The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence and One Place Family Justice Center to bring critical training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and victim service agencies to Baldwin County.”

The award was named for Miriam Shehane, who was drawn into victim advocacy in 1976 when her daughter was murdered.

“For five years, as the three assailants were tried multiple times, (two of them were tried twice, and the third was tried three times) Mrs. Shehane was forced to endure the agonizing and graphic testimony in the case,” the news release states. “At that point in time, there were no ‘Victims Advocacy’ groups or any other types of support groups that could provide the emotional support needed in such situations.”

Shehane and other crime victims that she organized successfully lobbied the Alabama legislature looked to the Alabama Legislature for substantial reforms that made the judicial procedural regulations more equitable.

“As a part of that process, V.O.C.A.L. became a formal advocacy and lobbying presence,” the news release states. “The influence of this dedicated mother who wanted to honor her daughter brought about lasting change that has benefitted numerous victims of violent crime and their families, as well as providing support services to law enforcement, prosecutors and judges to better enable them to perform their duties.”

With this honor, Humphrey joins past recipients that include two senators, three district attorneys, a representative and a state attorney general in being a recipient of the Miriam Shehane Award.

“He was very surprised and humbled on receiving such a prestigious award,” Wilson said.