As part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day, the Attorney General’s Special Commendation award was presented to Criminal Investigation Director Matthew Joy, Commander of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Appleton, Wisconsin, and Special Agent in Charge Jesse Crowe, Supervisor of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the Western District of Wisconsin. In January 2019, Director Joy and SAC Crowe led an urgent search to locate a missing 14-year-old girl who had been transported across state lines by a suspected child molester with whom she had been chatting online. The perpetrator was arrested, convicted, and is now serving a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.
The Attorney, General’s Special Commendation award recognizes the extraordinary efforts and significant investigative or program contributions of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force or affiliate agency, or an individual assigned to either. The AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program is honored to join with the DOJ in congratulating Director Joy on this important recognition of his steadfast commitment and diligence in protecting children.