We are thrilled to announce that PLEA has been presented with a Communicator Award of Excellence from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), the largest and most competitive awards program honoring outstanding work in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and design. A prestigious global panel of leading industry professionals selected the Phoenix Law Enforcer for recognition from a field of more than 3,000 entries from within the U.S. and around the world.
PLEA Secretary and Law Enforcer Editor John Maxwell’s January/February 2023 cover article “A Story of Survival” garnered the Award of Excellence for Writing in the General/Feature Article category. Maxwell interviewed Phoenix Police Officer Austin Peru, his fiancée and his parents about their memories of the day Peru was shot in the line of duty in February 2022 and their reflections on the event that changed their lives. The feature was also subsequently reprinted in the July 2023 issue of American Police Beat.
“John’s story about Austin Peru, part of his ongoing series of articles documenting the experiences of wounded officers, movingly captures the dangers our brothers and sisters face in the course of their work and the impact it can have on their loved ones,” PLEA President Darrell Kriplean said. “The goal of Phoenix Law Enforcer is not only to inform our members about association activities, labor news, legal issues and legislation, but also to highlight their own experiences and concerns on the topics that affect their work and their lives — and it’s rewarding to see our efforts being recognized at the highest levels.”