Thursday, November 18, 2004
YOUNGSTOWN -- The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators honored three area officers as investigators of the year.
The three are:
UAgent George Pavlich, Poland Township, of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
UOfficer Tom Malone, Youngstown Police Department, assigned to the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.
UDet./Sgt. Andy Bodzak, Canfield Police Department, assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.
In the past year, these investigators collaborated on over 50 pharmaceutical drug diversion cases that resulted in the arrest, indictment and conviction of individuals, who in many cases also surrendered their medical licenses in administrative cases related to the criminal investigation.
Their efforts and continuous dedication to duty contributed significantly in the arrest and conviction of health care providers and street distributors in the Ohio Tri-County area, an association official said.
The NADDI 15th annual Educational Training Conference is under way through Friday in Nashville, Tenn. The awards were presented Tuesday.
NADDI is a private nonprofit organization for professionals dedicated to the investigation, prosecution and prevention of pharmaceutical drug crimes.