Later this month, Grace Leon, wife of the late Cleveland police officer Wayne Leon, will receive the U.S. Marshals Service’s highest honor: Citizen of the Year.
The award recognizes an individual “who has made a significant contribution to the mission of the United States Marshals Service or its community.”
On June 25, 2000, Leon’s husband Wayne was shot and killed by a wanted fugitive during a traffic stop. After his death, Grace Leon became a social worker and dedicated her life to helping the families of murder victims.
Today, she is a crisis intervention specialist working with the Cleveland Police Department’s Homicide Unit. She also volunteers for many community organizations and is a strong supporter of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, formed in 2003 after her husband’s death, and the Safe Surrender Program, created in 2005.
RELATED: “Fugitive Safe Surrender” gives Akron mother a chance for a fresh start
“It is fitting that Grace Leon receive this prestigious national award. Her volunteer work with families of homicide victims for more than two decades has not only provided her with comfort, but also a skill she brought with her from her personal experiences and professional training. Sending Grace Leon from Frontline Services to the Cleveland Division of Police has been a unique resource not only for the families of homicide victims, but for officers as well. We are fortunate to have her in our division,” said Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd.
In addition, the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force will also receive the Distinguished Group Award for a District Task Force for its “dedicated service to the citizens and communities throughout Northern Ohio.”
“This prestigious recognition highlights the exceptional performance and tireless commitment of our Task Force in supporting critical missions. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team members who continually go above and beyond to keep our communities safe by taking violent criminals off the streets,” said Stark County Sheriff George Maier.
Since its inception, the NOVFTF has grown to include 150 federal, state and local agencies with over 350 operational personnel. Since 2003, over 55,000 fugitives have been apprehended. This is the eighth time the task force has received a national award.
“The success of the NOVFTF is due to the strong partnerships we have built over the years. To be able to maintain this success for over 20 years is an incredible tribute to the dedicated men and women who have worked tirelessly to pursue the most dangerous fugitives in our area,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliot.
Earlier this year, the task force was able to locate the man wanted for the shooting of a police officer in Euclid.
Search for suspect in Euclid police officer’s death led to Shaker Heights
RELATED: Suspect sought in fatal shooting of Euclid police officer after SWAT standoff
“I would like to extend my well-deserved congratulations to the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force on receiving the Director’s Award for Distinguished Group. This highest honor was bestowed upon the men and women of the Task Force who do the incredibly demanding and dangerous work of taking violent fugitives off our streets. The Euclid Police Department is proud and honored to have such a long-standing partnership with the NOVFTF. Most recently, this Task Force was instrumental in the search for the suspect who murdered Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin #14 on May 11, 2024,” said Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer.
Leon and the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force will receive the awards during a ceremony on August 21 at the Department of Justice in Washington DC.
We are moving through
Do you have a story you’d like us to follow? Let us know.
