On October 27th, Weld County District Attorney Michael J. Rourke received the statewide Criminal Justice Award from the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance at their annual conference. Nineteenth Judicial District Victim Assistance Coordinator JoAnn Holden nominated Rourke for the honor with support from A Woman’s Place, A Kid’s Place CASA Program and Child Advocacy Center, and the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center of Weld and Larimer Counties.
Their letters of support made clear that throughout Rourke’s 18 years as a prosecutor, he has placed seeking justice for victims at the center of his career. His interactions with community advocacy centers were said to bring sensitivity, and calmness, and true compassion to these victims. Their lives would not be the same if not for the genuine time and effort he puts in to helping each crime victim he meets.
Holden addressed the conference attendees by introducing Rourke and his background, outlining three career-defining cases they had worked together, and summing up his work stating “Michael’s caring, compassion, and responsiveness to crime victims exemplifies what all prosecutors should strive to be”.
Rourke humbly accepted the honor telling the audience “The greatest reward we can have as prosecutors is having a victim walk up to us and just say thank you at the conclusion of their case”.