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The Awards ceremony, sponsored by U.S..Attorney Michael Sullivan's Office, was part of Crime Victims Rights week. Since April of 1981 the Department of Justice Office of Victims Crime helps lead communities in the observance of National Crime Victims Rights week. These commemorative activities held every year promote victims rights and honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.
These Massachusetts State Police officers were commended for their dedication to duty and outstanding work ethic in federal murder investigation of the United States of America v. Paul A. Decologero et al. This case involved the 1996 disappearance and brutal murder of the 19 year old Aislin Silva.
The case was prosecuted in the spring and summer of 2006 by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston and involved lengthy trials that resulted in guilty verdicts. All this time Silva's body had not been located.
After the sentencing of the defendants, the efforts to locate Silva's body continued unabated. These State Police officers worked in conjunction with the Bureaus of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the US Marshall's Services, the US Attorney's Office, the Peabody Police Department, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Additionally, the Essex County District Attorney's Office, the Massachusetts Highway Department, Eastern Land Survey, and Peabody Meadow Golf Course provided much needed assistance.