I received the new TDCAF brochure in the mail yesterday, featuring a story of a champion of justice, who we know as Travis County Assistant District Attorney Allison Wetzel.

It is very fitting that Allison be featured in this brochure touting the ability of the TDCAA to educate it's prosecutors to effectively fight crime.

I know Allison did alot to help me when I first began prosecuting crimes against children, and I'm sure she has helped alot of other prosecutors around the state through her CLE lectures given for the TDCAA.

But Alison also took the time with me to talk with me on the phone and via email about difficult cases I inherited when I took over that caseload. Even though I was an experienced prosecutor at the time, her help, and that of the prosecutors working in her division like Mindy Montford, Barrett Hanson and Anna Leigh McNelis, was instrumental in helping me and our office achieve justice for many young victims of crime. Likewise, Susie Morton at Fort Bend took alot of time to help me learn her cutting edge techniques of prosecuting these types of cases.

When I read anti-law enforcement bloggers trashing prosecutors and the work we do, it gives me great pride to know I am in the same profession with such dedicated professionals like Allison and Susie. And that our organizations, the TDCAA and the TDCAF, are there for us to help us do the right thing for crime victims.

I don't know. A picture of Greg McDreamy Gilleland, might've been more effective.

But I concur with everything else Greg says.

Not hardly. No photos, please. Not even in my Ken's Cap on a coffee mug.

But seriously, you know Newell, the dedicated folks we work with and the association folks really deserve a shout out every now and then for the excellent work they do. For every crook we get off the streets, the association is due some credit.

I totally agree! And all kidding aside, the brochure is very effective and moving.

I agree 100 percent. And a shout-out to Allison for sharing this story with all of us -- I teared up more than once thinking about this poor kiddo whose grandfather was such a monster!

I don't usually quote Ronnie Earle, but perhaps the best quote ever made about being a prosecutor was made by him on December 14th, 2007, in an article announcing his impending retirement.

"That's because the bottom line of this job is that if it doesn't lead toward justice for the children, it is not justice at all."

I have that quote on my wall, because it inspires me. For those who don't know, Allison is a pioneer in the area of aggressive child abuse prosecution and Ronnie has been her boss for her 20+ year career.

The best way to let Emily (the executive director) know that you like the pamphlet is to actually donate to the Foundation on behalf of someone you love or admire.