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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at �̾�����Ƶ honored Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, with its 2024 Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence at a ceremony attended by district attorneys, fellow prosecutors and other members of the legal community on �̾�����Ƶ’s New York City campus September 23, 2024. Brennan was honored for her outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and excellence in prosecutorial practice, highlighting her innovative leadership in establishing alternative programs for combating the growing drug epidemic throughout New York’s five boroughs.

Appointed in 1998 by the city's five elected District Attorneys, Brennan has been a trailblazer as the first female to serve in the role and is now New York City’s longest serving Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Under her leadership, her staff of approximately 200 legal and support personnel in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor have developed expertise to meet challenges posed by each new phase of the deadly opioid epidemic. She established the Heroin Interdiction Team, the Digital Forensic Services Unit, the Criminal and Investigative Analysts Unit, the Prescription Drug Investigation Unit, the Narcotics Gang Unit, the Money Laundering and Financial Investigation Unit, the Community Outreach Unit, the Discovery Compliance and Litigation Unit, the Post Judgment Litigation Unit, the Conviction Review Committee, and the Educational Outreach Committee.

“Bridget’s work and the work of her Office is vital to our city, and we are all safer because of her leadership and commitment.” - Robert S. Tucker

During the presentation of the award, benefactor Robert S. Tucker, who was recently appointed FDNY Commissioner, expressed his gratitude and admiration for Brennan’s tireless work, noting how the opioid and narcotics crisis has grown in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bridget’s work and the work of her Office is vital to our city, and we are all safer because of her leadership and commitment,” said Tucker.

In her role as Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Brennan investigates and prosecutes citywide, national, and international drug trafficking in partnership with city, state, and federal law enforcement. She blends tough and fair prosecutions with compassion and empathy. She has been a strong voice in calling attention to the rising rates of drug overdoses and has given needed recommendations for reducing these tragic deaths. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 3,000 New York City residents died of overdoses – the highest number on record.

The Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor strives to reduce demand for narcotics by raising public awareness and facilitating alternatives to incarceration and drug treatment, and is in regular communication with providers in the fields of education and drug treatment. It is committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair for all.

By intercepting large amounts of lethal narcotics at the top of the supply chain, and investigating and prosecuting high-level traffickers, the office prevents countless overdoses and street-level arrests. Brennan has been a longtime advocate of alternatives to incarceration and has worked with District Attorney Offices of the five boroughs to promote treatment alternatives, Judicial Diversion, Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs and Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court.

The Tucker Prize is yet one more accolade for Brennan, demonstrating her commitment to justice during her career of more than 40 years in public service. She has been recognized as Outstanding Prosecutor by the Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association, and for her leadership by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York County Lawyers Association, and numerous community organizations, enforcement agencies, and substance use treatment providers. In 2017, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Police Defense Foundation.

“Bridget’s tenacity in pursuing public safety, along with a commitment to fairness in the criminal justice system, and her forward-thinking mindset for developing strategies that reduce incarceration, are an inspiration for our law students pursuing careers in public service,” said Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “We are thrilled to honor her and shine a light on the impact she is making in our city.”

The Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence is awarded annually to an individual or a group of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and who demonstrate excellence in prosecutorial practice. Honorees are selected each year by a jury comprised of former prosecutors and faculty members from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at �̾�����Ƶ. The award ceremony brings together prosecutors from across the region and state, civic leaders, members of the judiciary, New York City government and the Haub Law community to recognize these distinguished individuals for their work. The prize is made possible by the generous support of Haub Law alumnus and �̾�����Ƶ Board of Trustees member Robert S. Tucker. Past Award Recipients include Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and the Office of the Bronx District Attorney, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, former New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, and Richard A. Brown, the late Queens District Attorney.