Former West. Deputy Comm, Louis Molina is Honored by NYSBA with the Inaugural Martin B. Adelman Award
The Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) will recognize Louis A. Molina, former first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Corrections, with the inaugural Martin B. Adelman Memorial Award on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the NYSBA Annual Meeting.
Molina, a 13-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, served as second in command for Westchester County’s Department of Corrections, where he oversaw the Emergency Services Unit, Gang Intelligence Unit, Counter-Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness, the Correction Academy and professional development. His tenure was during a time of immense change in the criminal justice system including reform of the bail laws, which reduced the jail population.
The Adelman Award seeks to recognize the outstanding efforts of attorneys, judges, court administrators or defendants, that have supported the criminal justice system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is named in honor of the late Martin B. Adelman, a highly respected attorney and brilliant advocate who served as chair of the Criminal Justice section from 1991 to 1993.
In addition to his sterling career with the NYPD, Molina previously served as a senior police advisor and instructor for the U.S. Department of State. In the time since it was announced he would be this year’s recipient, Molina took a new position as chief in the Las Vegas Department of Public Safety.
Honoring attorneys who render extraordinary service to the public and the profession is part of NYSBA’s Annual Meeting tradition. The 144th Annual Meeting will focus on more than 65 different topics each day from Jan. 19 to 29. Subjects include Employment Litigation in the Wake of COVID-19, Conducting a Jury Trial in the Shadow of COVID-19, State Tax Implications From the Pandemic and Vaccines: Legal Mandates and Challenges.
The Presidential Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 27, will look at The COVID-19 Pandemic: Legal, Constitutional, and Public Health Issues. One of the nation’s top constitutional law scholars, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Berkeley Law, and Irwin Redlener, a pediatrician, public health activist, author, academic, and advisor will speak at the event.
As we reported earlier, the Westchester County government received animus push back from local, state, and national Black and Latino organizations for what they feel was a forced departure from Mr. Molina Deputy Commissioner position.
While many we spoke with were excited for Mr. Molina’s new positions as Las Vegas Public Safety Chief, many were disappointed about the loss of a great person of color in a leadership position. Not only was he one of the highest-ranking Latinos in Law Enforcement in the county he was an incredible person of consciousness who brought in a lot of programs to the WCDOC.
Even not employed any longer with Westchester County, his work is still being recognized and honored. We wish him continued success.
