This award is presented to a member of the law enforcement community who has demonstrated exceptional performance in the area of auto theft prevention and investigation. The award is restricted to active law enforcement personnel who are members in good standing of the Western Regional Chapter of IAATI. The award consists of a plaque and payment of registration fee for the yearly Seminar. A $500.00 cash stipend can be applied for to assist with the recipient's expenses to attend the Annual Seminar (hotel/travel/etc) where the award will be presented.  Contact the WRC-IAATI Treasurer Rick Greenwood for information on the requirement to qualify for the stipend. The recipient will be determined by a committee comprised of Western Regional Chapter Executive Board members.  Please forward nominations to the 2012-2013 WRC-IAATI Executive Board.

The cut-off date for the nominated activity is between June 15, 2012 and June 15, 2013. The dates for accepting the 2013 nominations for this award have yet to be determined. The award will be presented at the 2013 Training Seminar that will host the 2013 WRC-IAATI General Meeting / Elections.

The 2012 Award was presented at the 2012 WSATI Training Seminar in South Lake Tahoe, NV on October 3, 2012.  IAATI Western Regional Chapter President Bill Johnson came up to the podium to present the annual WRC-IAATI Lee S. Cole Award.  Bill then read the 2012 recipient's nomination and then Bill announced the 2012 WRC-IAATI Lee S. Cole Award recipient was Phoenix Police Department Officer Robert Baraban, who as a member of the law enforcement community demonstrated exceptional performance in the area of auto theft prevention and investigation. One of Officer Baraban's many accomplishments was the recovery over 40 stolen vehicles within one year.