An award recognizing individuals who have made notable contributions to the criminal justice community and to the Iowa Sex Offender Registry will be presented to Washington Police Chief Jim Lester. The Excellence in Protection Award from the Iowa Department of Public Safety will be presented next week in Altoona. Lester was nominated for the award in recognition of his work to effectively manage sex offenders. Prior to leading the local force, Lester worked in Wright County where he investigated sexual assault crimes and approached them in a sensitive manner in order to assist victims while using proper procedures for crime scene investigations. His commitment resulted in numerous arrests and convictions.