The 2025 Crimes Against Children Awards application is now closed.
Established in memory of DCAC Co-Founder Lt. Bill Walsh (Ret.) (1952–2025), these awards honor professionals who embody exceptional dedication to child abuse prevention, investigation, prosecution, and healing.
During his 26-year tenure with the Dallas Police Department, Lt. Walsh commanded the Crimes Against Children Unit. In 1989, he launched the annual Crimes Against Children Conference—now the largest event of its kind—and co-founded the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, one of the nation’s largest CAC programs.
After retiring from the force, Lt. Walsh served as a consultant for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Training and Technical Assistance Program. Among his many accolades, he was named both Dallas Police Officer of the Year (1990) and Dallas Police Supervisor of the Year (1998)—the only officer in the department’s history to hold both distinctions. He also received the State of Texas Special Achievement Award for Public Service, the 1999 Crime Victims Service Award from the Office for Victims of Crime, and the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (2011).
By naming these awards in his honor, DCAC celebrates Lt. Walsh’s extraordinary legacy of service, innovation, and unwavering pursuit of justice for children—an inspiration to guide future generations.
Nominations that represent a diversity of disciplines, backgrounds, communities, and perspectives are encouraged.