Richard D. Crites, named "Top Attorney of the Year for Law Enforcement" for 2016, by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP)!

  SPRINGFIELD, MO - 08/30/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Richard D. Crites, Founder & Attorney for Richard D. Crites Attorney at Law L.L.C., & Deputy Sheriff at Lawrence County, Missouri Sheriffs Office, was selected as Top Attorney of the Year for Law Enforcement for 2016~2017, by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP)!

While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations and contributions to their communities. All honorees are invited to attend the IAOTP's annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements.

With over 48 years of professional experience in the legal field, Richard has certainly proven himself as an accomplished professional and expert, not only in the criminal justice system but in the areas of domestic relations, personal injury and medical malpractice. Richard first practiced law in Tucson, Arizona, from 1968 to 1978. He served as a Juvenile Court Referee for the Pima County, Arizona Juvenile Court from 1972 to 1976. In 1978, he moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he started the first "in house" legal department at Springfield Public Utilities which is the largest municipally owned electric, gas, water and bus utility in the United States. He opened up his first law office in Springfield, Missouri in 1979.

Richard is licensed to practice in the courts of Arizona, the Arizona U.S. Dist. Court, the 9th Cir. U.S. Court of Appeals, the Northern District of Texas U.S. District Court, the Western District of Missouri U.S., Dist. Court, the State of Missouri; & the 8th Cir. U.S. Dist. Court. He represents law enforcement officers throughout the United States who protect and serve the public, yet are the subjects of ridicule, slander, assaults and discrimination, and in his 48 years of practice of law, he has represented thousands of law enforcement officers from all over the United States of America in various matters related to their job performance, specializing in Officer Involved Shooting investigation and representation and protection of the officers involved. He estimates that he has represented and assisted well over 100 officers who have had to use deadly force in the line of duty. To further his ability to represent officers in OIS situations, Richard attended the Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division week long class of Officer Involved Shooting investigations and he was Certified by the Force Science Institute of Mankato, Minn, on September 3,2010 after completing the training of Force Science Institute. He became a Deputy Sheriff, having been a deputy sheriff in Pulaski County, Missouri, Stone County, Missouri, Christian County, Missouri and is currently a deputy sheriff in Lawrence County, Missouri. He is a Hostage Negotiator, Taser instructor, Law Enforcement Officer and a Certified Instructor for the Missouri Public Safety Officer Training Program. His legal expertise includes personal injury practice, domestic relations practice, trial practice, administrative law, law enforcement, criminal investigation, legal consulting, and public safety.

After earning his BS in Political Science with a minor in History, from Arizona State University, in 1965, he was a fireman with the Rural Fire Protection Company of Phoenix, Arizona, and love the thrill and excitement of that position. Richard went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University Of Arizona James E. Rogers College Of Law in 1968. For 10 years, he practiced law in Tucson, Arizona representing law enforcement officers and domestic relations and trial practice.

Richard filed and won what is believed to be the first lawsuit anywhere on behalf of a police officer against individuals for filing false complaints and for assault and battery. When that occurred, in 1970, in Tucson, Arizona, the common thought of the courts and attorneys was that "So what, that's part of your job." Richard detested that view, and he filed the suit for his best friend, Larry Novak. and won it. Then with the help and assistance of Chuck Remsberg, a founder of the Caliber Press and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Force Science News, and Scott Buhnnaster who was with Caliber Press and who is now the Vice President of Training and Editorial for PoliceOne.com., litigation on behalf of police officers has become the rule, not the exception, because being shot, assaulted, slandered or discriminated against in not and never will be "part of the job."

Richard is a highly respected attorney in his community and he has been recognized worldwide for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. In 1987, Richard was selected for Marquis Who's Who in American Law and in 2002, Richard was selected for Marquis Who's Who in America. In 2005, Richard was selected by Marquis Who's Who in the World, and in 2012, Richard was again selected for Who's Who in the World with Marquis Who's Who, and was the recipient of the Fifth Year Anniversary a/Nomination and Five Consecutive Listings. In 2015 selected by Bristol Who's Who as "Outstanding Member of the Year", and in 2016 inducted as a Lifetime member and named "Top Attorney of the Year" by the International Association of Top Professionals. Richard also remains active in his community by volunteering as a road deputy for the Lawrence County, Missouri Sheriff s Office and is a frequent writer on law enforcement matters. He was notably published in the Arizona Law Review for his article, "Wiretapping and Eavesdropping in Arizona".

Looking back, Richard attributes his success to: his passion to protect law enforcement officers and serve the public; his integrity for up keeping the law; and always striving for excellence and new opportunities. When he is not working, he enjoys working out, attending football games for his three grandsons, travelling, shooting and reading and he is currently working on two novels. For the future, he will continue to grow as a professional, continue to fight for justice, protect the community and make a difference in people's lives.

Richard believes his reward for hard labor are his four children: Kimberly Garrett, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor; Amy Lee Crites, Esq. Who is a licensed attorney at law in Missouri; Det. Kevin John Crites, who is a Detective at the Christian County, Mo., Sheriffs Dept.; & J. Peter Crites, M.D., who is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon in Practice with Mercy Hospitals, Springfield, Mo. and his six grand children.

For More information on Mr. Crites please visit https:llwww.linkedin.comlin/richard- crites-795223 1 5

About IAOTP

International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization who handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world. the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For more information on IAOTP please visit http://www.iaotp.com