She prosecuted a Denver radio personality who dropped a chicken from a multistory office building, a man who beat his girlfriend and strangled her dog, and a South Dakota dog breeder who left 19 of his puppies unattended in a truck.
For her years of work prosecuting animal abusers and killers, the New York City-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has named Chief Deputy Denver District Attorney Diane Balkin as the ASPCA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
“For nearly 30 years, Ms. Balkin has been an advocate for humans and animals, working tirelessly to send a message that animal abuse will not be tolerated,” the ASPCA said in announcing the award.
“While she has prosecuted all types of felonies such as sexual abuse, homicide and aggravated robbery, her passion is to promote animal welfare by prosecuting those who neglect or abuse animals.”
Among the cases cited by the ASPCA, was the successful prosecution of a South Dakota dog breeder for cruelty to animals in which Balkin saved 19 “of his horribly neglected puppies” who were left unattended in a truck.
In another case, said the ASPCA, Balkin prosecuted a Denver man, Esgar Flores, who killed a Chihuahua puppy named Stuart.
Both defendants were found guilty, and in the Chihuahua case, Flores was sentenced to community corrections.
In another case involving a second Chihuahua, Balkin prosecuted Joseph B. Trujillo for killing the family dog. On June 20, Trujillo, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey praised Balkin.
“We are extremely proud of Diane and the work she does on behalf of animals,” said Morrissey. “Her commitment to those who have no voice rises above professional responsibility and serves as an example for us all.”
Balkin will be presented the award on Oct. 30 in New York City.
Perhaps her most famous case involved KBPI’s Steven Meade, known on the air as Willie B., who twice dropped a chicken from a multistory office building during a live broadcast.
Meade was convicted by a Denver jury of one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The hen suffered an injured right foot and leg during the Feb. 1, 2000, stunt, but was rescued by upset KBPI listeners before further damage could be done.
In 2005, Balkin received the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation’s first-ever “Human Hero” award for her tireless efforts to protect the health and welfare of animals.
Balkin believes some who abuse animals go on to be killers, noting that a significant number of serial killers abused animals before starting to kill humans.
They include David Berkowitz, New York’s “Son of Sam,” who poisoned his mother’s parakeet out of jealousy; Jeffrey Dahmer, who impaled dogs’ heads on sticks, staked cats to trees and tortured frogs; and Albert DeSalvo, the “Boston Strangler,” who trapped dogs and cats in orange crates and shot arrows through the boxes.
Balkin is member of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine and speaks at national conferences about cruelty prosecutions. She trains veterinarians, law enforcement officials, students and citizens between the links between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
