KEY WEST, June 1, 2018 — A Florida Keys prosecutor is one in a handful of assistant state attorneys in the running for the Outstanding Prosecutor award for 2017 given by the Florida chapter of MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Assistant State Attorney Nicholas Trovato, who specializes in prosecuting accused drunk drivers in the Lower Keys for the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office, is among 10 nominees statewide. Others are from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Brevard, Orange, Lee, Pasco and Polk counties.

“ASA Nick Trovato has shown extreme dedication to DUI enforcement throughout 2017. As the DUI Specialist for the 16th Circuit in the Florida Keys, Mr. Trovato is responsible for the prosecution of all complex DUIs and DUI manslaughter cases in Key West. He dedicates his time to educating himself on DUI matters, having completed both the [Standardized Field Sobriety Tests] course and the DWI instructor course. Additionally, he helps to educate [police officers] in the Keys on proper DUI procedures so that his cases are air-tight. Such dedication has helped to insure that victims of this violent crime in the Keys receive the justice that they deserve,” the nomination says.

Trovato graduated from the Appalachian School of Law in Virginia. He’s worked for the State Attorney’s Office since 2012 (he also had worked in the office from July 2010 to April 2011).

He is a member of the Florida Impaired Driving Coalition, “formed to identify and prioritize the state’s most pressing impaired driving issues, review proven strategies that can effectively impact these issues, develop and oversee a strategic plan that will guide implementation of programs, policy, and funding strategies to maximize the state’s ability to reduce impaired driving crashes, fatalities, and injuries.”

The coalition, which meets quarterly, includes prosecutors, law officers, a retired judge and others.

MADD Florida’s Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony and Training Symposium is set for July 27 and 28 in Fort Lauderdale.

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