MUNCIE, Ind. – The U.S. Treasury Department will honor a Ball State University police officer for his work that led to the solving of a string of highly publicized church arsons.

Ball State Sgt. Steve Hiatt will receive the Director’s Award from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms June 12 in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Hiatt played a key role in early 1999 in the identification and subsequent arrest of Jay Scott Ballenger, a Yorktown resident, as the suspect in a series of church arsons across the nation.

Hiatt, his wife and daughter will travel to Washington to receive the award at the bureau’s fifth annual awards ceremony.

"This is a very significant recognition for Steve Hiatt and the Ball State Police Department," said Robert Fey, assistant chief of police. "It is an example of the outstanding police work done by our officers."

Ballenger’s arrest occurred after Hiatt, a 20-year veteran with the university police, learned from ambulance radio transmissions that a man was being treated for burns at Ball Memorial Hospital and became curious of the circumstances.

After preliminary inquiries, Hiatt notified investigators for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who arrested Ballenger and two others in connection with the church fires.

Ballenger was convicted last year and sentenced to 42 years and seven months imprisonment for arsons he committed at 26 churches in eight states.

Hiatt was recently lauded by the National Church Arson Task Force in a letter signed by Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee of the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Treasury Undersecretary Elisabeth A. Bresee.

"We wanted to let you know how deeply we appreciate your vigorous and dedicated efforts in bringing Mr. Ballenger to justice," the letter said. "As a direct result of your work, not only have we taken off the streets a criminal responsible for serial acts of violence against religious institutions, we have also given those so significantly affected by his heinous acts a much needed sense of closure.

"Without question, your contributions to the work of the national Church Arson Task Force will be remembered and appreciated in the months and year to come," the letter concluded.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Hiatt or Fey at (765) 285-1111.)