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criminal justice system were often the only response to escalating mental health situations. In fact, the investigation showed that sometimes the only way a person in crisis could get services was to be arrested and ordered in for mental health treatment. The report used dramatic body camera footage from law enforcement agencies across
Colorado, never before seen, to illustrate the thousands of annual encounters between mentally ill persons and local sheriffs and police. The footage showed both officers saving the lives of those in crisis and having to use deadly force to protect the lives of others. Elements of the program were aired nationally on PBS Newshour. The documentary, "Breakdown" was honored with a 2021 national
25:
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restraint in all CDHS funded facilities in
Colorado and all contractors that receive public funding. The reports caused the resignation of the hospital's long time director; prompted major changes in state policies for dealing with the mentally ill in Colorado; and prompted the state legislature to add funding for 50 additional staff at the state's largest mental health facility.
457:, and three (3) regional Edward R. Murrow awards. He has been honored with twenty-six (26) Regional Emmy Awards, awards from the Associated Press, Colorado Broadcasters Association, and Missouri Broadcasters Association. He has been honored with the Heartland NATAS Silver Circle Award for his contribution to journalism and in 2012, Ferrugia received the
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welfare committee that recommended sweeping changes in the state system including a new case worker academy where all county caseworkers are now trained to make sure all are accountable for their actions. The state also established the State Office of the Child
Protection Ombudsman as an independent third party to investigate complaints.
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In March 2021, Ferrugia joined the non-profit
Colorado News Collaborative - COLab - as a journalist/trainer. COLab's veteran reporters support local digital, print and broadcast news outlets, working with them on proprietary editorial projects as well as collaborative statewide projects. In addition,
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where he initially anchored the midday news with co-anchor Anne
Trujillo and continued to investigate issues of public policy. As the station's only investigative reporter, he initially worked alone. By 2002 KMGH-TV had hired investigative producer Jeff Harris and News Director Byron Grandy who, with
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in 2003 and 2004 prompted
Congressional hearings; a complete change in leadership at one of the world's most prestigious military institutions; and new initiatives for protecting and caring for sexual assault victims in the military. The investigation won 4 major national journalism awards including
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is an investigative reporter who is currently working as a journalist/trainer for the non-profit
Colorado News Collaborative (COLab). He is the former News Anchor and Managing Editor for Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver, Colorado. From 1992 through February 2016, he worked as an investigative reporter
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In early 2020 the
Ferrugia lead the Insight team's investigation of Colorado's mental health system that was failing to provide emergent care and proper evaluation to thousands who needed services in the midst of a mental health crisis. The documentary detailed how law enforcement officers and the
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Ferrugia's two-year investigation into deaths at the
Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo in 2010 prompted an outside third-party review of the forensic unit where patients died, the resignation of the hospital's director, and a criminal grand jury investigation. He and the team (Producers
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award-winning investigation into the deaths of several children in Denver lead to a statewide review of child welfare programs and restructuring of Denver's
Department of Human Services to better protect children at risk. The investigative reports prompted Colorado's governor to appoint a child
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for the series. The grand jury found the staff responsible for the death of a patient who was restrained face-down and suffocated. As a result of the death brought to light by the investigation, the Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services has banned the used of prone (face down)
261:, the Mafia trials in Sicily, CIA-sponsored propaganda in Pakistan, politics, and cutting edge cancer research in Japan. His investigative reports included medical fraud, inner city gangs, grey market prescription drugs, and the redesign of space shuttle rocket boosters after the
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Ferrugia, began to build the station's investigative reporting profile. The investigative team added producer Kurt Silver (now an FBI special agent, investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski, and producer Tom Burke. Jason Foster was the team's Photojournalist/Editor.
780:"The Peabody Awards | An International Competition for Electronic Media, honoring achievement in Television, Radio, Cable and the Web | Administered by University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication"
761:"The Peabody Awards | An International Competition for Electronic Media, honoring achievement in Television, Radio, Cable and the Web | Administered by University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication"
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where he was a member of a team (including producer Ray Blush and photojournalist-editor Jewell McGee) reporting and filming half-hour programs highlighting issues of public importance. He was later briefly the city hall reporter.
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and shown in a Colorado legislative hearing to explain why a law allowing temporary removal of firearms from the mentally ill is necessary. A so-called "red flag" bill was signed into Colorado law in 2019.
746:"Society of Professional Journalists News: SPJ Announces Recipients of 2003 Sigma Delta Chi Awards | Society of Professional Journalists | Improving and protecting journalism since 1909"
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The RMPBS team has also been honored with a national Gracie Award, a national Emmy nomination, regional and national Murrow awards, and multiple regional Emmy awards.
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In 2019, an RMPBS "Insight with John Ferrugia" investigation into unlimited access to firearms by mentally ill persons entitled “Imminent Danger” was honored with the
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for his investigation of the funding of violent skinhead groups in Colorado. He also produced a number of stories focused on educating the public about HIV and AIDS.
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in 1977 at age 26 for tracking flood damaged cars after a major flood in the Kansas City metro area. The results of his investigation were aired nationally on the
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226:. In addition to his reporting for the "CBS Morning News" and the daily "syndicated" stories from the White House for CBS affiliates, Ferrugia filed reports for
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While his principal job is investigative reporting, Ferrugia has been involved in reporting major national stories for the past three decades, including the
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correspondent. In the 1980s, he covered the White House, foreign and domestic assignments, and was a principal correspondent for the news magazine
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including his first person reports of humanitarian aide, flying over Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion; and investigating the
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After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1975, Ferrugia worked as a reporter/photojournalist at
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In early 2016 Ferrugia moved to Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver to head an investigative team as anchor and managing editor.
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405:. He secured an exclusive interview with the Pontiff at the Pope's summer home outside Rome prior to the U.S. trip.
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207:; the assassination attempt of Reagan in March 1981 and subsequent investigation; the kidnapping of U.S. General
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John Ferrugia has been married to his wife Mona since 1975. They have two children and live in Denver, Colorado.
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With Ferrugia as lead reporter, the team's investigation into sexual assaults of female cadets at the
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127:. He attended Catholic grade school (St. Peter's) and Fulton public high school. He served in the
551:"7NEWS Wins Peabody For Investigation Into Children's Deaths - 7NEWS Denver TheDenverChannel.com"
131:(two years active duty in Europe) as a Navy journalist working for American Forces Radio and TV.
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581:"John Ferrugia's Reporter's Notebook: Covering Columbine - 7NEWS Denver TheDenverChannel.com"
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He has been honored with television journalism's most prestigious awards including two (2)
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where he established himself as a top investigative and political reporter. He received a
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566:"Today's Oprah Tackles AFA Sexual Assault Scandal - 7NEWS Denver TheDenverChannel.com"
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Arthur Kane and Tom Burke, and photojournalist Jason Foster) earned a 2011 national
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and produced a nationally aired "First Line Report" from the White House each week.
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In 1982, Ferrugia was assigned to the White House (replacing veteran correspondent
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536:"The New Kids on the Cbs Block Try to Put Their Show on the Map : People.com"
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926:"Young journalists can learn from Sarah Palin's mistakes - Columbia Missourian"
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In 1985, Ferrugia was named principal correspondent for the CBS news magazine
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in Italy by the Red Brigades terrorist group; and the civil war in Lebanon.
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public service journalism. Elements of the investigation were aired by the
880:"KMGH-TV, Denver: 'Failing the Children: Deadly Mistakes' - TVWeek - News"
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Tom Burke, John Ferrugia, Arthur Kane and Jason Foster at the 68th Annual
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484:"TV REVIEW - 'WEST 57TH,' ON CBS - MAGAZINE HAS ITS DEBUT - NYTimes.com"
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911:"KMGH: Colorado Dems Threaten to Block Clinton Delegate - ABC News"
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on his 1993 trip to the Jamaica, Mexico, and Denver, Colorado for
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and subsequent investigation; reporting from the courtroom of the
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Ferrugia was the only North American TV reporter to travel with
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In 1980, Ferrugia was hired by CBS News Washington Bureau Chief
945:"Sisters dream big at small Sicilian winery - The Denver Post"
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Ferrugia received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the
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Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism
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during his coverage of the National Political Conventions.
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502:"Missouri Valley Special Collections : Item Viewer"
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Ferrugia has been a contributing correspondent to ABC's
960:"John Ferrugia is journalist-trainer for COLab - COLab"
184:. He produced several other stories that aired on the "
280:. In his first year, he was honored with a regional
707:"J-School Legacy - Missouri School of Journalism"
272:in 1989 to anchor news and report for KCNC-TV in
687:"Rape Culture | On Point with Tom Ashbrook"
473:COLab provides reporter training and workshops.
46:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
188:". In 1980, he caught the eye of executives at
863:. nationalheadlinerawards.com. Archived from
378:trials; reporting from the floor of both the
349:Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awardfor
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611:"KMGH wins second Peabody - The Denver Post"
504:. localhistory.kclibrary.org. Archived from
435:Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Awards
136:University of Missouri School of Journalism
302:Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award
249:. Ferrugia worked for Executive Producer
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
928:. columbiamissourian.com. Archived from
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992:People from Callaway County, Missouri
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384:Republican National Convention (RNC)
380:Democratic National Convention (DNC)
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443:Investigative Reporters and Editors
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651:"Internet Archive Wayback Machine"
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424:broadcasts; and has appeared on
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453:(SPJ) Award, two (2) national
392:2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting
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987:University of Missouri alumni
861:"nationalheadlinerawards.com"
463:Missouri School of Journalism
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166:In 1977, Ferrugia moved to
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521:"John Ferrugia Project 13"
237:. His colleagues included
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709:. journalism.missouri.edu
677:Cite uses generic title (
372:Columbine school killings
259:Soviet war in Afghanistan
447:National Headliner Award
323:for Failing the Children
119:Early life and education
32:This article includes a
846:"CNN.com - Transcripts"
816:"CNN.com - Transcripts"
701:Journalism.missouri.edu
61:more precise citations.
596:"Fierce Entertainment"
583:. thedenverchannel.com
568:. thedenverchannel.com
553:. thedenverchannel.com
467:University of Missouri
455:Edward R. Murrow Award
364:for best documentary.
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297:U.S. Air Force Academy
235:West 57th (TV program)
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417:Good Morning America
394:at a local theater.
388:September 11 attacks
253:and Senior Producer
123:Ferrugia grew up in
831:"Account Suspended"
263:Challenger disaster
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16:American journalist
903:2008-11-29 at the
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689:. onpointradio.org
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34:list of references
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