Award-winning investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski joined the 7News Investigators in May 2001. Since he arrived in Denver, his hard-hitting investigations have produced changes in the law and public policy, and have forced the resignation of public officials.

Kovaleski’s source-driven investigative reporting has allowed 7News to break significant key information on several major Denver-area stories. 7News viewers learned new and critical information during his coverage of the Kobe Bryant investigation and trial, the Aarone Thompson murder investigation, the hunt for Denver Bronco Darrent Williams’ killer and the search for serial rapist and fugitive Brent J. Brents.

While at KMGH-TV, Kovaleski has also traveled the country covering some of the nation’s biggest stories. He was the only Denver television journalist to report from New York City after the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. For nearly two weeks, he provided Denver viewers up-close and exclusive reports on the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. In 2005, Kovaleski traveled to Biloxi, Miss., and reported on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Later that year, he was in East Texas, reporting on the impact of Hurricane Rita.

His investigations have exposed corruption, government waste, dangerous consumer products, unethical business practices and public safety failures.

In February 2007, Kovaleski broke the story on a criminal investigation into Denver’s city attorney. Four days after his exclusive interview, the city attorney resigned.

In 2006, Kovaleski’s investigation into the Federal Air Marshal Service exposed a series of major nationwide system failures. An unprecedented 17 current and former Air Marshals in four states spoke on camera to the 7News Investigators. They shared and exposed a series of critical public safety failures inside the Federal Air Marshal Service. These security breakdowns exposed a significant waste in federal tax dollars, placing the flying public in danger on a daily basis.

Also in 2006, a three-month investigation into the covert practices of a major Colorado gasoline retailer uncovered a gasoline shell game. Along with the 7News Investigative team, Kovaleski exposed this gasoline retailer defrauding consumers by selling regular unleaded gasoline out of the gas station’s mid-grade pumps. His report on a mortgage broker with a history of felony crimes was honored with an Emmy Award as the year’s best investigation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) forced car maker Volvo to extend warranty protections after Kovaleski’s 2005 investigations exposed potentially dangerous problems with electronic throttle modules in several models of Volvo vehicles.

A series of 7News Investigations exposed breakdowns in Denver's 911 system that placed callers on hold and dangerously delayed emergency responses. Kovaleski uncovered several examples of critical emergency calls going unanswered for several minutes. Following his reports, Denver's Police Department examined its systems and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper increased staffing and approved millions of dollars in equipment upgrades.

In November 2002, Kovaleski and the 7News Investigators exposed a lack of oversight at Colorado's annual judicial conference. Hidden camera video chronicled judges playing golf, hiking, biking and visiting the day spa, instead of attending the taxpayer funded conference. The series of reports also exposed two veteran judges falsely submitting affidavits to the state's highest court claiming they spent time in classes they never attended. Following the reports, the two judges resigned their positions on the bench.

A November 2003 investigation exposed a lack of accountability for tax dollars at the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Reacting to the 7News investigation, the city conducted its first-ever audit of the agency's spending. Also, Denver’s City Council explored ways to increase accountability and the Convention and Visitors Bureau fired its president/chief executive officer.

Kovaleski was the first journalist to report that charges would be filed against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant following a sexual assault investigation in Eagle, Colo. His reporting on the the Kobe Bryant trial was regularly featured on CNN's "Larry King Live."

His report on dangerous weapons in Denver-area schools was awarded the best investigation for 2001 by Colorado's Associated Press. Kovaleski also uncovered two principals in the state's largest school district violating district policy and using student funds to purchase beer for staff parties at Coors Field. Another investigation forced the federal government to remove nearly three miles of potentially life threatening electrical wire from Denver's new federal courthouse.

His work over more than two decades has been honored with numerous industry awards. His 21 Emmy Awards include recognition for writing, investigative reporting, live reporting and journalistic enterprise. In 2004 and 2006, the Colorado Broadcasters Association named Kovaleski the state’s “Best Specialty Reporter.” He has been honored several times by the Associated Press and the Radio Television News Directors Association. In 1997, he earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting. That same year, The Texas Associated Press named Kovaleski that state's "Reporter of the Year."

During his career he has covered several high-profile national stories, including the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City, the Kobe Bryant trial, the OJ Simpson trial and verdict, election night 2000 in Austin, Texas, with then Gov. George W. Bush, the 2000 Democratic and Republic national conventions, the Timothy McVeigh verdict, Hurricane Brett's assault on the Texas coast in 1999 and the 2002 Hayman Fire in Colorado.

His reporting and investigations have been featured on CNN, ABC's Good Morning America, ABC’s "20/20", ABC’s Primetime and CNN’s "Larry King Live."

Kovaleski was born in Michigan and grew up in San Jose, Calif. He graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. He is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), the professional organization for investigative journalists. During his career, he worked for KIEM-TV in Eureka, Calif., KTVN-TV in Reno, Nev., KTVK-TV and KNXV-TV in Phoenix, and KPRC-TV in Houston.

Some of the best stories from 7NEWS Investigates come from viewer tips, so please call the Denver's 7 tip line at (303) 832-0200 or send Tony and John Ferrugia an e-mail if you have a story idea.

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