A 94 percent felony conviction rate — one of the highest in California — and an honor as one of San Diego’s best places to work were cited among last year’s accomplishments at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, according to a recent report from the office. During 2008, the group worked with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, resulting in the arrests of 75 San Diego State University students for selling various controlled substances. It also took part in two undercover narcotics operations that resulted in drug charges against 82 defendants. The office also recovered a record $1.5 million in bad check funds, broke up a real estate fraud scheme that victimized hundreds of county homeowners and assisted in an investigation that resulted in a $1.4 million judgment against retail giant Walmart. Its child abduction unit helped recover 93 children worldwide. The office co-sponsored a summit to combat county gang violence and released statistics centering on the county’s 1,200 homicides unsolved over a 10-year period. The office received a prestigious 2008 Workplace Excellence Award as one of San Diego’s most outstanding places to work. Citing employee communication, quality of life programs and a focus on staying healthy, the office’s Employee Relations Department was singled out among 130 nominees. The office was also honored for its Diversity Pipeline Project, aimed at recruiting minorities to careers in the criminal justice field. — Staff report