Wednesday morning began the first day of the conference. The day started with advanced registration and State Agencies Accreditation Coalition (SAAC) and Coalition/Network Presidents Police Accreditation Coalition (PACs) meetings. Our hosts provided each registrant with a bag filled with commemorative gifts and helpful suggestions for exploring the Atlanta area. Executive Director Sylvester Daughtry made opening remarks to attendees at the Welcoming Session. The training schedule started immediately afterwards with a full slate of workshops that extended through Friday afternoon. Commission staff made a number of presentations, with the remainder of the workshops supplemented by visiting presenters. They included: Accreditation Manager Training Parts 1 & 2 (Sue Wales, Salisbury (NC) Police Department and Sergeant Jennifer Colvin, Burlington (VT) Police Department); Domestic Violence (Sergeant Richard Allsbrook, Greenville (NC) Police Department); Motivational Police Personnel for Greater Morale and Productivity (Mr. Edward S. Brown, Edward Brown International, Inc., Atlanta, GA); Law Enforcement Accreditation: "Has it Professionalized American Law Enforcement" (Stan Crowder, Ph.D., Marietta, GA); Asset Forfeiture (Ms. Didi Nelson, Law Enforcement Manager and Mr. Thomas Hayes, Senior Staff Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, Northern Georgia); Child Pornography on the Internet (Mr. James Patnaude, Analyst, and Special Agent Mark Flores, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Calverton, MD); Use of High Tech Tools During Commission of Crimes (Mr. George Ryan, Special Agent US Secret Service, Washington, DC); Venue Planning Model (Lieutenant Alex Keeney, Atlanta (GA) Police Department); Missing and Exploited Children (Mr. Peter Banks, Director of Training; National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Alexandria, VA); Ethics in Law Enforcement (Captain Jim Leonard, Columbia County (GA) Sheriff’s Office); Police Academies Distance Education (Mr. Michael Heidingsfield, Faculty Chairman, Law Enforcement, Rio Salado College, Tempe, AZ); and Managing in Today’s Environment (Mr. Julian Ciotta, President, Mo/Com Associates, Atlanta, GA).

Friday events started with Commission Chair William Miller calling the meeting to order introducing new Commissioner Phi Keith Chief of Police, Knoxville (TN) and Commissioner-elect Stanley Glanz, Sheriff of Tulsa County (OK). Chair Miller expressed thanks for the hospitality received from the conference hosts. Commissioner Beverly Harvard, Chief of Police, Atlanta (GA), introduced the city of Atlanta’s Chief Operating Officer Larry Wallace who welcomed everyone in attendance and congratulated those agencies to be awarded accreditation. Commissioner Harvard introduced the conference keynote speaker, State of Georgia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Robert Benham. He spoke on the importance of improving the quality of life and building up the community. Chair Miller recognized several past Commissioners whom were in attendance. They were Ronald Nelson, Chief of Police, University of California, San Francisco; Edward Laine, Chief of Professional Standards, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education (TCLOSE); Charles Reynolds, Retired Chief of Police, Dover (NH); Charles Plummer, Sheriff of Alameda County (CA); Dennis Love, Retired Mayor of Maple Heights (OH); Ira Harris, Retired Deputy Superintendent Chicago (IL) Police Department; and Gary Leonard, Chief of Police, West Sacramento (CA). Executive Director Daughtry was introduced and he invited the attendees to participate in the various committee meetings, training sessions, and presentations being offered.

Following the opening session, the Commission adjourned to conduct its business. Attendees had the option of attending committee meetings or partaking in additional training.

On Friday afternoon, Chair Miller reconvened the full Commission. Robert Stewart, Executive Director of the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and Dan Rosenblatt, Executive Director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) were recognized. The committee reports were then received:

Corporate Affairs Committee approved the Montreal minutes and the 2000 Budget. The office expansion and the Personnel Manual reports were reviewed and accepted.

Outreach Committee approved the minutes from Montreal and conference sites for 2002. The cities chosen were March-Jacksonville (FL), July-Cleveland (OH), and November-Portland (OR).

Standards Review & Interpretations Committee approved their minutes from Montreal and accepted proposed commentary for Standard 1.2.2.

State Accreditation Committee Chair Commissioner Stephen Monier presented an overview of the Final Report. More information is contained in a separate article " Accreditation in Two Steps."

20th Anniversary Committee reviewed the conference events including the reception for past Commissioners on Saturday afternoon.

Nominating Committee announced the 2000 Executive Board, President-William Miller, Vice President-Stephen Monier, Treasurer-Henry DeGeneste, and Secretary-John Bittick.

Agency review hearings were held on Saturday morning, with four committees of Commissioners reviewing a total of 66 agencies: 46 for reaccreditation, 18 for initial accreditation, and two for certification. Each agency was recognized and awarded its certificate at the Saturday night Celebration Banquet.

The Celebration Banquet concluded with Chair Miller presenting a gift of thanks to departing Commissioner Harvard in recognition of and appreciation for her dedicated service to the Commission. Chair Miller announced that CALEA’s first Executive Director, Jim Cotter, was recuperating after a brief illness and could not attend the conference. The Commission honored his commitment and dedication to the process of accreditation. Chair Miller led the Commission with a toast in honor of CALEA’s 20^th Anniversary and extended an invitation to the March meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.