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BUFFALO CONFERENCE REVIEW
Magnificently situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is one unique city. The Commission was privileged to return to Buffalo after nine years away. CALEA found the Buffalo-Niagara Region with its exceptional theater opportunities, first class restaurants, and one of the world’s wonders- Niagara Falls, even better than before!
The Commission would like to thank the Western New York Host Committee for hosting the conference. Captain Patrick Mann of the Buffalo Police Department chaired the committee. The Committee comprised of personnel from the Erie County Chiefs of Police Association, Buffalo Police Department, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office hosted the event. They worked hard to make this conference one of the most successful events ever. Each attendee was met by a host representative and provided a complimentary gift bag and information on nearby restaurants and historical landmarks. The Host Night on Thursday at the “Festival Grounds at the Pier” was spectacular! Good food and live entertainment was the fare with each one attending completely enjoying themselves. Kudos on a job well done!
The conference began on Wednesday with the Opening Session. Posting of the colors was performed by a multi-agency team from Western New York, and Deputy Rick Lauricella, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, sang the Star Spangled Banner. Commission Chair James M. O’Dell provided welcoming remarks to the attendees. Sheriff Patrick Gallivan, Erie County Sheriff’s Office and, on behalf of Erie County Chiefs of Police, Chief John Moslow from the Amherst Police Department, followed with remarks. Next, Captain Mann provided the host announcements. The session concluded with Executive Director Sylvester Daughtry, Jr.’s remarks, including the announcement of two new computer software programs: CALEA Accreditation Compliance Express (CACE) and Electronic Assessment Review System (EARS).
After the Opening Session, the three-day workshop schedule started in earnest with CALEA staff providing the majority of training curriculum. The rest of the schedule was handled by outside presenters; they were as follows: Developing a Curriculum to Address Racial Profiling, a Collaborative Approach (Gerald W. Schoenle Jr., Director, Erie County Central Police Services Law Enforcement Training Academy); The Center for Domestic Preparedness (Richard L. Dickson, US Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness); Investigating Heavy Equipment Theft (Adam Gurzynski, Equipment Analyst, National Equipment Register); Law Enforcement Issues and Foreign Nationals “A Horse of a Different Color” and “Law Enforcement and Diplomatic Immunities” (James Lawrence, Public Affairs Officer, US Department of State, Washington, DC and Robert O. Tatge, Regional Director, US Department of State, New York Regional Office); Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Law Enforcement Protective Measures (Cliff Smith and Rick D. Schlegel, CEP/PI, Center for Domestic Preparedness, US Department of Homeland Security); Homeland Security Analysis; an Approach for Law Enforcement (Michael Ronczowski, Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department); You, Your Grandmother, and the Terrorists: ID Theft (Candace Vogel, Assistant District Attorney, Erie County, NY); DNA - Your Calling Card at the Crime Scene (Christine S. Tomsey, Manager of the Pennsylvania State Police DNA Laboratory); How to be an Effective Communications Training Officer (Debbie Gailbreath, Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff’s Office); Terrorism Interdiction Through Routine Patrol (Captain Gregg G. Blosat, Buffalo (NY) Police Department); and 911 Disaster Recovery Plan (John Merklinger, Director, Emergency Communications Department/911 Center, Rochester, NY).
On Friday afternoon, the conference guest speaker was James M. McMahon, Director of the New York State Office of Public Safety. Appointed by New York Governor George E. Pataki, McMahon is charged with coordinating and enhancing anti-terrorist efforts in the State of New York. He discussed his efforts to develop a statewide strategy against terrorism and how his agency coordinates with Federal Homeland Security Office.
After the Town Hall Meeting, the full Commission reconvened to receive standing committee reports:
Corporate Affairs Committee approved the Pasadena, California meeting minutes; reviewed the preliminary budget report for 2005, which will be presented at the Winter Conference in Austin, Texas in December 2004; received a report on Commission copyright and trademark issues; approved the CALEA Alliance renewal for the states of Oregon and Washington; rejected a request to license CALEA Standards by Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police; approved the replacement of ASAP software program with CACE; and approved an amendment to CALEA Travel Policy.
Outreach Committee approved the minutes from Pasadena, California. The following cities will be invited to make presentations at the Winter Conference in Austin, Texas in December 2004 for consideration to host the 2007 Conferences: March - Greensboro, NC; Jacksonville, FL, and New Orleans, LA, July – Edmonton, AB, and Hartford, CT; November – Colorado Springs, CO, Daytona Beach, FL, and Savannah, GA.
Standards Review and Interpretation Committee approved the minutes from Pasadena, California; approved modification to Guiding Principle 3.3; and sent to the field for review and comment, standard 46.1.2, Unusual Occurrence.
25th Anniversary Committee reviewed the itinerary for the Austin Conference, including host committee transportation and activities plans.
Awards Committee approved the amendment to the Egon Bittner Award criteria, and announced a new award for agencies that simultaneously achieve accredited status in all three CALEA Accreditation Programs.
Agency review hearings were held on Saturday morning, with five committees of Commissioners reviewing a total of 69 agencies: 5 for initial law enforcement accreditation, 47 for law enforcement reaccreditation, 1 for initial public safety communications accreditation, 3 for public safety communications reaccreditation, 1 for initial training academy accreditation, 11 for initial recognition through alliance, and 1 for re-recognition through alliance.
The agencies reviewed were awarded accreditation or recognition at the Saturday night Celebration Banquet. The evening ended with the Chair inviting everyone to the Commission 25th Anniversary Conference in Austin, Texas, December 1-4, 2004.
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