Boston, Massachusetts was the location of CALEA’s Summer 2005 Conference and marked the 77th conference held by the Commission. With its wealth of history and vibrant city life, Boston is one of the world’s truly wonderful metropolitan areas. The conference hotel, the Boston Sheraton, was located right in the heart of the city. With Fenway Park, Faneuil Hall Market Place, and other historic sites only blocks away, attendees had a wealth of opportunities to sample all Boston had to offer.
The host agencies for this conference were the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department, the Boston Housing Authority Police Department, and the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Coalition. The Commission would like to thank the host agencies and their representatives, Co-Chaired by Ms. Elaine Napolitano, Boston Housing Authority Police Department, and Deputy Chief Paul MacMillan, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department, in providing exceptional support throughout the conference. On Thursday night, the host reception was held at the popular Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant. Pier 4 is known for its old New England atmosphere, spectacular views of the city skyline, and fabulous American cuisine, and on that night, it was hitting on all cylinders! Again, kudos to the host agencies for a job well done.
The Opening Session started the conference on Wednesday morning, July 27, 2005. Commission President James M. O’Dell made opening remarks to the over 800 in attendance. An Honor Guard, consisting of personnel from Boston Housing Authority Police Department, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department, and the Boston Police Department’s Gaelic Column Pipe & Drums, posted the colors. Several prominent individuals including: Chief Joseph Carter, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department, Ms. Sandra B. Henriquez (CEO Boston Housing Authority), and representing Massachusetts Police Accreditation Coalition (MASS-PAC), Deputy Chief Paul MacMillan, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department, welcomed conference participants to Boston. Executive Director Sylvester Daughtry, Jr., ended the ceremony with announcements concerning conference workshops and committee meetings.
Following the opening session, the full slate of training workshops began. Commission staff conducted CALEA-specific training classes, with additional topical workshops ably carried out by outside presenters. They included: Model Voluntary Police Fitness and Wellness Program (J.E.Smith, Jr., M.S., C.S.C.S., U.S.A.W); Sports Riots as they Relate to 46.1.2 (Lt. Sean F. Kelly, Durham (NH) Police Department); Developing a Strategic Plan (Chief David L. Kurz, Durham (NH) Police Department); Law Enforcement Issues and Foreign Nationals: “A Horse of a Different Color” and Diplomatic Immunity (Bruce Ammerman, Bureau of Consular Affairs and Murray J. Smith, U.S. State Department, Office of Foreign Missions); APCO Training - Where Public Safety Communications Turns to Learn (Helen Straughn, APCO Institute); Leadership During an Internal Crisis: A Policy on Domestic Violence in the Department: Part A & B (Deputy Superintendent Margot Hill, Boston (MA) Police Department, Aviva Kurash, IACP, and Chief Tim Russell, Henniker (NH) Police Department); Eyewitness Identification: A Discussion of New Procedural Guidelines Based on Scientific Principles (Michael Fabbri, Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County (MA) District Attorney’s Office); Mastering the Manual (Marilyn Stieneke, Cary (NC) Police Department); Evaluating Communications Center Trainee Performance (Helen Straughn, APCO Institute); Terrorism and the Suicide Bomber (Patrick Chagnon, Connecticut State Police); Critical Incident Management Tasks (Timothy Coon, Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council); Investigation of Persons Utilizing the Internet for Criminal Activity (Dr. Thomas A. Johnson, University of New Haven, CT); and Accreditation: A Vehicle for Reducing Your Legal Liability (Richard P. Terbrusch, Program Manager, Superior Court Operations, Hartford, CT).
On Friday afternoon, the
Commission reconvened for a special Standards Review and Interpretation
Committee Meeting that included a presentation by the SRIC Focus Group and the
Full Commission Meeting.
At the full Commission Meeting, the Commission received standing committee reports:
Corporate Affairs Committee approved the Birmingham, Alabama, meeting minutes; accepted the recommendations from the Alliance Program Subcommittee; endorsed the Memo of Understanding with APCO International; and reviewed the preliminary budget report for 2006.
Outreach Committee approved the Birmingham, Alabama, meeting minutes; accepted the modification to the request for proposal for future conferences; and agreed to move the March 2006 CALEA Conference from Mobile, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida. The following cities will be invited to make presentations at the Fall Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in November 2005 for consideration to host the 2008 Conferences: March 2008 - Atlanta, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Hampton, Virginia; July 2008 - Bellevue, Washington; Palm Beach, Florida; and Schaumburg, Illinois; November 2008 - Orlando, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Standards Review and Interpretations Committee approved the Birmingham, Alabama, meeting minutes; adopted three additions to the Standards Manuals relating to process; and accepted the SRIC Focus Group report on the 5th Edition standards.
Awards Committee approved the Birmingham, Alabama, meeting minutes and the new award for CALEA Assessors.
Agency review hearings were held on Saturday morning, with five committees of Commissioners reviewing a total of 73 agencies: 9 for initial law enforcement accreditation, 45 for law enforcement reaccreditation, 1 for initial public safety communications accreditation, 3 for public safety communications reaccreditation, 1 for initial training academy accreditation, 3 for initial recognition, 1 for re-recognition, 6 for initial recognition through alliance, and 4 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 next Commission Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, November 16-19, 2005.
