Followers

Friday, November 25, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving and More!

Greetings one and all! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday celebrating with family and friends. For those of you who had to work, thank you for keeping the streets safe for the rest of us, and enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration whenever you're able to do so.

I'd like to welcome Allison "Ally" Jacobs from the University of California, Berkeley Police Department, as a new member of the IAWP and to Region 10. Ally joined as a lifetime member! Glad to have you with us, my friend!

I recently attended the 6th Annual Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE) Training Symposium that was held in San Jose, California, November 13-15, 2011. It was great to see so many Region 10 members in attendance, including some of you who I hadn't had a chance to meet face-to-face before! I hope even more of you will be able to attend next year when it's down in Southern California. (The symposium alternates from being held in Northern California and Southern California year to year). I'll be sure and let you know when and where next year's training will be held once the details are finalized. Check out their website at http://www.wlle.net/ for information on past symposiums, as well as this year's event. Over 550 women (and some men) in law enforcement attended this year's training, not including those who had volunteered to work the event, which is a true testament to the power of this annual training event, even in the face of huge budget cuts and layoffs. Plan on coming next year; you won't be sorry!

Region 10 member, Captain Alana Forrest from the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department (on the left in the below photo), was surprised at the symposium by receiving the 1st Annual CPOA Trailblazer Award, which was presented to her by the President of the California Police Officers' Association, Chief Sandra Spagnoli from the San Leandro Police Department, who is also a Region 10 member! The Trailblazer Award recognizes a woman in California who, by demonstrating outstanding achievement within their job tenure and in their community, has enhanced the visibility and stature of women in law enforcement. The award will be given each year at the annual WLLE Symposium! A wonderful article on Alana receiving the award was published in the Los Gatos Patch newspaper; check it out at http://losgatos.patch.com/articles/town-cop-recognized-for-advancing-women-in-law-enforcement. Congratulations, Alana! You deserve it.

Until next time, stay safe and have a wondeful holiday season.