Greetings one and all! Below I'd like to welcome those new Region 10 members who have joined the organization from January through July 2010:
Inspector Cheryl Brasil - Alameda County D.A.'s Office
Officer Julianne Burke - California Highway Patrol
Officer Shellie Clark - Las Vegas Metro Police Department
Officer Jamie Contes - Arizona Department of Public Safety
Sergeant Gabriel Gallaread - San Francisco Police Department
Officer Sofia Gallegos - Los Angeles Airport Police Department
Officer Janira Gonzalez -USMC Police Department
Sp. Probation Officer Martha Guillen - San Bernadino County Probation Department
Sergeant Martha Hall - Los Angeles Airport Police Department
Commander Maria Heffington - Salinas Police Department
Ms. Ellen Kirschman - Psychologist/Author - Redwood City
Officer Robin Leland - CSU Monterey Bay Police Department
Officer Onishia Niland - Casa Grande Police Department
Officer Yasmine Samalya - Amtrak Police Department
D/Sheriff Kerry Saulnier - Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Officer Patricia Tafoya-Bryson - San Bernadino County Community Police
Officer Lucia Wade - Santa Rosa Police Department
Officr Kimberly Wadsworth - North Las Vegas Police Department
Officer Trishell Young-Orth - Milpitas Police Department
I'm happy to welcome you all to Region 10! If I've missed acknowledging anyone, please let me know! I've added you all into my Address Book for the Region, so you should soon be receiving training and officer safety information as I receive it, which I send out on a regular basis. I will also send e-mails out when I update this blog, so you are able to access that information quickly, as well. I encourage you all (and all of the rest of you reading this blog) to please forward me any information you would like for me to share, and especially information regarding officer safety and upcoming trainings in your areas, and I'll be happy to pass that on for you. If, for some reason, you are NOT receiving e-mails from me, that means I do NOT have a current e-mail address for you or one was not provided when you sent in your membership. Send me an e-mail to RLM2214A@aol.com, and I'll be happy to update my records, as I don't want you to miss out on any information being shared.
The notifications I'm not receiving anymore for 2010 are those members who have renewed their memberships, so for those of you who have done so in 2010, thank you! I'm currently working with Wendy Wilson, the IAWP Membership Chair, so that I am able to be advised about new members as they join and not several months after the fact. It's still a work in progress, but that's the goal, as I'm well aware that many of you may have been members already for several months, and the notification about this blog will be the first contact you have had with me.
Wendy has also forwarded me is a list of Inactive members from late 2007 through February 2010 (thus far). I will begin working on contacting those of you who are on that list that have e-mail addresses listed so that you will have an opportunity to renew your memberships before Wendy completely removes you from her mailing list, which she anticipates doing this next month. I will also be removing you from my Address Book for the Region at that time, so if you suddenly find that you are not receiving e-mails from me or not receiving the Women Police Magazine, that is what has occurred. You can easily renew your membership online by going to the IAWP website at www.iawp.org. If you'd prefer renewing by mail, you can print the form off of the website and can mail it in instead of doing the transaction online.
If, for some reason, you are making the decision NOT to renew your membership with the IAWP, please contact me to let me know why you are choosing not to continue your membership. I feel that is important information to know for our continued Strategic Planning of the organization, and if there are any improvements that we can do that would encourage you to stay members of the IAWP, or changes that you would like to see happen, I would like very much to hear about it. Thanks!
I would like to extend my congratulations to Supp. Special Agent Ester O'Keefe from the California Department of Justice on her retirement this past December 30, 2009! Ester spent 22 years with the DOJ and another 8 years with the Fresno Police Department prior to working with the DOJ. Congratulations on a wonderful career, Ester! Enjoy your retirement!
I'd also like to congratulate former IAWP 2nd Vice President and former Region 10 Coordinator, Lieutenant Lynette Hogue, who retired from the San Francisco Police Department on October 23, 2009 after spending over 28 years with the Department. Lynette worked in many different stations and units in the Department and excelled everywhere she went. I can tell you from also working in the SFPD, that she is sorely missed! Enjoy your retirement, Lynette; you deserve it. I won't be too far behind you!
Finally, I'd also like to congratulate Chief Susan Jones from the Healdsburg Police Department, who also just retired from her Department (sorry, Chief; I'm not sure what your final date was). Chief Jones has been a fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years, and many of you who have attended past Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE) Conferences in California over the past several years have had an opportunity to meet her. Word has it she will continue to be involved with WLLE; check out the conference website at www.wlle.net for information on this year's conference in November in Pasadena, California, where you'll undoubtedly be able to connect with Susan there.
Unfortunately, I also have some sad news to report, as well. Region 10 member, Officer John Mulkern, from the San Francisco Police Department died today of a massive heart attack. I've had the privilege of knowing John for years and had an opportunity to work with him at one of our District Stations for a number of years. He has always been a supporter of women in law enforcement, and was one of our volunteers when the San Francisco Police Department hosted the IAWP Conference in 2003. After getting a chance to experience that, John joined the IAWP, wanting to be a part of something so special. He will truly be missed.
Finally, for any of you who will be in the San Francisco Bay Area on August 11th, I'd like to encourage you to participate in the 6th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at AT&T Park, where the S.F. Giants will host the Chicago Cubs at 1910 hrs. Pre-game home plate Ceremonies will include a Memorial Tribute to Northern California Police Officers who have died in the line of duty, including officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Martinez, Pittsburg, Sacramento Sheriff, East Palo Alto Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department. A flyover by law enforcement air units will occur, and the National Anthem will be sung once again by San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Jerry D'Arcy. Proceeds from tickets sales will benefit the California Peace Officers Memorial and the Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (BALEAF), who provides support to the law enforcement family who have had members killed in the line of duty, have suffered a serious injury, or suffered a catastrophic event. (For more information on BALEAF, please go to their website at www.baleaf.org).
Tickets for this fun event are only $25.00 and can be purchased directly from the San Francisco Police Officers Association office at 800 Bryant Street in San Francisco, or via the web at www.sfgiants.com/special events under Law Enforcement Night (for groups of 25 or more, please call 415-972-2298 - please mention that you are part of the Law Enforcement Group when calling). The seats are located on the view level starting behind home plate. Your ticket price includes a souvenir tote bag and a hosted pre-game Tailgate party at the Mariposa Yacht Club at 1500 hrs. For additional information, please contact Bob Guinan at 415-850-5726. This is a fun, family event and is a great way to honor those of us who have given the ultimate price, and to support two fantastic organizations at the same time. Hope to see you there!
Until my next posting, stay safe.
