Warrior Women

Greetings! First of all, I'd like to acknowledge a new member to the Region, as well as several others who have renewed their memberships. I received the updated list following my most recent blog posting.

Welcome to new member, Officer Arline Gilmore from the San Francisco Police Department, as well as to the following who have renewed their memberships:

Officer Marquita Booth, San Francisco Police Department
Inspector Madeline Schatz, DHS-TSA in Las Vegas, Nevada
Lieutenant Nina Jamsen, San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office
Sergeant Daphine Bates, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office
Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Police Department

I'd like to also take this time to thank Chief Beck for his continued support of the IAWP. It is SO important for the leadership in our law enforcement organizations to be aware of the IAWP, and the resources, networking, training, and support that are available to the women AND men in their organizations by becoming members. Your support is VERY much appreciated! I encourage everyone to print off a membership application from the IAWP website at www.iawp.org and forward it to your Chiefs and Sheriffs, encouraging them to join, and to pass the information onto the women in their organizations. They won't have an opportunity to support the IAWP or encourage the women in their organizations to join if they don't know we exist.

For those of you who were able to attend the past 2 IAWP Conferences, you likely met Louann from LouKa Tactical Training. LouKa Tactical Training is a woman owned, Michigan-based performance improvement public safety consulting and training group, who specializes in customizing training for your agencies, particularly in the area of training specialty units. Their mission states that they "exist for the sole purpose of assisting public safety agencies in improving their overall performance by introducing innovative, functional and reality-based training solutions for their organization." Check out their website at www.loukatactical.com for more information on the company and their training schedule, or contact Louann directly at 734-260-2975 or by e-mail at louannblackwidow@aol.com or louann@loukatactical.com. Thanks for your continued support of the IAWP, Louann!

Louann has also developed the most AWESOME long and short sleeved t-shirts that I've seen in a long time called Warrior Women. The shirts have a large, overlapping WW at the top of the back of the shirt, followed with the initials/spelling of Warrior going down the back of the shirt, with the initials of Warrior highlighted in black. Next to each letter are the following:

Well trained
Able
Ready
Resilient
Independent
On target
Resourceful

She describes the Warrior Women concept as philosophical, not occupational. "The Warrior Women idea is about whom women are rather than what they are. Although they do exist in the public safety profession and on battlefields, they also exist on athletic fields, in boardrooms, courtrooms, classrooms, operating rooms and in our homes. Warrior Women are those women who make a conscious decision to take control over their environment and create positive futures for themselves and their loved ones. They are survivors of illness, poverty, abuse, and personal loss. They are strong and independent and are willing to fight for their principals regardless of the outcome. Warrior Women are high spirited. They choose excellence over mediocrity and take a leadership role in mentoring others to do the same. They are resilient during setbacks and view adversity as opportunities. Women become Warrior Women by choice and by God's design . . ."

You can access additional information about Warrior Women through the above website through LouKa Tactical Training, or by going to www.thewarriorwomen.us/.

Until next time, stay safe!

Happy Autumn

Greetings one and all! I hope you're enjoying the beginning of autumn, thus far, after a busy summer. I attended the annual IAWP Conference in Lexington, Kentucky in August, and had a wonderful time seeing old friends and making some new ones. In addition, the training and networking opportunities were priceless! If you haven't had an opportunity to attend one of our conferences before, I strongly encourage you to give it a try; you won't be sorry! Next year's conference will be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, September 9-13, 2012, and will be the organization's 50th Annual Training Conference! Check out the IAWP website at http://www.iawp.org/, and go under Conferences to get details; it's looking like it's going to be another great one!

I'd like to welcome the following new members to Region 10 since my last blog entry:

Officer Elizabeth Prillinger, San Francisco Police Department
Officer Lilia Vasquez, Sacramento Police Department
Officer Andrea Dion, East Palo Alto Police Department
Commander Lea Militello, San Francisco Police Department

I'd also like to welcome back those of you who have renewed your memberships:

Sergeant Judy Riggle, San Francisco Police Department
Lieutenant Renota Martinez, San Francisco Police Department
Sp. Agent (retired) Ester O'Keefe, CA Department of Justice
Sergeant Rhonda Wood, Irvine Police Department
Chief Sandra Spagnoli, San Leandro Police Department
Lieutenant (retired) Pat Correa, San Francisco Police Department

Welcome one and all!

Congratulations go out to Wendy Bear from the San Francisco Police Department on her promotion to Sergeant on October 1st! I'm SO glad you got picked up, my friend; you're going to be an excellent addition to the rank!

I'd also like to congratulate Commander Lea Militello from the San Francisco Police Department, who was chosen by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as their 2011 Charles M. Holmes Community Service Award Winner! Lea was honored at HRC's 27th Annual San Francisco Bay Area Annual Gala dinner last night at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Lea has been a tireless advocate for LGBT equality, and is a wonderful example of what a leader should be. AND, on a personal note, Lea was my first partner when I came into the Department, so I know first hand what type of a cop and leader she is. Way to go, buddy!

Other news in the Region . . .

Laura Farinella from the Long Beach Police Department was promoted to Deputy Chief. She is the first woman to achieve the rank of Deputy Chief in the Department's 103 year history, and the first openly gay or lesbian officer to achieve the rank. Check out the Contra Costa Times newspaper article on the promotion by going to http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_19006766. Congratulations, Laura!

AND finally, yours truly retired from the San Francisco Police Department on October 15th after more than 29 years in the Department! It's truly been an honor working for such a great Department; however, I'm looking forward to this next phase of my life where I'll get to continue traveling, but without a timeframe on when I have to be back!! A retirement party is being thrown for me on Saturday night, November 5th, at the Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. If anyone has an interest in attending, send me an e-mail at RLM2214A@aol.com, and I'll give you all of the particulars. Dinner choices need to be into the hotel by November 1st!

Take care and stay safe as we head into the holiday season!

March to the Opening Ceremonies

March to the Opening Ceremonies

Region 10 Coordinator, Robin Matthews, with Officer Ally Jacobs, IAWP Excellence in Performance Winner from the Jaycee Dugard case

Region 10 members, Cande Ackler and Sita Singh