IAWP Region 10: 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!