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News/Noticias
Top Hispanic law enforcement executives to convene in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA (January 25, 1999) — Law enforcement executives and criminal justice officials will meet in Los Angeles, California, for the 26th annual Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association's (HAPCOA) National Training Conference. The conference will be held at the Burbank Airport Hilton and Convention Center September 22-25, 1999. With this national event taking place in the Los Angeles area, the organization and its officers will have access to over one third of the nation's Hispanic population, and will be able to more effectively address the challenges facing law enforcement in an increasingly diverse ethnic society. Vice President Al Gore and FBI Director Louis Freeh are among this year's invited speakers. "With more than 500 planned attendees, the conference will provide a valuable opportunity for HAPCOA members and other law enforcement officials to meet and exchange ideas related to the criminal justice field," said HAPCOA National President, Special Agent in Charge, Errol Chavez of the Drug Enforcement Administration-San Diego. This year's theme is "Back to Our Future," and National President Chavez has extended "an open invitation to all municipal, county, state, federal and judicial agencies to join HAPCOA as we honor our past while embracing our future." According to HAPCOA officials, growth trends among Hispanics and other ethnic groups are changing the cultural and racial balances of our communities. Law enforcement personnel will be exposed to presenters and information that can help them address the various elements of our increasingly diverse society, especially as they relate to the nation's families and youth. HAPCOA was founded in 1973 in California as the Mexican American Police Command Officers Association. In 1984, its name was changed to reflect a broader representation of Hispanic command officers from across the country. The organization's primary objectives are to address the needs of law enforcement agencies to better improve police-community relations and foster career opportunities for Hispanic officers. Its members represent a cross-section of law enforcement agencies; from municipal police departments, county sheriffs and state agencies to the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, DEA, and several other federal agencies. Previous conference speakers have included: U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno; Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, John Magaw; and General Barry McCaffrey, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "The HAPCOA National Training Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn from some of the most successful and highly regarded professionals in federal and local law enforcement," said 1999 Conference Chairman David Gomez. "There will be a variety of workshops offered that can benefit attendees both professionally and personally," he added. HAPCOA offers assistance in the recruitment of qualified, bilingual candidates for law enforce-ment careers. It offers networking opportunities for career-oriented professionals in the law enforcement field, and acts as a resource to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies trying to improve relations with, and provide services to, the rapidly-growing Hispanic population. Sponsors for this year's conference include, Motorola, Allstate Insurance Company, AT&T and Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. For more information regarding HAPCOA, contact Estrada Communications Group at (512) 335-7776 or email: mail@estradausa.com. (return to
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