News/Noticias
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Estrada Communications Group, Inc.
(512) 335-7776

HAPCOA elects Drug Enforcement Administration's Chavez to head Executive Board.

Miami Beach, FL (October 13, 1998) – Special Agent in Charge Errol Chavez of the United States Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Diego Field Division, is the new president of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA). Chavez is the organization's former vice president, and now heads an executive board of nine members, made up of law enforcement executives from across the nation.

"I am honored to be entrusted with the stewardship of HAPCOA and will stay the course established by our immediate past president Joe DeLopez," said Chavez. "More than ever, our membership is committed to increasing the number of Hispanics in our profession, in establishing better relationships between law enforcement and the Latino community, and becoming more of a critically-needed resource to our members' agencies," he added.

Joining Chavez on the executive board are: First Vice President Rosa Melendez, Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service (Seattle, WA); Second Vice President Edwin Rios, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (San Juan, PR); Secretary Ron Flores, Lieutenant, METRO Police (Houston, TX); Treasurer Charles Almanza, Assistant Deputy Chief, U.S. Marshals Service (Los Angeles, CA); Sergeant at Arms Noel Rojas, Commander-South District, Miami Police Department (Miami, FL); Correspondence Secretary Tom Telles, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (San Diego, CA); Historian & Parliamentarian Diego Mella, Lieutenant, Metro-Dade Police Department (Miami, FL); Director at Large Neftali Carrasquillo, Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Long Beach, CA); and Executive Director Jess Quintero of Washington D.C.

Also serving on the board is immediate past president Joseph DeLopez, Deputy Chief, Chicago Police Department (Chicago, IL); Advisory Board members Eduardo Gonzalez, Director, U.S. Marshals Service (Arlington, VA); and Arturo Venegas, Jr., Chief of Police, Sacramento Police Department (Sacramento, CA).

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-level officers from across the nation. Its members consist of the highest ranking law enforcement executives and criminal justice professionals in the U.S., representing a cross-section of law enforcement agencies form municipal police departments, county sheriffs and state agencies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of the Treasury's Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), U.S. Marshal's Service, Secret Service and other federal agencies.

HAPCOA offers assistance in the recruitment of qualified candidates for law enforcement careers and networking opportunities for career-oriented professionals in the law enforcement and security fields. HAPCOA also acts as a resource to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies with respect to improving relations with, and providing services to, the U.S. Hispanic population.

For more information or materials regarding HAPCOA's Annual National Training and Career Conference September 22-25, 1999 in Los Angeles, California, contact Estrada Communications Group, Inc. at (512) 335-7776 or email ECG1mundo@aol.com

DEA's Chavez elected president of HAPCOA. General Barry R. McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (left) congratulates Errol J. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), on his new role as president of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA). Chavez was elected during HAPCOA's 25th annual National Training Conference. McCaffrey, also known as the nation's "Drug Czar," was a keynote speaker at HAPCOA's silver anniversary event in Miami Beach, FL.

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