December 2022 Chapter Chat

BY OUR MEMBERS

PUBLISHED ON: December 15, 2022

The intent of this column is to communicate chapter news. Announcements may include items of interest, such as member news, section activities, events, training calendars, special programs, etc. Refer to the editorial submission deadlines, particularly with date sensitive announcements. Submit chapter news on the Chapter Chat Submission Form by the 25th of every month. Please attach to the email high-resolution digital .jpg or .tif photos to: chapterchat@fbinaa.org. 

Arizona

Chapter News

Jeff & Deb Grow

The Chapter held another successful golf tournament this year to support our ALEAD program. And, once again, the Chapter owes a very big “Thank You” to Interim Tolleson Police Chief Jeff Grow, NA Session 244, and his wife, Deb. Both work tirelessly year after year to put on this amazing event.

Commander Christine DeSanti, NA Session 240, with the Surprise Police Department recently raised money and VOLUNTARILY went “Over the Edge,” 27 stories to be exact, for the Arizona Special Olympics. Great effort, Christine!

Commander Christine DeSanti
Cmdr. DeSanti going “Over the Edge” for Special Olympics

Finally, a BIG Thank You to Prescott Police Chief Amy Bonney, NA Session 257, for serving as our 2022 Chapter President. We greatly appreciate her leadership and direction for our Chapter this past year. Enjoy your new assignment as “Immediate Past President!”

Promotions

Oro Valley Police Chief Kara Riley, NA Session 261, recently promoted a couple of our Chapter members. First, John Teachout, NA Session 263, was promoted to Commander. John is also serving as our 2023 Chapter President. Congratulations!

During the same ceremony, Curtis Hicks, NA Session 278, was promoted to Deputy Chief. It looks like Oro Valley’s future is in very good hands.

Chief Kara Riley (L) and Commander John Teachout (R)  
Chief Kara Riley (L) and Deputy Chief Curtis Hicks (R)

Congrats go out to Michael Sullivan, NA Session 242, who was sworn in as the Interim Police Chief for the Phoenix Police Department in October. Chief Sullivan previously served with the Baltimore and Louisville Metro Police Departments.

After a nationwide search in November, Troy Stirling, NA Session 271, was promoted to Police Chief for the Lake Havasu Police Department. Troy has served with the Lake Havasu Police Department since 1997.

Chief Troy Stirling (Lake Havasu City website)

FBINAA Section 1 Representative Jim Gallagher

The entire journalist staff of the Arizona Chapter Chat is embarrassed that Jim Gallagher’s, NA Session 245, retirement from Phoenix Police Department and selection as the Police Chief for the Central Arizona Project Police Department was not covered earlier this year. Jim retired from Phoenix Police Department after a 27-year career and was selected to fill the vacancy left by Joe Gaylord’s, NA Session 199, retirement from the CAP. Jim is also currently serving as the Section 1 Representative for the FBINAA. Congratulations, Jim, and thanks for your hard work on behalf of the FBINAA.

California

Chapter News

Deputy Chief Eric Thunberg

Many congratulations go out to our FBINAA 2022 Chapter President, Captain Eric Thunberg, NA Session 255, who recently retired from Chula Vista Police Department where he had served nearly 30 years. Eric has had little time to enjoy retirement as he has taken a position as a Deputy Chief with the Lake Delton Police Department in Wisconsin! Yes, you heard right, Wisconsin. We wish Eric all the best and hope he has invested in some warm uniforms.

Promotions

Chief Ed Varso

Congratulations to Ed Varso, NA Session 267, who was appointed as the new Police Chief for the Menifee Police Department, in Riverside County. Ed was previously the Chief of Escondido Police Department.

Retirements

Chief Brian Johnson

Congratulations to Chief Brian Johnson, NA Session 218, who retired from the El Centro Police Department. Chief Johnson started his career in 1989 with the Los Angeles Police Department before moving over to the Upland Police Department to be their Chief from 2015 to 2017. He then moved to El Centro Police Department as their Chief. We wish you all the best Brian.

Passings

Chief Duane Douglas White

Condolences go out to the friends and loved ones of retired Escondido Police Department Chief, Duane Douglas White, a graduate of NA Session 167, which graduated in December of 1991. Chief White passed away peacefully on September 2, 2022. Chief White had been a soldier in the Army from 1964-1969 and served in the Vietnam war. In 1972, he started a career at Escondido Police Department, rising through the ranks until he became the Chief in 1997. Chief White faithfully served his Department and the Community until his retirement in 2006. Chief White, we thank you for your service.

Connecticut

Chapter News

The Connecticut Chapter, along with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, and NESPIN, was proud to host the Bureau of Justice Assistance SAFLEO National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers Program Executive Forum Laying the Foundation on November 9, 2022, in New Haven, CT. This class is the first in a series that will be brought to Connecticut to establish and nurture officer wellness programs for the long term.

U.S. Attorney for the District of CT, Vanessa Roberts Avery, CT Chapter President Tim Edwards, and SAFLEO Trainer, Chief David Perry

Florida

Chapter News

The Florida Chapter hosted the training/lunch event at the SWAT Roundup on November 9th. FBI ASAC Ian Kaufmann provided a briefing on the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola Terrorist Attack.

ASAC Ian Kaufman
L-R: Central Florida Regional Representative Dan Purcell, Florida Chapter Third
Vice President Jeff Eifler, Florida Chapter President Patricia Wells, FBI ASAC Ian Kaufman

Illinois

Chapter News

The Illinois Chapter held its annual training conference on November 2-4 at the Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena Illinois. The conference was attended by 140 delegates, guests and vendors and featured incredible speakers including Julie Parker and Paul Butler. Among the many activities was an all-day wine tour narrated by Chapter Historian Terry Lucas and a Bourbon Tasting Night hosted by a local distillery. Illinois' 2023 conference will be back in Galena on November 1-3.

Illinois Chapter Conference Sessions

George Graves and Paul Butler

Retirements

Chief Steven Casstevens

Steven Casstevens, a graduate of NA Session 216, retired after 46 years in law enforcement. Steven started his career in the Military Police with the 101st Airborne Division. He worked for down-state Mendota and Peru Illinois Police Departments before being hired at Hoffman Estates Police. Chief Casstevens retired from Hoffman Estates in 2011 after 30 years, the last 11 serving as Assistant Chief. He then became Police Chief in Cary, IL for 2 ½ years before being hired as chief in Buffalo Grove in June 2013. He served as President of both the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police 2016-2017 and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2019-2020. Chief Steven Casstevens appropriately retired on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2022.

Indiana

Chapter News

Indiana held its annual Fall Luncheon, which was hosted by Eli Lilly, at their world headquarters in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis FBI Field Office's SAC Herbert Stapleton updated the membership of FBI happenings and reminded us about the importance of networking.

Our newest graduates were introduced to the membership and given an Indiana FBINAA pin.

Youth Leadership students from the 2021 and 2022 sessions attended the luncheon with their families. Both students presented the membership with an overview of the valuable leadership lessons that they learned and how they will apply these lessons to their individual lives.

We hosted a social event later that evening at TOP Golf and then had our fall Retrainer the next day. Approximately 125 NA members attended a great leadership presentation put on by renowned speaker Bill Westfall.

Youth Leadership Students Lauren Salazar and Ava Bales and their proud families

L-R: Lauren Salazar, Ava Bales, and YLP Counselor Mike Janes of Fishers Police Department

Indiana 2022 Fall Retrainer was well attended

Maryland/Delaware

Promotions

Assistant Chief Nicholas Augustine

Nicholas Augustine was confirmed on November 1, 2022, as an Assistant Chief of Police of the Montgomery County Police Department, MD. Nicholas received notification of his appointment while attending NA Session 283 this summer and had been serving as an Acting Assistant Chief until his confirmation this month.

Northwest

Chapter News

The Northwest Chapter holiday luncheon was held on December 9th in West St. Paul, MN.

Retirements

Sheriff Larry Leshovsky

Larry Leshovsky, NA Session 178, is retiring from the Richland County North Dakota Sheriff's Office at the end of 2022 after 42 years of service, the past 18 years as Sheriff. Sheriff Leshovsky expressed that his attendance at the National Academy remains a highlight of his career. Congratulations Larry, and best wishes in the next chapter!

Oregon

Chapter News

The ladies of 284 are cruising along at the halfway point and thankfully no one has called for bail money! Keep up the good work, bring home that brick!

Some of your board will be attending the section meeting in Las Vegas next week, I will bring back any informative nuggets to share in the December letter. Chief Paul Womer attended a virtual leadership meeting with FBINAA President Tim Braniff and other national board folks as we all try to find ways of growing membership and re-engaging retiree’s or folks that have chosen not to renew for various reasons. Collectively the chapter leadership from Section 1 had some good ideas mixing social events and high caliber training throughout the year. It seems we all have the same issue with competing Sheriff and Chief groups in our respective states that will require enhanced communication and coordination. Work in progress!

Taking the cue from you! Past President McDonald has been working on language to increase our board positions by one, giving us some more opportunity to get things done during tenure, and learn each other’s roles a little better as we transition through the chairs. This came out of the feedback during the business meeting post conference. At some point the membership will be asked to vote to adopt the change. More to come, probably in the new year from the new President Harvey.

We once again partnered with the Portland FBI office and provided T-shirts for the FBI/CTEC Teen Academy that graduates at the end of November.

YLP information has been sent out from National Office to the Chapter coordinators so start prepping your eligible dependents. I am sure VP Hogue and incoming VP McCrea will be spending quality time together very soon!

Lastly, too all our fellow veterans, their families, their friends, thank you all for your service and sacrifice! The nobility of service in the armed forces that we have continued into public service is a testament to our dedications to freedom and the safety of our communities.

Tennessee

Chapter News

The TN/KY FBI NAA are hosting their joint Annual Conference in Nashville, TN on August 27-31, 2023. Registration information can be found by contacting Don Green, dgreen03@comcast.net or going to the link to register, https://form.jotform.com/222384220672148. Hotel information can be found on the form.

Promotions

Chief Jason Irvin

The Town of Smyrna, TN has a new Police Chief. Jason Irvin, a veteran officer out of Chattanooga, has been named the new Chief of Police for the Smyrna Police Department. Irvin previously worked with the Chattanooga Police Department serving as the Assistant Police Chief from 2017 until his retirement. For the past 25 years, he worked his way through the ranks of the Chattanooga Police Department serving as Director of Training, Lieutenant in Internal Affairs, Patrol Supervisor, Sergeant in Internal Affairs, Property Crimes Investigator, Major Crimes Investigator, School Resource Officer and Patrolman. He is a graduate of NA Session 259.

"I am honored and excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Smyrna and look forward to the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity," Chief Irvin said.

Utah

Chapter News

The 2022 Fall Conference of the Utah Chapter was held in St. George, Utah, November 13 - 15, 2022. We were joined at our conference by President Tim Braniff and Executive Director Howard Cook, and Idaho/Montana Chapter President and Candidate for Section 1 Representative, Bill Gardiner.

Training on mindset was given by UFC Fighter Court McGee, and on mindfulness in leadership by Tim Gately. Both presenters were engaging and excellent. Golfers braved high winds and cold on Monday afternoon, with Dale Broph, NA Session 220, Gary Cox, NA Session 212 and Allen Ackerson, taking 1st place honors.

Thanks to 2022 President Mike Morgan, Session 253, for his service to the Chapter! He turned over the Chapter to 2023 President Jake Sube, NA Session 276. Alex Davis, newly returned from NA Session 283, was elected as the new 2nd Vice President. Congratulations Alex!

1st Place Golf Team, Dale Brophy, Gary Cox, and Jared Redfearn

2023 President Jake Sube

2023 2nd Vice President Alex Davis

Virginia

Chapter News

The FBINAA Virginia Chapter is proud to present the 2022 President’s Plaque to Chapter President, Assistant Chief John McKee, Virginia Division of Capitol Police, for his unwavering leadership and extraordinary work for the chapter.

L-R: Chapter Secretary/Treasurer, Major Ed O’Carroll (Fairfax County Police Department); At-Large Member, Captain Greg Geist (Petersburg Bureau of Police); At-Large Member Captain Tommy West (York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office); Chapter President, Assistant Chief John McKee (Virginia Division of Capitol Police); At-Large Member, Captain Jeffrey Bartlett (Virginia State Police); and Second Vice-President Captain Salvatore Mule’ (Henrico County Police Division).

Announcements

The FBINAA Virginia Chapter is happy to announce the 2022 First Line Supervisor School held from November 14 – 18, 2022, was a rousing success. Sixty first-line supervisors representing thirty-seven law enforcement agencies from across the Commonwealth were in attendance. During the week of instruction, participants learned about valuable topics that will aid them in their new position, but most importantly, made lasting relationships and contacts in law enforcement on the model of the FBI National Academy.

West Virginia

Chapter News

WV FBINA sponsored a Financial Crimes Seminar at Buckhannon and networked 90 bank and law enforcement attendees for an excellent day of training. Instructors were arranged by FBI Pittsburgh.