January 2022 Chapter Chat

BY OUR MEMBERS

PUBLISHED ON: January 12, 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. 

California

Promotions

Congratulations to retired Kern County Assistant Sheriff, Tyson Davis, NA Session 259, who has been selected to be the new Police Chief of the Delano, California Police Department.

Congratulations to Aniceto Ortiz, NA Session 269, who has been promoted to Chief of the California Highway Patrol, Central Division.

Congratulations to Mickey Williams, NA Session 261, who is now the Chief of Carlsbad Police Department.

Congratulations to Ramon Batista, NA Session 259, who is now the new Chief of Santa Monica Police Department and comes to us from the Arizona Chapter.

Congratulations to FBINAA California Chapter Past PresidentDonald O’Keefe, NA Session 172, who has been appointed by Governor Newsom as the new Chief of Law Enforcement for the California Office of Emergency Services.

Congratulations to Roberto Filice, NA Session 255, who was selected as the new Police Chief of Salinas Police Department.

Retirements

Many congratulations to Captain Chomnan Loth, NA Session 275, on his retirement from the Newark Police Department. We wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

Congratulations to Police Chief Derrick Abell, NA Session 257, on his retirement, effective December 18, 2021. After 31 years of dedicated service to the City of Manhattan Beach we wish Chief Abell all the best in his retirement.

Congratulations to Chief Robert (Rob) Landon, NA Session 248, who retired at the end of September from the Yuba City Police Department where he had spent 27 years, thirteen of those years as the Chief. Before that, Chief Landon had spent 11 years in the U.S. Navy onboard nuclear-powered submarines. Thank you, Chief Landon, for your service.

Passings

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of retired Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department, Margaret “Peggy” York, NA Session 159, who passed away in October 2021.

Connecticut

Retirements

Congratulations on the retirement of Town of Seymour Police Chief Paul Satkowski, NA Session 220. Chief Satkowski served in law enforcement for over 32 years, with the last 26 years in Seymour.

Eastern Pennsylvania

Chapter News

Eastern PA Chapter held their FBI National Academy Chapter Christmas Social gathering along with our NA Session 281 “Going Away” on December 13, 2021, at the Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5. In addition to the free social event, attendees received a free holiday ornament.

Pictured are our Chapter Executive Board members from left to right; 2nd Vice President Tom Cuckovic, Vice President John Potts, President John Hearn, FBI Coordinator Jim Christie, along with our NA Session 281 candidates.

Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Retrainer is booked for May 15-17, 2022, in Gettysburg, PA! BOOK THE DATE! Registration is open now! View Retrainer Flyer

Promotions

Brian Marshall, NA Session 278, selected as new the Phoenixville Borough Chief of Police. Congratulations Brian!

Michael Goodson Sr., NA Session 265, was promoted to Captain with the Philadelphia Police Department on December 15, 2021. Congratulations Mike!

Michael Zimmerman, NA Session 274, was promoted to Inspector with the Philadelphia Police Department on December 15, 2021. Congratulations Mike!

Javier Rodriguez, NA Session 272, was promoted to Inspector with the Philadelphia Police Department on December 15, 2021. Congratulations Javier!

Retirements

The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter wants to congratulate Alex H. Levy, NA Session 179, on his retirement on December 26, 2021, from the Law Enforcement profession after 44 years of dedicated service. Pictured from left to right: Abington Township Police Chief Pat Molloy, Officer Alex Levy, FBINAA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter President John Hearn, FBINAA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter 1st Vice President John Potts.

Alex Levy retired after over 43 years in law enforcement. He spent 35 years with the Upper Moreland Township Police Department, retiring as a Lieutenant. He spent the next 3 years as the Chief of Police for North Wales Borough, and then returned to his passion for uniform patrol as a patrol officer for the Abington Township Police Department for the last 5 years. 

Congratulations Alex and thank you for your dedicated service!

Kansas Western Missouri

Chapter News

The Kansas-Western Missouri Chapter proudly congratulates Dan Madden, Mission Police Department (KS), and Ryan Miller, Overland Park Police Department (KS) for graduating from the FBINA Session 280 in Quantico this past December. 

Michael Butaud, NA Session 257, and Will Akin, NA Session 264, have been elected as President and Vice President, respectively, of the Kansas City Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association. The Chapter’s Immediate Past President Kevin Freeman, NA Session 253, serves the same organization as Treasurer. Congratulations for representing our Chapter in this group’s leadership. 

Aly Abdelgawad, NA Session 262, and two of his officers at Raymore Police Department (MO) recently received the Kansas City Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Bronze Award for Valor for their actions on a call involving a citizen in crisis who was a danger to herself and other family members. The Chapter is proud of you for your professional handling of this volatile situation. 

Retirements

Dennis Butler, NA Session 223, is retiring on February 1, 2022, after three years as the Director of Police for the Riley County Police Department (KS). He has served over 42 years as a sworn officer in various capacities including the Chief of the Ottawa Police Department (KS) (2004-2018) and numerous divisions/ranks with the Alexandria Police Department (VA) (1980-2004) retiring as a Captain. Dennis served on the IACP Police Foundation Section Board (8 years) and the Governing Board (2018-19). He led the Ottawa Police Department to earn CALEA accreditation (2015). Several awards include the Kansas Attorney General’s Crime Victim’s Rights Service Award (2007), Kansas DARE Officers’ Association President’s Award (2008), George Mason University Alumnus of the Year for work with domestic violence (2011), and the ‘Ally of the Year’ award from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (2018). After this long and successful career, Dennis plans to travel and taking some time off to relax! Congrats on all your accomplishments, Dennis!

Sheriff Don Ash, NA Session 211, retired on December 13, 2021, after serving over 49 years in law enforcement for his community in Wyandotte County, KS. Don began his law enforcement career as a Police Cadet with the Kansas City Police Department (KS) in 1972. He went on to be elected Sheriff with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office in 2009, re-elected unopposed in 2013, and to a historic third term in 2017. Don served on many boards for his community over the years including the KCK Community College Board of Trustees, Wyandotte County Sport Association, Veronica’s Voice Ministries, Shepherd’s Center of KCK, Family Conservancy, and KC Crime Commission Second Chance. He is a registered football and basketball official with the Kansas State High School Activities Association and served as a coach for both teams at Piper Middle School (1990-2012). Don is continually active with his community church as well. He attributes his successful career as being fortunate to have had good people who developed in him a strong moral, ethical, educational, and professional foundation. We wish Don all the best in retirement and thank him for his years of service to so many. View Retirement Announcement

Maryland Delaware

Retirements

Colonel John E. Gavrilis, NA Session 135, retired from the Maryland Transit Administration Police Force. Colonel Gavrilis began his tenure with Maryland Transit Administration Police Force in 2004 as the Deputy Chief of Police. In 2009, Colonel Gavrilis was appointed to the rank of Chief of Police after a national search for the position. Colonel Gavrilis oversees a force of approximately 238 sworn and civilian personnel. Read More

Michigan

Passings

Eugene Alli, NA Session 135, known by his grandchildren as “Papa” of Sturgis, Michigan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home. He was 81 years old. Eugene was born on March 28, 1940, in Detroit, son of Nur Edris and Stephania Juliana (Romanowski) Alli. Eugene enlisted into the Army on July 23, 1958, after graduating from high school in Fraser, Michigan. He went to Fort Knox for Basic Training after being sworn in at Fort Wayne, Detroit. After basic training he was stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia for MP training. His first MP assignment was at the 559th MP Company in Fort Monroe, Virginia. He arrived at Fort Monroe around Christmas Eve for approximately one year until 1959. He was then stationed at the U.S. Army Medical Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. After he finished his service in Landstuhl he was sent back to Ft Dix, New Jersey for about 4-5 days until his honorable discharge from the military. He was discharged from military at E-4 Specialist 4th Class. He received an associate degree from Washtenaw Community College, Bachelor of Arts Degree from Detroit Mercy College, and Master of Science Degree from Central Missouri State University. He was a graduate of the 135th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He served as a law enforcement instructor at the Washtenaw Police Academy and the Detroit Police Academy. Eugene is a lifetime member of the Michigan Association Chiefs of Police. Continue Reading

New York Eastern Canada

Promotions

James Spellman, NA Session 240, was promoted to Assistant Chief in the Investigations Division of the New York State Attorney General’s Office on December 9, 2021. Spellman, a 35-year Law Enforcement veteran is based at the Attorney General’s main office in lower Manhattan, New York City.