2005 NLLEA Conference
The National Liquor
Law Enforcement Association’s 19th Annual Conference was a smashing success!
Held in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia September 7 – 10th, the Conference was
co-hosted with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (Virginia
ABC) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of
Justice through its support of the National Center for Alcohol Law Enforcement.
Over 150 people attend the conference, with participants coming from as
far away as Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.
2005 NLLEA Award Recipients
The NLLEA Awards were a major conference highlight. NLLEA President Rick
Phillips and Vice President Linda Ignowski presented the annual awards
for excellence in liquor law enforcement during the Conference’s Friday
afternoon luncheon.
Innovative
Liquor Law Enforcement Program of the Year:
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
The Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control established its Fraudulent
Identification Task Force out of concern for false ids that were being
used not only by minors for purchasing alcohol, but also by criminals
engaged in human trafficking and possible acts of terrorism. Through its
work, three major cases resulted in arrests not only for the manufacture
of false ids but also for narcotics sales. In addition, numerous items
were seized, including computer equipment, over 1,000 fraudulent driver’s
licenses on computer software, and thousands of dollars in cash. Arizona
Governor Janet Napolitano has now established a statewide Fraudulent Identification
Task Force, expanding the Department’s model and influence. Jesus Altamirano
accepted the award on behalf of the Department.
John
W. Britt Community Service Award:
“Hot Spot” Liquor Task Force, Phoenix, Arizona.
The Hot Spot Liquor Task Force of the Phoenix Police Department was formed
to respond to high volumes of calls for service and repeated acts of violence
at various liquor establishments. It has evolved into a multi-departmental,
multi-agency body comprised of various local law enforcement regulatory
agencies, including the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
While its mission is to reduce calls for service through education, the
Task Force utilizes any and all remedial measures necessary to address
problems stemming from lack of compliance with the law. It monitors calls
for service and updates a “top ten” list of problematic liquor establishments
monthly, and various measures, such as training, administrative sanctions,
and criminal prosecution are applied against locations in the Task Force’s
effort to improve compliance. The work of the Hot Spot Liquor Task Force
has resulted in better quality of life for numerous neighborhoods in Phoenix.
Lieutenant Bill Schemers and Detectives Blake Carlson, Echo Fulton, and
Jeff Kornegay accepted the award on behalf of the Task Force.
Liquor
Law Enforcement Agents of the Year:
Armando Gonzalez and Frank Robles,
California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control
In the past year, Investigators Armando Gonzalez and Frank Robles conducted
a joint undercover operation with the Los Angeles Police Department in
the Hollenbeck neighborhood of Los Angeles, and area plagued with a large
gang presence and illegal drug activity in several bars. During their
undercover operations in three of the worst bars, investigators purchase
narcotics from gang members, patrons, and establishment employees. The
investigations also revealed that the licenses had abdicated control of
their premises to violent gang members who sold narcotics, furnished alcohol
to minors, and controlled prostitution activity in these businesses. At
great risk to their own safety, Investigators Gonzalez and Robles conducted
undercover operations without their duty weapons due to searches that
the drug dealers performed on bar patrons before allowing entrance. Because
of these investigations, five suspects were arrested for narcotics trafficking,
15 people were arrested for illegal drink solicitation, and the ABC was
able to prove that the licensee had direct knowledge of the illegal activity
occurring in their establishments. Two of the licenses were revoked and
a 45-day suspension was imposed on the third premise.
Liquor
Law Enforcement Agency of the Year:
Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control
In Fiscal Year 2004-2005, the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco
Control (ATC) achieved over a 91 percent compliance rate after conducting
more than 1,300 compliance checks. In addition, the agency implemented
a new program the same year, conducting 460 checks of alcohol beverage
outlets to ensure brand integrity and to detect and reduce incidence in
which another brand was substituted for the brand ordered. Although three
officers were scheduled to receive the award on behalf of the Office,
they were unable to attend the Annual Conference due to professional responsibilities
in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Former NLLEA President Dave Reitz accepted
the award on behalf of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
Business
& Pleasure
Following the Friday plenaries and workshops, conference participants
were treated to a technology exhibition and reception sponsored by The
Bars Program, First Data Corporation, and Intelli-check, Inc.
The Annual Business Meeting
began promptly at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. Agent Charles Sumner (Mississippi
Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control) was elected to the Sergeant-At-Arms
position. Members also voted to advance all other Board members to their
new positions. (To read the unapproved minutes from the Annual Business
Meeting, visit the Meeting Minutes page of the Members
Only section on this website.)
Optional
Activities
Conference participants were invited to take advantage of several optional
activities over the course of the conference. On Friday afternoon, the
conference adjourned so that members could spend some time on Capitol
Hill meeting with their Congressional representatives. During these meetings,
members conveyed information about the nature and importance of liquor
law enforcement and emphasized the Association’s value in promoting public
safety. The NLLEA Board presented one Congressional representative, Virginia
Congressman Frank R. Wolf, with an award for outstanding leadership on
alcohol enforcement.
Closing
Banquet and Swearing In of New Officers
Saturday evening’s Closing Banquet was a warm and friendly affair featuring
the swearing in of the 2005-2006 NLLEA Board of Directors: Linda Ignowski,
President; Shawn Walker, Vice President; Stacy Drakeford; Secretary/Treasurer;
and Charles Sumner, Sergeant-At-Arms.
Certificates of Thanks
were presented to Chuck Conkling for coordinating the Training Academy,
to the West Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration for its
support of the Academy, and to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control for hosting the conference.
The 2005 Annual Conference
was a noteworthy event with much learned and much accomplished. This fall,
the new NLLEA Board of Directors will determine the location of next year’s
gathering as the Association celebrates its 20th Annual Conference. In
the mean time, start thinking now about what you can share about your
agency’s work at the next conference.
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