Manchester, New Hampshire Hosts the 26th Annual Conference
The 26th Annual NLLEA Conference “Reducing Public Harm through Effective Alcohol Law Enforcement” welcomed over 70 NLLEA members in Manchester, New Hampshire October 23-25, 2012. NLLEA conference attendees enjoyed a joint dinner on Tuesday, October 23rd with the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) hosted by NABCA on their conference’s closing evening.
The NLLEA Conference Opening Ceremonies began Wednesday morning, October 24, with the Canadian and United States National Anthems, with a moving live rendition sung by Portsmouth Police Department’s Detective Kristen Burnier. NLLEA President Richard Cologie addressed conference attendees after the Presentation of the Colors by the Manchester Police Department Honor Guard. NLLEA members then attended conference sessions and the annual business meeting before heading to the NLLEA banquet held the same evening at The Puritan Backroom Restaurant in downtown Manchester.
Workshops and Sessions
The NLLEA hosted sessions and workshops throughout the conference, with presenters traveling from the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Their topics addressed consequences of the deregulation of alcohol control systems, the power of partnerships between highway safety offices and alcohol law enforcement, online licensee training, and using social networking for enforcing alcohol laws. Additionally, attendees heard the results of a recent alternative compliance checks study and from Officer Mike Knetzger of the Green Bay Police Department who shared “Ashley’s Story”, his personal experience of losing his daughter Ashley in an traffic crash involving an impaired driver and how he has proactively worked to prevent future impaired driving crashes in Wisconsin.
Annual Business Meeting
The Annual Business Meeting was held Wednesday afternoon, with the membership voting to approve all business conducted by the NLLEA Executive Board during the past year. The members were updated on changes to the board, with Philip Calvert retiring and Frederick Mahony, Chief of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission Enforcement Division, stepping into his position as Vice President. The membership also elected Sergeant Wesley Kuhl from the Arizona Department of Liquor Control to the position of NLLEA Sergeant-at-Arms.
NLLEA Banquet
Wednesday evening’s NLLEA Banquet at the Manchester’s Puritan Backroom Restaurant began with a performance by the New Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums, a true treat for all attendees. Dinner was followed by a presentation of the annual NLLEA awards. Award recipients included: The Midland Empire Alcohol Task Force receiving the John W. Britt Community Service Award; The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission receiving the Innovative Liquor Law Enforcement Program of the Year; Lieutenant James J. Johnson of the Worcester Police Department receiving the Liquor Law Enforcement Agent of the Year Award; and the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement receiving the Liquor Law Enforcement Agency of the Year Award. The NLLEA also presented Service Awards to the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement & Licensing for co-hosting the conference and to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration for hosting the 2012 NLLEA Training Academy. Phillip Calvert received a Meritorious Service Award for serving on the NLLEA board from 2010-2012. (Check out the NLLEA Awards page for more details.)
Immediate Past President Steve Ernst swore in the 2012-2013 NLLEA Board of Directors: President James Wilson, Vice President Frederick Mahony, Secretary/Treasurer Joseph Cannon, Sergeant-At-Arms Wesley Kuhl, and Immediate Past President Richard Cologie.
The 26th Annual NLLEA conference provided a great opportunity for members to network and socialize, building collaborative relationships to enhance liquor law enforcement efforts throughout Canada and the United States. Stay tuned for information about the 27th Annual Conference to be announced in early January, 2013.
