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LEAPS
Austin
Chris Toliver
Chairman
After several months of gathering information from other chapters, holding organizational meetings, developing a website and electing a Board of Directors, I am very excited to report the recent formation of a LEAPS chapter here in the Austin area. This has been long overdue, certainly desired and already being well received by the local security companies and law enforcement.
Pictured: Alan Trevino, Johnny Atkinson, Chris Toliver and
Charlie Deckert
The Austin Police Department has been completely supportive and Chief Acevedo states he is excited to have the police and private security working so well together and that this will certainly prove to be a force multiplier for the city of Austin. We have all recognized that there are small pockets or segments of the city that are working very well together and while we do not want to disrupt that, we would like to enhance the communication of all the groups under one umbrella and work toward common goals.
Walt Roberts and Keith Allen in Dallas have been very helpful by providing information on what works and what hasn’t in the past from their chapter. During a trip to Dallas, I was able to spend time with Keith to look at some of the programs they have started. Keith also said he would be available to come to Austin and discuss the program with our local security companies and participating police departments
During our first meeting, just a few months ago, we elected the board of directors and started the ball rolling of filing all the necessary paperwork to be recognized as a non-profit corporation. Once all of that is complete, we will start the membership push and set regular meeting times which will more than likely coincide with the local ASSIST meetings. Board members are Chris Toliver, chairman, Alan Trevino, vice chairman, Charlie Deckert, secretary, Johnny Atkinson, treasurer, and Michelle Borton, police liaison.
Another thanks to Charlie, who did a great job putting the website together in his spare time. It may be viewed at
www.leaps-centraltexas.org.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our official kick off during the ASSIST 2009 convention here in Austin, Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. Please contact any of the following board members for more information or to get involved: Chairman Chris Toliver, Executive Security,
ctoliver@essitexas.com, 512-458-2258; Vice Chairman Alan Trevino, Sentry Security,
alan.trevino@sbcglobal.net, 512-206-0515; Secretary Charlie Deckert, ATX Protection & Investigations,
cdeckert@atxprotection.com, 512-372-9773; or Treasurer Johnny Atkinson, Executive Security,
jatkinson@essitexas.com, 512-458-2258.
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