|
The President�s Message BOB BURT, ASSIST State
President GREETINGS ASSIST MEMBERS, Spring and early summer are always great times for ASSIST. Two major events, in some ways, define ASSIST. The Gulf Coast region barbecue and the North Texas region Private Security and Law Enforcement Symposium are more than fundraisers for fallen security officers. They are events that focus on who we really are.
The barbecue in Houston every year consistently raises thousands of dollars which are dedicated to providing support to the families of fallen security officers killed in the line of duty. Year after year, under the outstanding leadership and guidance of Gulf Coast Regional President Ruben Amaya, the barbecue not only raises significant amounts of money, but the event brings us all together united for a common purpose. Differences are put aside and a sense of dedication is in the air.
It�s not just ASSIST members and their families who get actively involved. Many of our clients and their families participate every year knowing this truly is so important. The most active of all is Virgie Gribble (affectionately known as �Mom�), owner of Charlie�s House in Houston. Mom basically turns her restaurant over to ASSIST for the event. And when I say turns over, I mean not only the patio area, but the kitchen for food preparation as well. This year I graduated from pealing onions to slicing brisket.
Throughout the day, security patrol vehicles parked out front, along busy Broadway, point the way for the general public to participate. And they do. Celebrities and politicians also are known to drop in. It�s a win-win for the lucky bidder of an autographed basketball from a Houston Rocket. The barbecue also provides a convenient venue for constituents to visit with their elected representatives who may be in town and can drop by. The barbecue is a model I hope is picked up and utilized in other areas of the state.
The North Texas Private Security and Law Enforcement Symposium not only raises significant money for our fallen officer�s fund, but it emphasizes our dedication to a partner relationship with law enforcement. Law Enforcement and Private Security, was started in Dallas in the mid 1990�s by ASSIST members Mark Smith and Walt Roberts working with Ben Click, the chief of the Dallas Police Department at that time. The tradition continues with current Chief David Brown and Deputy Chief Brian Harvey. It has been the successful model of similar programs in other areas of the state.
The concept then, and remaining today, is to recognize the value of a partnership between private security and law enforcement. More feet on the ground are always better. More eyes and ears are always better. And we have the feet, eyes and ears. More than 100,000 individuals are registered by the Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau to perform private security services. The majority of these registrants are private security officers. In our LEAPS program, the secret is to match skill level with participation. In that light, part of the LEAPS formula is to enhance security officer training for selected security officers at the law enforcement academies on classes such as how to protect a crime scene until law enforcement arrives. Security officers are already trained far above �neighborhood watch� groups and provide the logical basis to utilize in this program. Their choice is appropriate because, among other things, a private security officer has chosen security as a profession. One of the best things of all is that the LEAPS program provides all of this extra help at no cost to the taxpayers.
The symposium brings together hundreds of law enforcement and private security officials together to make this partnership better year after year. North Texas Regional President Kathy McReynolds, State Executive Vice President Walt Roberts, State Secretary and Fallen Officers Chairman Michael McGregor, as well as many others, have worked tirelessly to insure the success of this great event. Lisa George, current president of Dallas LEAPS, and Keith Allen from the Dallas PD, lead a group of dedicated police officers from the Dallas PD and ASSIST members to make this great LEAPS program work. North Texas continues to lead the way in showing the rest of the state how a relationship like LEAPS should work. In addition to the enhanced training, LEAPS provides much needed communication between law enforcement and private security so all of us are on the same page and focusing our efforts jointly.
The concepts of our Fallen Officers Fund and LEAPS go to the very core of who we are. We believe very deeply in taking care of our own. We also believe in taking care of others. That�s our chosen profession. We recognize the danger and accept the challenge. We recognize the need for continued improvement and accept that challenge too. The successes of the past are only stepping stones to what we can do in the future.
I am extremely proud of our ASSIST members. We have many members who step up to the plate, attend local regional meetings and get involved. We have many members who contribute in other ways. It all means we are doing the right thing. We are heading in the right direction and success will continue as a result of all of our hard work.
|
