On January 28, 2000, NNOAC delegates met at the “Embassy Suites” hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. There were 48 Board members, delegates, associates and guests in attendance.  The Alabama Narcotic Officers Association hosted the meeting.

        NNOAC Chairman Ron Brooks called the meeting to order and introduced Keith Kelly, President of the Alabama Narcotic Officers Association who welcomed everyone to Montgomery. President Kelly introduced his special guests, The Honorable Bobby Bright, Mayor of the city of Montgomery, Lt. Bill Jamison, Montgomery Police Department who was representing Chief of Police John Wilson who regrettably was unable to attend, Sheriff D.T. Marshall, Sheriff of Mongomery County, Col. Jim Alexander, Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Honorable Bill Pryor, Alabama Attorney General. Chairman Ron Brooks then introduced the special guests in attendance, Donnie R. Marshall, DEA Administrator, Joe Peters, Associate Director of State and Local Affairs for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Major General William Jefferds, National Guard Bureau and David Luitweiller, retired Executive Assistant to the DEA Administrator.

        Chairman Ron Brooks in his chairman’s report reported he has had a lot of positive feedback from our trip to Washington D.C. in June. A great number of people were impressed with the number of Capitol visits we made and the number of high level people we were able to attract and speak at our meeting. The National Coalition since it’s inception in 1994 has been able to have a positive impact in Washington D.C. in a very short period of time. Chairman Brooks attended the retirement dinner for D.E.A. Administrator Tom Constantine in Washington D.C. and had a number of meetings with staffers on Capitol Hill. He also met with California Senator Diane Feinstein and discussed the pending Asset Forfeiture bills.

         Joe Peters, Associate Director of State and Local Affairs for O.N.D.C.P. spoke about his office and gave an overview of the HIDTA programs.

         Donnie Marshall, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, thanked the Coalition for the support given him and to the DEA. Administrator Marshall spoke to the importance of cooperation between all law enforcement agencies and to how well recognized NNOAC is and does have an impact in Washington D.C. with the Legislators.

         Our afternoon session was addressed by Major General Jefferds, National Guard Bureau, who spoke about the National Guard Bureaus Drug Programs and the National Guard Budget, which is about 40 million dollars short of whats needed. The General thanked NNOAC for our support of the National Guard Bureau and the National Guard budget.

         Lt.Col. Jeff Shelly, Counter drug coordinator, Alabama National Guard gave a presentation on the programs available to law enforcement officers and an overview of several cases involving the National Guard and local law enforcement. At the completion of Lt. Col. Shelly’s presentation the delegates were transported to the National Guard airport where we were given orientation flights on C-26 surveillance aircraft. The C-26 aircraft are often used in cooperation with law enforcement and specifically with narcotic investigations. The flights were most informative and enjoyable. The Coalition thanks the Alabama National Guard for their time and hospitality.

  NNOAC Executive Director Richard Sloan after orientation flight

         On January 29^th our guest speaker was the Honorable Senator Jeff Sessions from the State of Alabama who welcomed us and spoke about Senate Bill S-1701. This is the asset forfeiture bill that he co-sponsored with New York Senator Charles E. Schumer. This Bill has the backing of NNOAC and is the answer to Senator Hydes Bill.  Senator Sessions presentation was very informative and showed that he is a strong supporter of law enforcement. Chairman Brooks suggested that each of our State Associations send letters to their State Senators in support of Senate Bill S-1701. The Sessions Bill is the best answer to Senator Hydes Asset Forfeiture Bill.

         Sergeant Major Loretta Averna, NICI, gave a presentation of “Managing the Media” to assist us in being more comfortable during media interviews.

         Roger Lake, President of the Washington State Narcotic Investigators Association presented an update report on the Washington State Methamphetamine Conference.

         There were several business items to be resolved at our meeting. The membership committee reported that several new State Narcotic Officer Associations were in the process of being formed, New York, Michigan and the possibilities of Georgia, Wisconsin and Kentucky. I would encourage that anyone out there with contacts in States that are not already members of the Coalition to contact the membership committee with that information. We are in the process of preparing a membership directory, which is being coordinated by NNOAC Secretary Al Katcher. He needs updated, current names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and titles of all your Board Members.

         The final business matter to be handled was the elections for NNOAC Chairman and Secretary. Nominations from the floor were for Ron Brooks for Chairman and Al Katcher for Secretary. It was a unanimous vote for both of these excellent choices. These positions require a lot of dedication, time and effort to keep this Coalition at the highest level it is today. This cannot be accomplished without the help from all of us. Please stay connected and in contact with your elected officials, it takes all of us to make it work.

         Our next meeting will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 30-July 1, 2000, which will be co-hosted by the Indiana and Illinois Narcotic Officer’s Associations.

         For lighter moments at our Alabama Meeting, I want to thank Keith Kelly and his association for all their hospitality and great meeting. Keith and his people gave up their time to transport the delegates around the city showing them all the points of interest, and there is a lot of history in Montgomery. Several of us were taken to the gravesite of “Hank Williams” which is apparently a popular spot to have a beer. We also toured the Hank Williams museum. Our by-law Chairman Millard Pickering was so “overwhelmed” at the gravesite of Hank Williams that he locked the keys to his car inside his car. It was raining. We left Millard waiting for the auto club to unlock it. I don’t know about these guys from Oklahoma! All the Delegates had a wonderful time, got a lot of work done with a little fun thrown in.

  NNOAC Delegates gathered at “Hank Williams” gravesite in Montgomery Alabama

  California Narcotic Officers Association Rep. Eugene D. Rudolph

SEE YOU ALL IN INDIANA!             

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