ASIS INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON CHAPTER

MEETING MINUTES: APRIL 28, 2004

The luncheon meeting was held at the Renaissance Hotel. Chapter Chairman Mike Crocker CPP presided. 68 members and guests attended.

Opening prayer and Pledge: Mike Crocker

Committee Activities:

Newsletter: the next issue will be in June.

Treasurer: the report was distributed.

Certifications:

Congratulations to Weldon Green (Dynegy) for earning his CPP.

Houses of Worship: Lewis Eakins held a luncheon for his committee to plan some outreach strategies. They will be developing a flyer and a “church awareness” day.

Training: Mike Mason CPP is lining up the speakers for the annual conference. It will include an ethics course.

Golf Tournament: The date is May 17^th at Woodcreek Golf Club. The Runners Group Corporation gave a $250 donation and Terrace Security registered a team. There are very few teams left to fill. The committee will be meeting on Friday, 5/7.

Legislation: Dave Parker received a letter from Cliff Grumbles (TCPS) approving CEU credits for the luncheons. The administrative details will take another week and hopefully we can start receiving credit for the May meeting. He also met with Jay Kembrough (Homeland Security in Austin) regarding a meeting for the security professionals in the PetroChem/Energy/Rail industries that have a 24 hour command center.

Miscellaneous:

• Jack Mack CPP is also a member of the Gulf Coast Criminal Investigators group. They are holding a meeting at the Hobby Hilton on April 29^th to exchange information on unsolved crimes. $5 for LE and $25 for corporate security.
• A new committee has been formed: Corporate Security Roundtable, chaired by Charles Hutchinson. Mark Caldwell and Keith Budd are the co-chairs. The kickoff meeting was held April 22 at Greenway Plaza. It will be a closed-door forum for corporate security management to exchange ideas.

L.E. Award:

• March honoree: HPD Officer Harold Bohn, accompanied by his supervisor Captain David Gott. On December 2, 2003, Officer Bohn responded to a call involving a 79 year old woman being attacked in her back yard by a Rottweiller. Two paramedics were on the scene, but unable to approach the victim. Officer Bohn did not want to shoot the dog because of fear for a stray bullet in the proximity of the neighborhood. He found a shovel and struck the dog, which in turn came after him. Officer Bohn was able to get a restraining device around the dog’s neck and contained the situation without endangering anyone else and with great risk to his own safety, and allowing the paramedics access to the victim.
• April honoree: HPD Sgt. Jim Ramsey and Deputy Administrator Debbie Benningfield (who was unable to attend); accompanied by supervisor Captain Hollin, Homicide Department. On 12/14/69, a woman was abducted, sexually assaulted and stabbed to death. The case went cold. While recently reviewing the case, Sgt. Ramsey found one latent print that had previously been misfiled. Ms. Benningfield, a fingerprint expert, meticulously labored and found a match. The suspect had just been released from prison from an unrelated conviction. Sgt. Ramsey skillfully interrogated him and got a confession. The suspect had been in prison eight times for other convictions and will now be serving time for this crime.

All three were presented plaques in appreciation of their professionalism, dedication and perseverance.

SPEAKER: S.A. Bob Doguim

Spokesperson: Houston Division, FBI

Topic: Current FBI Priorities and taking your questions

Agent Doguim joined the FBI in 1985 and has been assigned to Houston since 2000. He has been a Project Coordinator with international relations working with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Ambassadors, Foreign Ministries, and Law Enforcement Agencies in the Mexico, Central American and South American regions. He has supported investigations involving domestic and international terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and public corruption.

The first lines of defense are those in uniform and the FBI is reaching out to increase communication and empower those on the front line in three ways:

Collection of Intelligence Information

Analysis of that information

Dissemination of that information

TCRAS: locally

ANSIR: nationally

Infraguard: I.T. Security

Each FBI office has a Field Intelligence Group (FIG). Houston is becoming the model FIG for actively involving Federal, State, County and Local law enforcement agencies. It has established an interactive communication system, not only to share information, but to ensure every opportunity to clarify and keep that information in perspective. The FIG is currently making the effort to improve relationships with private industry. Understanding the common mission is the key to success. The 2004 Superbowl is a perfect example that the cooperative effort and relationships already exist in Houston.

Every day criminal activity is becoming enmeshed in terrorism. There are many documented incidents of local crime tracing back to organized terrorist groups, often financially. The Patriot Act helps open the door for sharing potential connections between international and domestic incidents. Historically, the FBI has been an investigative agency that becomes involved after an event occurs. It is now taking a more proactive role, by having agents overseas indirectly playing some role in providing security. The FBI would respond if a U.S. citizen was harmed overseas.

After a question and answer period, Agent Doguim was awarded a plaque in appreciation of his time and presentation.

The next Houston ASIS International luncheon meeting is May 26. Kim Ogg will speak on the Crimestoppers Organization.