HOUSTON ASIS CHAPTER MINUTES

November 20, 2002

 

The Chapter held a luncheon meeting at the Renaissance Hotel.  Chairman Mike Mason CPP presided.  Fifty-three members and three guests attended.

 

Opening and Pledge of Allegiance: Mike Mason and Mike Crocker, CPP

 

Training: Richard Hill

*   Houston ASIS is one of the sponsors for a Homeland Defense Training Program offered through the U of HD.  The goal for the grant was to provide one training session with approximately 50 attendees.  It grew to a 3-part program; Chemical Plant Areas was held at Equistar on October 22 with 102 participants.  On 11/19, Space Center Houston is the location for Large Entertainment Venues; and 12/2 Marathon Oil is hosting Oil Refining Areas.  The seminar is free to Law Enforcement Officers and $10.00 per seminar for Private Security Professionals.  Please reference the web page for more information.  TCLEOSE and TCPS credits.

*   The Masters in Security Management program is expected to start this fall at the U of HD.  It has been approved by the state but there is still some paperwork to do.  Surveys are being mailed or can be found on the ASIS web page.  Getting business and individual support is a critical factor in the final approval process.  Please participate in the survey.

 

Business Activities:

Treasurer’s report:  Bob Cascino reports that all outstanding bills are paid.  MEETINGS:  Due to the holidays, December meetings will be held one week earlier on December 18.

CPP: Karim Vellani CPP announced that Darin Dillon just passed the CPP.

Elections:  HPD Captain Mark Curran conducted the election.  No nominations came from the floor.  Ballots were passed out with a reminder that you must be an active member to vote.  Voting was unanimous and installation of the new Executive Committee will be at the next meeting.

*   Chairman: Mike Crocker, CPP

*   Vice-Chairman: Mark Steinfort

*   Treasurer: Bob Cascino

*   Secretary: Pamela Duncan

L.E. Liaison:  Mike Mallon is overseeing nominations for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Security Officer of the Year.  Please contact him with your recommendations.

 

Speaker: Abe Martinez, U.S. Assistant Attorney

 

Mr. Martinez has recently been named Chief of the Anti-Terrorism Taskforce for Southern Texas.  He is a former FBI agent and spent the last 12 years as a U.S. Assistant Attorney with the prosecution office.

 

The main focus of the Anti-Terrorism Taskforce is prevention over prosecution.  This was a mandate from Secretary Ashcroft to encourage networking between the agencies.  Mr. Martinez gave the example of two companies that worked in the WTC.  One company, Morgan Stanley, adopted a comprehensive evacuation plan after the 1993 attack.  They rigorously and consistently drilled their employees to take immediate action.  On 9/11, they had over 3,000 employees working in the two towers.  Several were working on the floors above the impact.  Immediately after the impact of the first plane, both offices enacted their evacuation plan.  Only six died and thirty-one were injured.  Two survived from the floors above the impact.  Conversely, another company did not respond immediately and lost most of their employees.

 

Mr. Martinez’s first step in his new role was to conduct a vulnerability study of our district.  There are forty-three counties in the southern district, an area large enough to be the tenth largest state.  Some of those vulnerabilities are:

*   there are 300 miles of border with Mexico

*   176 petrochemical plants, 100 of which make and store toxic chemicals so deadly they are governed by international treaty

*   we produce 50% of gasoline

*   there are two nuclear reactors

*   we have the 4th largest airport system

*   we have the Port of Houston

*   we have the second largest Muslim population (+300,000), Detroit having the largest

*   there are 70 mosques

*   we have 70 consulates, including one currently being built by the Russians

 

His second step brought those involved together with law enforcement agencies to devise plans.  Other steps in progress include legislation; the TCPS is updating forms and increasing eligibility requirements for security guards.  Deportation of illegal aliens is increasing.  He is working with the smaller local police departments to get computers through the Homeland Security Grant.  The Port of Houston is also working to link all law enforcement by computer from here to McAllen.  A new, multi-agency computer crimes taskforce was established in Houston that includes eight Secret Service agents.

 

Mr. Martinez was awarded a plaque in appreciation of his time and presentation.

 

The next meeting is December 18.  Our topic will be Workplace Violence.