The IACA's Most Successful Conference

Many of us are returning from what appears, by most measures, to be the most successful conference in IACA history. To recap some highlights:

• The conference was a joint effort between the IACA and the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. This brought the IACA to the attention of numerous police executives, government officials, and researchers who were unaware or only vaguely aware of us before. We have received 20 new membership applications in the past week.
• The conference featured a record-breaking 811 registrants. Our previous record was 343, set in 2007. You might argue that the 2010 figure is a bit artificial, considering the POP partnership, but even without the POP attendees, we beat the previous record with around 355.
• Preliminary evaluations from both POP and IACA attendees have been very positive as to the quality of the training and the wisdom of the partnership. The POP Center is already talking to us about future joint conferences.
• Although POP is the larger organization, we were able to hold this joint conference without sacrificing the various features that make IACA conferences memorable, including our reception (complete with karaoke), networking events, computer lab training, exhibitors, awards, and prizes.
• The final financial accounting has not been completed, but a preliminary review suggests it will be our most financially successful conference, too.

We are still tabulating reviews, but if you attended the conference, I would welcome your written feedback as to how it went, particularly if you have any critical comments about the IACA/POP partnership. Don’t let me assume that everything was just peachy if you had concerns or problems that I did not see.

Dave McClocklin's staggering "Best Analytical Chart" winner.

While I’m writing, let me take a moment to congratulate Membership Award winner Tess Sherman, Board Award winner Carolyn Cassidy, President’s Award winner Debra Piehl, and the first-place winners of this year’s bulletin contest: Michael Winslow, David McClocklin, Scott Peacock, Dana Muskova, and the Onondaga Crime Analysis Center in Syracuse, NY. Their contributions were truly staggering. I would also congratulate the Colorado Springs Police Department for winning this year’s Goldstein Award for their homeless outreach initiative.

The IACA Board presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dallas Police Lt. Mark Stallo, past IACA president

  

We owe the success of this conference primarily to its chair, Carolyn Cassidy, and her excellent committee: Stephanie Beach, Mary Craige, Julie Garriety, Mary Kirkwood, and Allison Mayer, who had to not only run a much larger, more elaborate IACA conference than normal, but also had to effectively work with two other organizations. Fortunately, the representatives from those organizations, Nancy Leach of the POP Center and the men and women of the Arlington Police Department, were unparalleled in their professionalism. The APD provided constant staffing during the conference and I heard numerous remarks as to their courtesy and helpfulness. I would also thank my counterpart at the POP Center, director Michael Scott, keynotes Darrel Stephens and Rana Sampson, our various sponsors, all of the excellent presenters this year, and of course the IACA Board.

I know you’ll have more follow-ups concerning presentations, evaluations, and other details from Carolyn. From now, I’ll just say that this last year has brought the IACA to a higher level of complexity, but also a higher level of value. The 2010 conference established a tough new standard for future conferences to follow, but I am confident that our 2011 conference (as we join with the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts on Cape Cod from September 19-23, 2011, chaired by Mary Craige) will be even more successful.

Time to shake off the P.C.D.* and start planning for next year!

Best wishes,

Christopher W. Bruce

President

International Association of Crime Analysts

*Post-Conference Depression. You thought you were the only one?