Message From The Newly Elected WSCPA President
Dear Members and Friends,
Greetings from Mark Solomon, newly elected President of the Washington State Crime Prevention Association. I am honored to be taking the helm of our organization and thank Vicki Ruley, our immediate Past President, for her leadership during these most challenging times.
2020 has been a very tumultuous year, with a worldwide pandemic and the economic and emotional toll it has taken on all of us, massive outcry for social and racial justice, as well as violent demonstrations that have overshadowed legitimate calls for law enforcement reforms. Through it all, those of us who are Crime Prevention Practioners and law enforcement professionals have continued to show up, do our work and serve our communities, whether it has been in-person or via Zoom.
As Immediate Past President Ruley stated in her message to membership in April 2020, WSCPA has suspended all in-person training for the remainder of Calendar Year 2020. Additionally, we have canceled our Annual Conference, which was scheduled for October 1 & 2, 2020.
We have made further changes as well.
Yes, 2020 has been tough. I am certain that we will all get through this together and come out stronger than ever. Thank you for the work you do every day and the service to your communities. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and let’s support each other in the times ahead.
Mark Solomon, CPD
President, Washington State Crime Prevention Association
Crime Prevention Coordinator, Seattle Police Department.
Greetings from Mark Solomon, newly elected President of the Washington State Crime Prevention Association. I am honored to be taking the helm of our organization and thank Vicki Ruley, our immediate Past President, for her leadership during these most challenging times.
2020 has been a very tumultuous year, with a worldwide pandemic and the economic and emotional toll it has taken on all of us, massive outcry for social and racial justice, as well as violent demonstrations that have overshadowed legitimate calls for law enforcement reforms. Through it all, those of us who are Crime Prevention Practioners and law enforcement professionals have continued to show up, do our work and serve our communities, whether it has been in-person or via Zoom.
As Immediate Past President Ruley stated in her message to membership in April 2020, WSCPA has suspended all in-person training for the remainder of Calendar Year 2020. Additionally, we have canceled our Annual Conference, which was scheduled for October 1 & 2, 2020.
We have made further changes as well.
- Effective immediately, all membership renewal dues are hereby suspended for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. As such, any member agency or individual may renew their membership without cost. Additionally, now is an opportune time for non-members to join the Association and receive the benefits of being a full WSCPA member. Please click here to renew your membership or to join as a full member.
- Agency budgets are stressed as a result of the economic impacts of COVID-19 and calls for defunding police agencies. To this end, WSCPA will roll out a series of online trainings and Webinars to provide training for our members, but not burden them with travel costs to attend in-person trainings. Even without the COVID restrictions on in-person gatherings of more than a certain amount of people, this will enable agencies the flexibility to still receive training while saving on their training budgets.
- Finally, WSCPA will be working in concert with the Washington Association of Sherriff’s and Police Chiefs on their proposed Law Enforcement Reforms. We have all heard loud and clear about the need for reform. Many of those voices stress prevention measures, not just enforcement efforts. As Crime Prevention Practioners, we interact with community members on a different level than our First Responders. As such, we feel the need to be involved in those conversations, as a resource to both our agencies and our communities.
Yes, 2020 has been tough. I am certain that we will all get through this together and come out stronger than ever. Thank you for the work you do every day and the service to your communities. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and let’s support each other in the times ahead.
Mark Solomon, CPD
President, Washington State Crime Prevention Association
Crime Prevention Coordinator, Seattle Police Department.
