The Central Virginia Chapter: The Beginning
It started with the
planning of the 1994 NOBLE National Conference.
Prior to 1994, the Virginia Chapter of NOBLE encompassed the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. Members of the Virginia Chapter worked
diligently to bring the conference to Richmond,
Virginia. Attorney General Janet Reno was one of the
noted speakers for the conference. Lt.
A. J. Scott of the Richmond Police Department was one of the co-chairpersons
for the conference and Team Leader Morris Roberson of the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service led the security detail for the conference dignitaries. In July 1994, the Virginia Chapter successfully
hosted NOBLE's Annual Conference.
In September 1994, members who
were located in the Central Virginia area and
were traveling north to attend chapter meetings decided to meet and ultimately submitted
the appropriate paperwork to form "The
Central Virginia Chapter."
The Central Virginia Chapter was
incorporated in October 1994. Though he
was not present at the time, Morris Roberson was elected the Chapter's first
President. Interim officers were
nominated for a period of six months to get the chapter started. The following year an election was held for
the new officers and the chapter was up and running. Mr. Roberson was re-elected Chapter President
for a full term.
Since its inception in October
1994, the Central Virginia Chapter has
achieved numerous accomplishments through training, workshops, and community
initiatives. The chapter's membership is
comprised of individuals representing criminal justice agencies, including
state and local police departments, sheriff's offices, university police
departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation: the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms; the U.S. Department of the Treasury, FinCEN; and local and state agencies in
support of NOBLE's mission, throughout Brunswick County, Charlottesville,
Chesterfield County, Fluvanna County, Henrico County, Hopewell, Louisa County,
Petersburg, and Richmond.
The Central Virginia
Chapter has consistently met the goals and objectives of the National Strategic
Plan, has been a leader in providing excellent training for our brothers and
sisters in the law enforcement community, and has continuously enhanced its
community outreach initiatives that are in constant demand.
Our NOBLE family has much
to be proud of and with God's continued blessings, we will continue to be a
beacon in this wonderful organization.
|
Evelyn H. Cross
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
John I. Dixon III
Richmond Police Department
Carlton G. Edwards
Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department
Arthurine Hampton
Richmond Police Department
Franklin D. R. Jackson
Charlottesville Police Department
A. Augustus Jones
Richmond Police Department
Cedric W. Lawrence
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
George B. Mason
Virginia State Capitol Police
Arthur D. Roane
Richmond Police Department
| Morris E. Roberson
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Hamilton Robinson
New York City Police Department
Russell R. Rowe
U.S. Secret Service
Albert J. Scott, Jr.
Richmond Police Department
Marty Tapscott
Richmond Police Department
Eugene D. Wells
Virginia Union University Police Department
Willie R. Williams
Petersburg Police Department
Delmar P. Wright
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
|
The Chapter's numerous accomplishments through training, workshops, and community initiatives include the following:
Training
- Basic First Line Supervision
- Supervisory Techniques for the Non-Supervisor
- Handling Individuals with Disabilities
| Community Initiatives
- Assisted in the establishment of the NOBLE, Hampton Roads Chapter in 1997.
- Social events open to the public: Annual Awards & Scholarship Banquet & Holiday Events.
- Established scholarship fund for Central Virginia-area high school students.
- Awards & Scholarship Banquet, presenting awards in areas of criminal justice, community service, and chapter participation and scholarships to deserving graduating high school students.
- Tapped by Governor Mark Warner to provide information to the community on the Commonwealth's racial profiling prevention initiatives through the CVC's Community Forums.
- Partnership with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General to provide training to Central Virginia law enforcement personnel and to include information to the communities throughout the Commonwealth on its gang reduction & awareness initiative and Internet Safety during its Community Forums, featuring "The Law and You."
- Met with representatives of the Virginia Department of Education to plan the increase of our presentations of "The Law and You" to middle and high school students & staff throughout the Commonwealth and to provide a 2-hour training to school administrators and staff on the Office of the Attorney General's gang awareness initiative.
The expertise and professionalism of the members of the Central Virginia Chapter were tapped by a local police department to assist in evaluating an equitable testing procedure as a recruitment tool. In September 2000, the Chapter was asked by a local Mayor's Office to review a videotape of a high-profile arrest, involving alleged excessive force by police officers, and to lend its expert opinion and recommendations. Additionally, members of the Central Virginia Chapter have been recognized on the National level for their contributions in the areas of criminal justice and service to NOBLE.
The Central Virginia Chapter continues to address the mission, objectives, and guiding principles identified by the NOBLE National Office.
|
NOBLE National Mission/History
MISSION
To
ensure equity in the administration of justice in the provision of
public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of
law enforcement by being committed to justice by action.
HISTORY
The
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) was
founded in September, 1976, during a three day symposium to address
crime in urban low income areas. The symposium was co-sponsored by the
Police Foundation and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
(LEAA). The Joint Center for Political Studies (JCPS) coordinated this
unprecedented event in which sixty (60) top-ranking black law
enforcement executives representing twenty-four
|
(24) states and
fifty-five (55) major cities gathered in the Washington, D.C. area to
participate. They exchanged views about the critically high rate of
crime in black urban communities and the socioeconomic conditions that
lead to crime and violence. They raised questions about relevant issues
such as fairness in the administration of justice, police community
relations, the hiring and promotion of black police officers, and the
unique problems of the black police executive.
Recognizing
that black law enforcement executives could have a significantly more
effective impact upon the criminal justice system through a unified
voice, the symposium participants departed from the planned agenda to
create NOBLE. They unanimously elected Hubert Williams, then Director
of the Newark, New Jersey Police Department, and the first black police
chief of a major city, temporary chairman of NOBLE.
|
Vision Statement/Objectives
The goal of
NOBLE is to be recognized as a highly competent, public service
organization that is at the forefront of providing solutions to law
enforcement issues and concerns, as well as to the ever-changing needs
of our communities.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives that are employed to implement the goal of the organization include:
An emphasis on being a competent learning organization that
continuously learns from the collective knowledge of its members, and
other sources of criminal justice research and data, while
simultaneously working to rapidly convert this learning into action;
Working to ensure long-term organizational stability by identifying and
establishing mutually beneficial relationships with corporations and
other funding sources;
Recommending and executing policies,
processes and procedures that recognize and pursue goals common to all
segments of the community and law enforcement, with a focus on ensuring
strict accountability and uncompromising integrity;
Promoting and encouraging attitudes and characteristics that permit
adaptability to the changing demands placed on law enforcement, and the
development of professional and communication competencies that help
view, comprehend and shape appropriate responses to an ever-changing
environment; and
Increasing the effectiveness and
efficiency of NOBLE through a clearly defined and shared sense of
purpose and commitment among its members.
| Guiding Principles
1. Respect: Law enforcement must be respectful of the rights of all persons.
2. Uncompromising integrity: NOBLE will conduct its business according to ethical standards of law enforcement.
3.
Courage of convictions: NOBLE will be proactive in addressing issues of
controversial law-enforcement policies and practices.
4. Accountability: NOBLE promotes the principle of mutual accountability between the criminal justice system and the community.
5.
Community: The community must be an integral part of the criminal
justice system, with particular attention being given to criminal
justice issues that affect the African American community.
6. Value Diversity: NOBLE promotes the value of diversity at all levels throughout the criminal justice system.
7. Mentoring: NOBLE members are committed to mentoring as a way of life.
|
|
