FBINAA Associate Magazine Q2.2021

Cindy Reed THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT

T he Association is divided into four Sections, which is evidenced each year as the National conference location moves through the Sections over the four year rotation. One fact of which many members may not be aware is that there are also four International Chapters assigned to each of the four US-based Sections: – Asia-Pacific // Section One – Africa/Middle East // Section Two – Latin America/Caribbean/Puerto Rico // Section Three – European // Section Four Although the National Academy was created in 1935, it did not extend its training beyond the borders of the United States until 1938 when the first International Student graduated from Session 8 (Henry Arthur Leslie of New Scotland Yard). To quote from the 75th Anniversary Book of the FBINA “The international cooperation thrust of the National Academy was established early and with considerable success. President John F. Kennedy was an enthusiastic supporter of this part of the program.” Yet, all of the International Chapters were formed more re- cently than the majority of the current US Chapters. The Interna- tional chapters’ creation was far more complicated due to issues with crossing the borders of sovereign nations as well as currency exchange rates and communication in the pre-Internet days. Here is the story of the formation of the first International Chapter in 1983, thanks to the excellent records kept by the chapter and a scrapbook handed over to the European Chapter Representatives by former National Academy Executive Director Tom Colombell at the 2020 Chapter Leaders Meeting. EUROPEAN CHAPTER HISTORY Formation of the European Chapter originated from an idea put forward by the NAA Secretary /Treasurer George Graves in 1980. To quote from a message provided by Sir David O’Dowd at the 2007 conference in Tallin, Estonia, “ There may have been a cynical view by some that the FBI and US Department of Justice were seeking to create a worldwide law enforcement web for its own selfish ends. The thought by many was: Surely that training provision and liaison role was the responsibility of the European Law Enforcement Community itself. However, in those days no one was formally accepting that responsibility. It has been shown to have been tremendous foresight on the part of a handful of individuals on both sides of the Atlantic. It has resulted in an ex- tremely effective network that is to this day more often productive through its informal links than the structured liaisons between the European countries. It also cemented the idea of the FBI Director WilliamWebster who felt training was not merely an expense but an investment in the future.” The Chapter first met at the Police Staff College, Bramshill, England, 26-30 September 1983 and was attended by just 45 Formation of the European Chapter

delegates. The first Chapter President was Mike Richards from the Metropolitan Police in England. The delegates included the President of the NAA, Roland Renshaw , the NAA Secretary / Treasurer George Graves , the London Legal Attache Robert Moore , and the Rome Legal Attache Jim Fryer. There were also representatives from Quantico, and 34 European graduates. The conference programme provided a format which still exists today and also continues to be based upon professional development with an ancillary social programme. According to a remark by a European attendee, “This is the first time European Countries have ever unanimously agreed on anything!” It would be nice to report that the chapter enjoyed steady growth, however there was soon a glitch. The second meeting in 1984 had fewer graduates than FBI Legal Attaches, a concern to the FBI who concluded they could not continue to support it. The new London Legal Attaché Darrell Mills asked to be allowed two years in which to increase numbers. His office distributed a newsletter explaining the benefits of this new Chapter. With a concerted effort through the European Legal Attaches and senior police officers, attendance increased at the following annual conferences; 55 in 1986 (Switzerland), 65 in 1987 (Spain), and in 1989 Copenhagen had 100 graduates. Copenhagen also marked the transition from a programme organised and run by Quantico to one developed and produced by the host country. This model exists to this day, incorporating topical policing issues for European officers with input from Quantico. This conference clearly demonstrated the benefits and what could be achieved with officers from across Europe sharing their experiences. The Chapter has met on an annual basis holding its annual training sessions in a different part of Europe each year. Several hundred European Police officers have now graduated from the FBI National Academy representing over 50 countries and becoming members of the NA Associates. The early conferences were held at police training facilities to minimise costs and attract delegates. When the 1990 confer- ence was scheduled to be held in Rome, it was realised that delegates might be more inclined to attend if their spouses could be included. From that moment on spouses (or partners) were

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