Posted on 08/05/2005 1:37:44 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
Frank Taylor, retired State Police chief and director of the International Law Enforcement Academy in Roswell, was in Ruidoso this week to acquaint local business leaders with the Academy’s structure and objectives.
While here Taylor made a guest appearance on KRUI AM with Tim Keithley and spoke to some 100 people gathered at the Tuesday luncheon of Ruidoso Rotary.
“We gave a quick overview of the Academy’s program to the Rotarians,” Taylor said when he stopped by the Ruidoso News. “We also wanted to convey what part their community plays in the Academy’s success.
“Ruidoso is a catch-all. It offers the type of shops and entertainment participants are looking for.
“They visit Ruidoso on the weekends, or during off time. The Flying J Wranglers is a particular cultural draw. “Participants also have visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park and they’ve enjoyed the alien stuff in Roswell.”
By experiencing the hospitality of New Mexico, Taylor said perceptions have been changed.
“Academy participants constantly tell us their perception of Americans was we were rude, cold, and our towns were crime-ridden. They believed the the cop stuff on television was what the United States was all about. “Ruidoso is better known in about 63 countries as a result of visits by ILEA students,” Taylor said.
Jack Swickard, who accompanied Taylor on his visit, said that while being an Academy for training law enforcement officers, ILEA has been a bridge for ensuring a positive U.S. impression among officials from emerging democracies.
“Sixteen of the delegation leaders have finished their graduation speeches with ‘God Bless America,’” Swickard said.
“Also underlying the close relationships formed by the delegates in New Mexico is the fact that many are deeply involved in the fight against international terrorism and transnational crime.”
Since the first class started the first week before Sept. 11, 2001, the Academy has graduated 1,526 students. The International Law Enforcement Academy in Roswell is one of four ILEASs operated by the U.S. government. It also is the only one in the U.S. and the only one operated for the federal government by a partnership of universities and a private company.
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro is the senior partner, operating the Academy under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State. New Mexico Tech’s partners each operate in areas of special expertise. Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas provides most of the instruction at the Academy while Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell handles food service, teaches English as a second language, and provides computer instruction.
ScienceApplications International Corp. staffs the Academy and provides day-to-day administration, as well as some instruction.
Before attending the Roswell Academy, delegates must first have to attend one of the regional ILEAs in Gaborne,Botswana; Bangkock, Thialand; or Budapest, Hungary. A fourth regional Academy is planned in Latin America.
Since the first class started the week before Sept. 11, 2001, the Academy has graduated 1,526 students, not all of whom are beat cops in their countries.
ILEA currently is located in renovated facilities at the Roswell Industrial Air Center.
In January of 2006 the Academy will move into a new $5.2 million bldg. at the RIAC. Ground was broken in January 2004 by U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, Mary Skeen, widow of U.S. Rep. Joe Skeen, and Dr. Dan Lopez, president of New Mexico Tech.
Fact Sheet
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Washington, DC
May 20, 2002
International Law Enforcement Academies
International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) advance U.S. interests in international cooperation while promoting social, political and economic stability by combating crime. These academies offer a core law enforcement program targeted at mid-level officials in the police and criminal justice services of strategic countries throughout the world. The ILEAs develop an extensive network of alumni, who will become the leaders and decision-makers in their respective countries, to exchange information with their U.S. counterparts and assist in transnational investigations.
The Department of State works with the Departments of Justice and Treasury and with foreign governments to implement the ILEA programs. INL’s primary role is to provide foreign policy guidance to the ILEA Directors, ensure availability of adequate funding to support ILEA operations, and provide oversight that will ensure that U.S. foreign policy objectives are achieved. To date, the combined ILEAs have trained over 8,000 officials from 50 countries.
ILEA Budapest (Hungary) opened in 1995 to provide assistance to the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. Trainers from the United States, Hungary, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Russia, INTERPOL and the Council of Europe provide instruction.
ILEA Bangkok (Thailand) opened in 1999. The curriculum and structure of this Academy is similar to ILEA Budapest, except for the shorter duration of the core course and an added emphasis in narcotics matters. Participation is open to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus the People’s Republic of China. Trainers from the United States, Thailand, Japan, Holland, Australia and Hong Kong provide instruction.
ILEA Gaborone (Bostwana) opened in 2001. Its overall instructional format is similar to Budapest and Bangkok but adjusted to suit the needs of that region. Participation is open to members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with projected expansion to other countries in the sub-Saharan region.
ILEA Roswell (New Mexico) also opened in 2001. It offers a curriculum similar to that of a criminal justice university. The courses have been designed and are taught by academicians, for graduates of the regional ILEAs. This Academy is unique in its format and composition, with an academic focus targeted to a worldwide audience.
ILEA South offered a core course similar to Bangkok’s – tailored to regional needs – for officials from Central America and the Dominican Republic. Two pilot courses were conducted in Panama in 1997 at a temporary site. All activities of this Academy have been temporarily suspended, pending a review to determine its permanent location.
You may be interested in this...
One might wonder if Ruidoso News is in the process of hiring a competent editor. ;O)
Put on your tin foil hats.
So the OAS has its own police training academy funded by the United States? Whatever for?
AMENDMENT NO. 911
(PURPOSE: TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR A WESTERN HEMISPHERE INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY (ILEA))
On page 28 line 19 after the word `country' insert the following:
`Provided further. That of this amount not to exceed $5 million shall be allocated to operate the Western Hemisphere International Law Enforcement Academy under the auspices of the Organization of American States with full oversight by the Department of State.'
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, this amendment to the foreign operations appropriations bill asks that $5 million of the funding appropriated for international narcotics control be allocated out of existing funds for the establishment of an international law enforcement training academy [ILEA] for the Western Hemisphere.
The State Department set up the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary, in 1995 and has since trained 300 law enforcement officials.
This amendment would establish a similar international law enforcement training academy but for the Western Hemisphere and for which the President requested in his 1998 budget.
Mr. President, the allocated funds would be for operations of such an academy and a facility would need to be found. I understand that the State Department has been trying to find such a facility for the past year, but we have not reached an agreement among Latin American countries.
My amendment would allow the academy to be established in consultation with the Organization of American States, representing our Central and Latin American neighbors.
Mr. President, I do not have to explain the terrorist and narcotic threats in this hemisphere. The ILEA is a way for the United States to establish law enforcement networks that lead to a more effective approach to fighting international organized crime and drug trafficking.
Such an academy would help us create closer working relationships and networks with foreign police that are needed to find fugitives and combat financial corruption.
I urge Senators to vote in support of a Western Hemisphere international law enforcement academy.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998 (Senate - July 16, 1997)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r105:./temp/~r105aVQLxE
If we can separate them from their offices, they might see the light....
Maybe the Iowa Police chief has to be certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Acadamy?
Who would we vote for? Both parties are in love with international law. God help us.
I'll bet you're right. (LOL!)
That article just came up on a search for ILEA. No articles about the Iowa Law Enforcement academy though. Could be I jumped the gun on that one, but I did post to the Iowa list to see if anyone knew anything about it.
Got to admit, though. You had me wondering why the town of Sabula would be so bent on getting someone certified in international law enforcement for their police chief!
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