Community Relations Service

DARYL BORGQUIST
202/305-2935
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/CRS

      WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) Director Sharee M. Freeman addressed the Board of Directors of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association during its 26th National Training Conference on August 19, 2002. The Conference, whose theme is "Leadership and Advocacy: The Role of Hispanic Law Enforcement Executives in America," will be held on August 19-24 , 2002, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 330 Tijeras Road, N.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico.

      "The Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association fills a real void in law enforcement. Its commitment to improving relationships between police departments and minority communities, recruitment of minority police officers, and work on issues of police reform are all needed now more than ever," said CRS Director Sharee M. Freeman.

      CRS will also present a workshop on "Bias Policing/Racial Profiling," from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MT on August 22, 2002.

      For more information about the Community Relations Service, a unique racial conflict resolution and prevention agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, or to obtain information on best practices on responding to police use of excessive force, hate crimes, and racial conflict, please see its web site at: www.usdoj.gov/crs