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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Fr. Michael Mannion (856) 964-1580
March 22, 2005

DEA ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSES FORUM IN CAMDEN
Karen Tandy Discussed Community Involvement in Combating Drug Trafficking, Federal Policy Linkages and Personal Experiences

Mar 22 -- (CAMDEN) DEA Administrator Karen Tandy addressed a forum of about 100 here today. In her talk, entitled "The Role of Federal Law Enforcement and Police / Community Partnerships in Attacking Urban Drug Trafficking," the Administrator discussed the success stories as well as the challenges the US will face in this area region in the years ahead. "At DEA we are more committed than ever before to fighting the drug trade in Camden," said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy. "It's clear this community wants to take back their town from the drugs and violence that plague this city. Working together, law enforcement and the community have great opportunities to restore peace and safety to citizens, making Camden a better place to live and work."

Prior to becoming DEA Administrator, Ms. Tandy was Associate Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). In her capacity as Associate Deputy Attorney General, she was responsible for oversight of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Drug Intelligence Center, as well as responsible for developing national drug enforcement policy and strategies. Between 1990 and 1999, Ms. Tandy served in a variety of positions in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, supervising the Department's drug and forfeiture litigation. From 1979 to 1990, Ms. Tandy was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia and in the Western District of Washington, handling the prosecution of violent crime and complex drug, money laundering and forfeiture cases. Ms. Tandy, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a graduate of Texas Tech University and a 1977 graduate of the Texas Tech Law School.

Today's forum is part of an ongoing lecture series held at Cathedral Community Hall, located at Broadway and Federal Streets, Camden. Recent speakers have included Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen who was charge d'affaires of the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, when Iranian militants overran the embassy in 1979, CNN Reporter and Co-Host of Crossfire Mark Shields and Ambassador Thomas Melady who served as Ambassador to the Vatican, Burundi and Uganda.

"It is hoped that this forum, held quarterly with presenters recognized as experts in their field, from local, regional and national venues, serves as a think tank and stimulus to consider ethical, quality of life, religious, spiritual and cultural dimensions of the present renaissance of the City of Camden," said Father Michael Mannion, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Roman Catholic Church in Camden. "We are certainly grateful to Administrator Tandy for making the trip to the Forum," Father Mannion added.