President Eugene Williams and the members of the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter extend their thanks to all who assisted and supported the Domestic Violence Symposium. The symposium was hosted in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department at Trinity United Church of Christ.

"I had the pleasure of attending the Chicago Chapter's Domestic Violence event this evening and it was nothing short of spectacular, "said National President Joseph McMillan who was in attendance.  

Congratulations to the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter for an exceptional and well planned event.

With the election just three days away, many voters are confused over the rumors about a particular candidate and ads distorting their views.

Project Vote Smart a non-partisan, non-profit organization was created to provide the facts about political candidates.

The website provides the following information about candidates:

• Biographical Info
• Voting Records
• Issue Positions
• Interest Group Ratings
• Public Statements
• Campaign Finances

This is one of the most comprehensive websites out there for a look at a candidate record. You can also research ballot initiatives.

The site provides a good look at national and state candidates.

President Andrew Smalling and the members of the South Florida Chapter are pleased to announce that on October 10, 2008, Director Timothy Ryan appointed Chief Leonard Burgess to a Deputy Director position for the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR).

On November 17, 2008, he will serve as the Support Services Deputy Director and will oversee the following divisions: Construction Management, County Services, Program Services, and Special Services; which is comprised of Rehabilitative Services, Pretrial Services, Intake Release, Transportation Bureau; Court Services, Information Systems, Food Services, Facilities Management, Material and Management Bureau, and Boot Camp and Monitor Release Programs.

On October 6, 2006, Miami-Dade County Manager George M. Burgess appointed Chief Burgess to Interim Director for the MDCR. As Interim Director of the sixth largest jail system in the United States, Chief Burgess was responsible for managing over 2,500 employees, of which more than 1,900 are sworn personnel and seven correctional facilities, housing nearly 7,000 inmates daily.

Deputy Director Burgess was employed by the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), which is the largest law enforcement agency in the Southeastern United States, providing police services to over 2.3 million people. He has dedicated 25 years in law enforcement, gaining fiscal management experience, strategic planning and implementation skills. Chief Burgess was responsible for the North Operations Division, which is comprised of the Intracoastal, Northside, Northwest, and Miami Gardens Stations, including the Town of Miami Lakes. Currently, he is assigned as the Special Investigations Division (SID) Chief which includes the Narcotics Bureau, Warrants Bureau, Strategic and Specialized Investigations Bureau, Economic Crimes Bureau which incorporates the Multi-Agency Auto Theft Task Force. He leaves MDPD service by working his way through the ranks as a chief. He is committed to community service and has a dedication and loyalty to Public Safety that is above reproach.

Deputy Director Burgess holds a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Sciences from Barry University and a degree of Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. He has honorably served in the United States Marine Corps, and he is a graduate from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and Senior Management Institute for Police Executives from Harvard's Kennedy School.

His professional affiliations include the 5000 Role Models, "Men of Vision," National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Progressive Officers Club, Hispanic Police Officers Association, Police Executive Research Forum, and the Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police.

NOBLE members throughout the swath of Hurricane Ike suffered devastating losses, particularly in Texas, Louisiana and Ohio.

Fortunately, the losses only resulted in property damage, but in some cases the members' homes are uninhabitable due to major structural damage.

We have been in touch with the Regional Vice Presidents for the affected areas and they advise that the resolve of our members is strong.

We have established the Hurricane Ike Relief Fund to assist those affected members. Please click on the link below and give what you can.

President Eugene Beard and the members of the Pittsburgh Chapter are pleased to report that the Allegheny County Jail under the leadership of Warden Ramon Rustin has successfully completed the American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation process. The Allegheny County Jail is the first in Pennsylvania to earn ACA accreditation.

"This prestigious honor is further evidence of the dedication and professionalism of our correctional employees," said County Executive Dan Onorato. "I want to congratulate Warden Rustin and his staff for this achievement and for their continued commitment to operating a safe and secure facility."  

The accreditation program is a professional review process based on national standards developed by leaders from the fields of corrections, law, architecture and health care, as well as other groups interested in sound correctional management. The County Bureau of Corrections received a score of 100 percent on mandatory standards, which include security, safety, administration and management.

"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as one of an elite group of jails in the nation," said Rustin. "The 15-month accreditation process and audit have been instrumental tools in assessing and improving our policies, procedures and overall operations. I am extremely proud of our correctional officers and staff who continuously strive to provide a safe, secure and clean facility in the most cost-effective manner."

The three-year accreditation award will be formally presented to Allegheny County at the ACA Winter Conference in Kissimmee, Fla., in January. Allegheny County joins more than 1,500 correctional organizations throughout the United States that have undergone the accreditation process and audit.

President Ralph Godbee and the members of the Metro Detroit Chapter are pleased to announce that a luncheon to celebrate the retirement of Chief Ella Bully-Cummings will be held on Friday, November 7, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Historic Gem & Century Theatre, 333 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 38226. For information please call (313) 963-9800.

For the past several years, I, Lisa Datcher have made several tenacious efforts to have LUPUS recognized as AIDS, Cancer, Diabetes and Autism. Though my efforts are tireless, they have not been very successful. I have requested and it is my hope that local and national media outlets would include in their programs and rotations Public Service Announcements ( PSAs) on LUPUS similar to what some of the other mainstream outlets have done and continue to do with other diseases such as Breast Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes and Autism. On my way to work the other day, I passed an outside Metro Stop and saw an advertisement for Living with Epilepsy.

We are close to November 2008, and still, there are so many people that have not heard of LUPUS or other autoimmune disorders that affects hundreds of thousands of people, more specifically with LUPUS, women of color. With the shock of the recent death of the legendary Bernie Mac who reportedly had Sarcoidosis, another autoimmune disease within the same umbrella as LUPUS which affects thousands of African-Americans yet remains under represented as a major health concern, it is more important than ever for ALL autoimmune disorders to be included in the forefront of health concerns so that there is education, funding and research to lead to a cure.

I have sent countless letters and emails to friends, co-workers, local area organizations, radio-stations, newspapers, on-line magazines and places of worship whose topics and agendas purport to support the African-American communities however; I have found, at least in my attempts to raise awareness, there has been little to no interest in this very critical health issue. In fact, of all of those organizations I have contacted for support, only a few responded to support and those include The Midnight Rollers Skate Club, The Black Biz Café /Sisters Saving Sisters, Linda Phelps, Staff Writer (Faith and Action, The Gazette), Andy Zieminski, Staff Writer, The Gazette, Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Baptist Church and The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).

It is my opinion that since there are too few "household names or celebrities" associated with LUPUS, this disease has and continues to be placed on the back-burner which results in the lack of funding, incorrect diagnosis and late diagnosis after there has been organ development (which is often fatal).

Please know that LUPUS is also devastating and it affects mostly women and women of color. It is reported that every 30 minutes, someone is diagnosed with LUPUS. Every 30 minutes! Please don't wait until you become personally affected yourself or someone you know before you take any action. The Allliance for LUPUS research has scheduled Walkathons throughout the U.S. and below is information relative to the upcoming Walk in Washington D.C. I have been fighting this disease for over 16 years and my fight has really just begun.

Ironically, I was diagnosed with what was first said to be bronchitis the weekend of Bernie Mac's death. I have had bouts with severe coughing and excruciating pain in my chest for over two months which is still lingering. When I got sick at work a couple weeks ago and after going to the emergency room, I learned I had an elevated blood pressure of 160/120. During the triage, I was still coughing and I told the nurse I was diagnosed with bronchitis but I felt like something else was wrong. I was given another chest x-ray because of the cough and learned I have and probably have had bronchial pneumonia all this time.

My doctor visits have been almost weekly and I have been prescribed countless antibiotics and inhalers that have done nothing but burn a hole in my wallet and often make me fearful. I refuse to increase my steroid dosage as prescribed for fear of compromising my immune system even further which usually results in other conditions to develop and cause potential life-threatening complications.

"WALK WITH US TO CURE LUPUS WALKATHON"
November 2, 2008, at the National Mall, Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.
The start time for the event is 10:00 a.m.
Please support this very important campaign by registering to walk, making an online donation.
You may also send donations by check directly to:
The Alliance for LUPUS Research
28 W. 44th Street, Suite 501
New York, NY 10036.

Please be sure to include my participant number DC-510000 on the memo line of any check donation. Donations are tax deductible - the TAX ID for ALR is 58-2492929.

Dear NOBLE Brothers and Sisters:

As we continue to strive to endow the NOBLE National Scholarship Fund and award scholarships to qualified and deserving students, we need your support.

Listed below are fundraisers to benefit the National Scholarship.

1. The: 2008 White House Christmas Ornament and 2008 Secret Service Benefit Fund Christmas Ornament: these make excellent gifts for friends, family, teachers, neighbors or any guests who drop by for the holiday. Orders must be received by November 14, 2008.
2. The NOBLE Commemorative Prints by Brenda Joysmith.

• Developing a Winner
• 25th Anniversary Print "The New Lieutenant"
• 30th Anniversary Print - "Acknowledge the Past, Inspire Positive Change And Create a Better Future"

All donations to the NOBLE National Scholarship Fund are tax deductible.
Please forward your order to:
Hubert Bell
5906 Reservoir Heights Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22311 Together we will make this a successful fundraiser.

February 2009 will be a busy month for NOBLE and the Hilton Atlanta Atlanta, GA 30303
will be the venue NOBLE's most important winter events.

• Monroe County, IN Deputy Sheriff Sarah Irene Haylett-Jones
• Fairfax County, VA Police Department Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco
• Northern York County, PA Regional Police Officer David Tome
• Frederick. MD Police Officer Richard Bremer
• http://cbs2.com/local/deputy.dies.Hamson.2.848650.html
• Phoenix, AZ Police Officer Shane Figueroa

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived," Vivian Eny, survivor.

President Cleveland Barnes and the members of the Maryland Chapter invite you to attend the chapter's annual Oyster and Bull Roast.

The feast will take place on Sunday, November 2, 2008, from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. at the Rosedale Gardens, 8037 Philadelphia Road, Baltimore, MD 21237 (410) 866-6163. Tickets are $35 and will be available at the door.

President John Dixon and the members of the Central Virginia Chapter will host their 2008 Christmas Gala on Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. at the Henrico County Volunteer Rescue Squad 5301 Huntsman Road-Sandston, VA 23150

Music by: DJ John Miles Donation: $20 (Set-ups included) BYOB Proceeds to Benefit CVC Scholarship Fund & Youth Initiatives

President Willie Mayes and the members of the Northern Illinois Chapter cordially invite you to their Christmas Steppers Set. The event will be held on Friday, December 19, 2008, from 8:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M. at Pipers banquets, 1295 Butterfield Rd, Aurora, Il.

Music by Maurice "ICE" Culpepper There is a donation of $15 in advance and $20 at the door. You must be at least 21. Hors d' oeuvres will be served and there is a cash bar.

A donation will be made from our Steppers Set to benefit Josiah Jackson, an infant heart transplant candidate, visit http://www.cotaforjosiahj.com for more information about Josiah.

President Eugene Williams and the members of the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter invite you to the annual Dinner Dance, which will be held on Friday Nov 14, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 W. Wacker Drive, Downtown Chicago.

Tickets are $75 each (One Table seats 10 people) and everyone will need a ticket because there will be no ticket sales at the door.  ALL TICKET MONEY IS DUE BY OCTOBER 31 2008. The sooner you get your money in, the closer you sit to the action!  

For sponsorship opportunities and tickets please contact one of the following:

Erroll Davis (CPD- 4th Dist) 312-747-5108; Email address: secureye@aol.com

Marjet Hall- Wysinger (CPD - Unit 188) 312-745-6085; Email address: amwys4@yahoo.com

Sharita Lewis-Anderson (CPD - Unit 212) 773-430-6310 Email address: sharita.anderson@yahoo.com

Eugene Williams (CPD - Area 2) Email Address: gene1716@excite.com

You may also call the NOBLE Chicago Chapter Hotline # 312-458-9711.