Houston's Police Chief Lee Brown, one of the most prominent,
influential black law enforcement executives of the time and a member of the
IACP Board of Directors, was the official host for the IACP Annual Conference
wherein over 10,000 top law enforcement executives from the United States and
93 countries around the world assembled in Houston for a five-day high level
conference exploring crime and police practices. Extraordinary work, human
resources and financial commitment goes into hosting this event which also
includes the world’s largest exhibition of law enforcement equipment and
technology. There is no other event like it.
The host agency plays a critical role in the success of the event and all
the activities associated with it. The President of IACP at that time was a
very seasoned and gruff Police Chief from Syracuse New York, Tom Sardino. To
say that Chief Brown and Chief Sardino were strong personalities is an
understatement. I was in my first month
on the job as the Executive Director after having served as the Police Chief in
two cities and a police officer for over 18 years.
The formal opening ceremony of the IACP Conference involves
each country's delegation marching into the first general session flying the
official flag of their country and posting it at the backdrop of the stage. It
is an impressive site to be sure. When
Chief Brown became aware that a delegation of the South African Police (SAP)
was in attendance and would be presenting their national flag, he advised me we
had a problem and he wanted to discuss it with President/ Chief Sardino. I
quickly arranged the meeting. The head of the South African Police delegation
also was present. From the outset, it
was apparent there was total resolve on both sides. Chief Brown, in his very
low-key way made it very clear that if the South African Delegation marched in
and presented their flag, the Houston Police Department was immediately
withdrawing as the host of the event and all the resources they had devoted to
it. Chief Sardino, in his very animated
and straight forward way made very clear that the South African Delegation were
members in good standing who had every right to participate in the opening ceremony
and that if he had to carry their flag himself, it would be presented for
posting. This standoff continued for a
period of time and it became clear that there was no middle ground. Quite
frankly, it was not a situation where I had any control or authority because I
was subordinate to both chiefs and as such was pretty much a bystander to
debate. While the tenor and tone of the
conflict was escalating, the head of the (SAP) asked if he could talk with me
privately. He and I stepped aside and he advised me it was not the intention or
desire of the SAP to be the flashpoint of conference. He asked me to
communicate to both Chiefs Brown and Sardino that the South African Police
Delegation would not participate in the opening ceremony or allow their flag to
be presented. He apologized for the conflict and said he understood and
respected Chief Brown's position. I
returned to the discussion between Chief Sardino and Brown and advised them of
the development and asked if we could come to a mutually agreeable resolution.
Chief Brown was amenable to it and agreed they would remain the host. Chief
Sardino on the other hand was incensed by it and felt there was undo pressure
put on the SAP delegation to not participate. He was angry and still
threatening to carry their flag himself if necessary and saw this as an affront
to members in good standing. The SAP
Commander came forward and assured Chief Sardino it was their decision and
their decision alone. He expressed his concern about the potential disruption
and conflict that would occur and they simply did not want to be the source of
it. Chief Sardino finally agreed to it and the problem was resolved for the
time. It was a tense situation with a lot of ramifications. I was asking myself
what I had gotten into with this new job.
Over the years, I followed events in South Africa with more
interests simply because my consciousness of it had been raised. The story of
South Africa is an ugly story filled with brutality, repression and the worst
of humanity. Despite it and because of the sacrifices of Nelson Mandela, Desmond
Tutu and countless others, South Africa has seen democracy since 1994 and has
developed substantially. The opportunity to trace the story in the very place
where it all occurred from Soweto to Pretoria, Johannesburg and Capetown with
Robben Island will be an incredible experience and one I am looking forward to
a lot.
I traveled to South Africa as a guest of the South
African Convention Bureau to participate in a Meetings in Africa program and meet with various
people to structure the program. I spent eight days exploring the sites
with their representatives who were incredibly helpful and anxious to have
us come to help tell the story. In my personal view, it has never been more
important to understand these issues at a deep level to ensure the abuses do not
happen and the abusers are held accountable. The great part about my work is that
it is an incredible learning experience.