I am very glad to be writing my first letter for In-Sites; in May of this year I was named as the new Director of CCDO. I am, however, quite familiar with CCDO's work, having been at the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs for the past 6 years, most recently serving as the Deputy Director for the Office for Victims of Crime. From 1999 to 2000, I was the Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at DOJ. Before coming to the COPS Office, I was Acting Deputy Director of the Bureau of State and Local Affairs for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Prior to my service in Washington, I held public office for 14 years. I also served as the elected County Executive of the most populous county in Delaware and held the post of Delaware State Auditor. As New Castle County Executive, I made public safety a top priority. I aggressively supported the New Castle County Police Department's community policing program and developed and implemented long-lasting neighborhood stabilization programs. Under my watch, the county also established the New Castle County Community Partnership, an inclusive and effective abuse prevention effort that partners government, law enforcement, business, and nonprofit entities with grassroots community members. Because I have served in federal, state, and local government, I understand the importance of coalitions. It is my vision that by working together, sharing ideas, and utilizing successful partnerships as models, we can continue to build on the foundations already established through CCDO. The staff members at CCDO are dedicated and will provide guidance and assistance to our constituents in the field. I am pleased to announce that CCDO's Law Enforcement Conference 2006 will be held August 14 to 17 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The conference's theme—The Spirit of Service: Enforce, Empower & Revitalize—emphasizes the importance of building a spirit of service not only for support of law enforcement efforts but for the community as a whole. The conference will focus on the latest technology trends in law enforcement to assist communities with preventing and controlling crime. I am excited about assuming my new position. I look forward to working with you to better our communities throughout the nation. Sincerely, Dennis E. Greenhouse |
