PresidentKEVIN PERHAM

1st Vice PresidentMANNY GOMEZ

2nd Vice President JAMES FEY

Sergeant-At-ArmsMICHAEL SWEENEY

Treasurer JOHN M. MURPHY

Executive SecretaryJOHN W. KENNA718-286-7055jwkenna@queensda.org

Presidents Emeritus*GERALD E. McCARTHY

JOSEPH J. GANNON*CHARLES F. J. MEYER

Board of DirectorsALBERT S. BECKERChairmanKEVIN FITZGERALD 2016JOHN P. McCANN 2016JAMES J. COLEMAN 2015EDWIN CUEBAS 2015ARTHUR LYNCH 2014 J. KEVIN VAUGHN 2014

HistorianJAMES J. GRANT

CommitteesAudit

JAMES J. MESKILL

WebmasterYAO LIANG

Information SytemsDAN MULVEY

Interstate LiaisonRONALD T. SULLIVAN

Intrastate LiaisonKEVIN A. NULTY

Law Enforcement LiaisonsROBERT J. CREIGHTONCORNELIUS J. DOUGLAS

LegalTHOMAS A. McSHANE, Esq.

Membership ChairpersonI. AMY BONDEROW

MembershipEDWARD GANNONDAN O’LEARY

Private Sector LiaisonTED LOTTI

ProgramCHARLES H. BOKLANKEVIN GREEN

Public RelationsEUGENE J. BURKEDONALD J. MCGUIRE

WelfareJOHN F. STEWART

* Deceased www.nationallaw.org

President’s Message

As Spring approaches – no, really, it’s coming – I would like to take this opportunity to wish our membership, their families and their friends, all the best that this season of promise can offer. After a winter such as the one we just endured, I can’t help but feel that this change in the air is a bit more welcome than usual.

Speaking of change in the air, I write this President’s Message with mixed emotions, in that this will be the last time I address this group in this manner as president of this great organization. My tenure at the helm has been as rewarding as it has been humbling. I truly enjoyed witnessing firsthand the camaraderie that goes on at our events from the catbird’s seat, and while a good amount of work goes into organizing these events – performed by a group of talented, caring, and professional Board members – the satisfaction that follows a well-run event makes all of the effort well worth it.

Not to say that there is not a bit of nail-biting that goes on when the hunt for good speakers, venues, and the managing of those events is underway, but it seems that the successes of this and other past years speaksvolumes of the Board that represents this organization for the professional and social benefits of its members. I would like to thank all of the Board members, the Committee members, and the member volunteers who assisted in these different events.

I wish incoming President Manny Gomez the best of luck in his upcoming term, and am confident that he willdo a fantastic job!

As I step down from this post I fully intend to be an active member and advocate for this organization, and I hope to be with you all at future NLEA events.

Fraternally,

Kevin

April Luncheon

Our April meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 8th at 12 noon at the Blue Fin Restaurant, at the W Hotel, located at 1567 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Street. We are honored, and indeed excited to welcome longtime NLEA member andNYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton as our guest speaker at this event.

William J. Bratton has been appointed the 42nd police commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the second time he has held the post.

Commissioner Bratton, with his wife Rikki Klieman, sworn in byMayor Bill de Blasio on January 2nd, 2014.

Commissioner Bratton established an international reputation for re-engineering police departments and fighting crime in the 1990s. As Chief of the New York City Transit Police, Boston Police Commissioner, and in his first term as New York City Police Commissioner, he revitalized morale and cut crime in all three posts, achieving the largest crime declines in New York City's history. At the NYPD in 1994 and 1995, he led the development of Compstat, the internationally acclaimed command accountability system now in use by police departments nationwide. As Los Angeles Police Chief from 2002 to 2009 and in acity known for its entrenched gang culture and youth violence, he brought crime to historically low levels, greatly improved race relations, and reached out to young people with a range of innovative police programs. He is the only person ever to lead the police agencies of the nation's two largest cities.

A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, Commissioner Bratton began his career in 1970 as a beat cop in the Boston Police Department (BPD), where he was cited with the department's top award for valor in 1976 for facing down a bank robber andrescuing a hostage. By 1980 he had risen to Superintendent of Police, the BPD's highest sworn position. He went on to lead progressive change as chief or commissioner of five other police departments.

A noted author, commentator, and consultant, Commissioner Bratton holds a Bachelor's degree from Boston State College and is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute. At Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, he was a Senior Executive Fellow in Criminal Justice and a member of the school's National Executive Session on Policing. For his collaborative efforts in working with U.S. and British police forces, he was recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the honorary title Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Commissioner Bratton is married to attorney Rikki Klieman and is the proud father of David and grandfather of his sonDavid's two children, John and Nicolas.

The Blue Fin restaurant is new to our line-up, and promises to be outstanding. It has a modern décor, is exceptionally roomy,and although it is in the heart of a major tourist district, it is the furthest thing from a campy tourist location. The threecourse meal will feature your choice of steak, fish or chicken, unlimited beer, wine or soda and dessert. We are thrilled thatthe event sold out within a few days of opening it up to the membership (a credit toour guest speaker, no doubt!). Also, keep in mind that we will be officially electing the new board at this luncheon. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

The Blue Fin Restaurant

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Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

We held our annual Pre St. Patrick's Day Dinner at Wolfgangs Steakhouse in Tribeca on Tuesday, March 11th. Theevent was filled to capacity, as over 100 members and their guests were in attendance. All enjoyed the wonderful fare that Wolfgang’s is famous for; especially their hallmark Bacon Appetizer. Donald McGuire, Past President was on hand attendance and will announce the nominee(s) for Sergeant-at-Arms for the 2014-2015 Board to be installedin May. The proposed Board, to be finalized at the April Luncheon, is as follows:

President – Manuel Gomez

First Vice President – James Fey

Second Vice President – Michael Sweeney

Sergeant-At-Arms - Kenneth McGuire

We would like to once again recognize and thank Ray Powers, Director of Protection at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and former Chief of the NYPD Operations Division, for attending and speaking to the membership. Ray is a member,and a dear friend of the organization. Ray, thank you as a friend and a colleague.

NLEA President Kevin Perham presents Ray Powers with pewter plate in recognition of his work and mentoring at Rockefeller Center

Condolences

Passing of Past President

Richard K. Mueller

The Board regrets to inform the membership of the passing of NLEA Past President, Richard K. Mueller. Richard retired as a Detective Lieutenant who served with the Nassau County Police Department for 39 years. He was also adedicated adjunct professor of Criminal Justice at C.W. Post for 37 years. Rich proudly served in the US MarineCorp Reserves from 1958- 64. Richard also proudly served the NLEA for many years, and performed the role ofPresident in 2004. Richard was a dear friend of the organization, and will be sorely missed. A scholarship has beenestablished in his honor. You may donate to it online: www.liu.edu/donate "Richard Mueller Memorial Scholarship." We express our warmest condolences to his family and friends; our thoughts and prayers are with you.

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Passing of Chief Lawrence Festa

The Board regrets to inform the membership of the passing of long time law enforcement member, Lawrence Festa. Larry was the Chief Investigator for the Queens District Attorney’s Office at the time of his passing.

Below is a copy of the announcement made by Queens District Attorney, the Honorable Judge Richard A. Brown:

The New York City law enforcement community was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Lawrence J.Festa, chief investigator of the Queens District Attorney's office.

Chief Festa was a respected law enforcement professional, having served 27 years with the NYPD before retiring as a Lieutenant in 1997 to accept the positions of Deputy Chief Investigator with our office. He was promoted to chief investigator in 2003.

Chief Festa successfully conducted and supervised many difficult and challenging investigations for this office andhe always did so with true professionalism and a diplomatic demeanor that earned him the respect of his peers andsubordinates. We owe Larry a debt of gratitude for his years of service to this office and to the people of Queens County. Larry was a true and trusted friend and colleague. He will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to Larry's wife, Pat, and to his family.

We too express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends; our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Judge Brown (center) at swearing in of Chief Investigator Larry Festa (right). They are joined by Deputy Chief Albert Velardi (left).

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Police Unity Tour

As is the annual custom, longtime member Don Kleeber is cycling for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s, Police Unity Tour. The sole mission of the tour is to raise awareness and funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Since then, he rode the 72 Hours to Key West bike tour fromFt. Meyers Beach, FL to Key West, FL in November, and is gearing up for bike season this year. Don would like tothank all those who have supported him in the past, and is hoping that others will be able to contribute this year. This year Don will ride for two Special Agents of the FBI who tragically lost their lives during a training exercise onMay 17, 2013. Agents Stephen Shaw and Christopher Lorek were team members of the elite Hostage Rescue Team(HRT) based in Quantico Virginia. Agent Shaw joined the FBI in 2005 and is survived by a wife, a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. Agent Lorek joined the FBI in 1996 and is survived by his wife, and two daughters ages 12 and 9.

Don (left) and teammate at southern most point of Key West, Florida.

For this year’s tour, Don will depart Friday morning May 9 from East Hanover, NJ and ride for the next four days until we reach the Memorial on Monday May 12. Don asks that you to consider making a donation to this cause. To make a donation, visit my first giving page at

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/donald-kleber/2014-police-unity-tour-chapter-1.

Special Agent Stephen Palmer Shaw and Special Agent Christopher William Lorek

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Golf Outing

The NLEA 17th annual golf outing will be taking place on June 3rd and June 4th at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort in Shawnee, Pennsylvania. The cost for the event is $350 for a single occupancy room, and $280 if you have a roommate in a double occupancy room.

The Golf Package Includes: One night accommodations in the historic Shawnee Inn, 2 rounds of 18-hole championship golf, cart fees, breakfast, plated dinner, open bar, golf services, club storage, all taxes, gratuities, andresort fees. Prizes for all, including the best and worst golfers.

The golf begins at 12:00 Noon on June 3rd, and the second tee off will be at 8AM on Wednesday, the 4th. Interested parties should contact Kevin Vaughan at jkevinv@hotmail.com. You can download the flier for more information by visiting here: http://www.nationallaw.org/imagesGallery/Golf%20Outing%202014/National%20Law%20Enforcement%20Associates%20Golf%20Flyer%20(3).pdf

Shawnee is offering NLEA golfers special rates for golf and accommodations for Monday June 2. For info orreservations contact JJ Astromsky @ 570-424-4950.

Shawnee Golf Resort

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National 911 Memorial Museum

Our friend, Lee Ielpi, forwarded us the following memorandum in regards to the opening of the National 911 Memorial Museum on May 21st, 2014. The purpose of the memo is to inform all those interested who were intimately involved in the events surrounding 911of an opportunity to visit the museum in advance of its opening to the general public. Please read the memo below to learn more about the Dedication Period/Visiting Period, and the manner in which you can reserve tickets.

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Korean War Veteran Salute

The below picture was taken during a gathering presented by the Lieutenant’s Benevolent Association in a salute toKorean War Veterans. Pictured sitting is Albert Becker senior and junior. Al Becker senior was an honoree, havingserved during the Korean conflict, and Al Becker junior is the current NLEA, Chairman of the Board of Directors.Also pictured are John Kenna (far left) and member Daniel Mulvey (far right). The girls dressed in red, white and blue respectively are the Liberty Bells. Congratulations to both Al’s!

Mark Your Calendars

EVENT LOCATION DATE TIME

April Luncheon Blue Fin Restaurant

1567 Broadway(Inside W Hotel)

4/8/14 12:00 PM

Installation Dinner Battery Gardens – InsideBattery Park

5/8/14 6:30 PM

Golf Outing Shawnee Golf Resort 6/3/14 and 6/4/14 12:00 PM

Kevin Perham John W. Kenna

President Executive Secretary

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