The meetings are for auto theft investigators, insurance company special investigation agents, vehicle leasing loss prevention agents, and other individuals involved in the investigation, recovery and prevention of vehicle thefts.  Investigators from in and out of Southern California attend the meetings to share information about current cases, suspects and auto theft trends.  The meetings also feature a guest speaker who gives training during the course of the training meeting / luncheon format.

The Training Meetings / Luncheons begin at 10 a.m. and go until about 1 p.m. Lunch is served about 11:30 a.m.  We would recommend coming about 9:30 a.m. to meet your peers and share coffee or tea. 

The next WSATI Southern Chapter Training Meeting / Luncheon will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2012 1000 hours at the Covina Woman's Club, 128 S. San Jose Ave., Covina, CA 91723. 

The guest speaker is being confirmed and should be posted here very shortly.  Please check back. 

Directions:

from L.A.:

Merge onto I-10 E toward San Bernardino.  Take the Citrus St. exit, Exit 37A.  Take the ramp toward Citrus St./Covina.  Turn right onto E Garvey Ave S.  Turn slight right onto S Citrus St.  S Citrus St. becomes S Citrus Ave.  Turn right onto E Badillo St.  Turn right onto S San Jose Ave.  End at 128 S San Jose Ave Covina, CA

from: San Bernardino:

Merge onto I-10 W toward Los Angeles.  Take the Citrus St. exit, Exit 37A.  Turn right onto N Citrus St.  N Citrus St. becomes S Citrus Ave.  Turn right onto E Badillo St.  Turn right onto S San Jose Ave.  End at 128 S San Jose Ave Covina, CA 

from: Orange County:

Merge onto I-5 N toward Los Angeles.  Merge onto CA-57 N via EXIT 107A toward Pomona.  CA-57 N becomes CA-60 E.  Keep right to take CA-57 N.  Merge onto I-10 W toward Los Angeles.  Take the Citrus St exit, EXIT 37A.  Turn right onto N Citrus St.  N Citrus St becomes S Citrus Ave.  Turn right onto E Badillo St.  Turn right onto S San Jose Ave.  End at 128 S San Jose Ave Covina, CA 

For a map to this location, please click here.

Due to the great turnout of people for the January meeting, we had to abandon the initial room set up for the meeting and move to a larger room in the the Old Spaghetti Factory in Duarte.  This is a unique location as the restaurant took over what used to be the old Duarte School building.

2011 WSATI Southern Chapter President Dave Petrelli (Workmen's Auto Insurance SIU) welcomed everyone to the meeting and to the Old Spaghetti Factory.  Dave apologized that there was no flag present at the restaurant, so the group could not do the pledge of allegiance. 

Dave  then requested that the WSATI Southern Chapter Past Presidents in attendance stand up and introduce themselves to the attendees: Skip Davidson (1991), Ted Saraf (1992), Dennis Frias (1997), Gary Labb (2000), Bill Lovold (2001), Lou Koven (2002), Rick Greenwood (2008), and Jim Williams (2009). 

Dave then said that due to the seating arrangements for this meeting, we would not be able to have the attendees go around the room and do self-introductions.  It was good to see attendees who came from as far away as San Diego, Oxnard, Bakersfield, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Redlands.

Dave then introduced incoming 2012 WSATI Southern Chapter President Tim Glover (LASD TRAP).  Tim then thanked Dave for his service during 2011 as the WSATI Southern Chapter President.  Tim said that a lot of people are not aware of all that is required, not only of the WSATI President, but also the other members of the board.  Tim then presented Dave with a "thank you" gift for being the 2011 WSATI Southern Chapter President. 

Tim then introduced the rest of the incoming 2012 WSATI Southern Chapter Officers who were in attendance: Secretary Tim Jackson (AAA Southern California SIU), Treasurer Aristeed Powell (DMV Investigations), Sergeant-At-Arms Brian Yori (LAPD TRAP), Associate Director Heather Roberts (Infinity Insurance SIU), Associate Director Shawn Robison (Workmen's Auto Insurance), and Legal Counsel Richard Knapp (Knapp Law Firm, LLP). 

Tim then spoke of the importance of preparing for the 2013 WSATI Training Seminar that will be hosted by the Southern Chapter.  He said that it takes a lot of work and preparation and that is why the Associate Director positions were created prior to the 2010 WSATI Training Seminar.  This adds personnel to help prepare for the seminar as well as preparing people to assume future leadership roles on the chapter board.  Tim said we would be needing a lot of help in the next year (plus) before the 2013 Seminar and requested anyone who had an interest in assisting to contact anyone on the current 2012 Chapter Board. 

Tim then introduced the Guest Speakers, L.A. County TRAP Deputy District Attorneys Alex Karkanen and Mike Mallano, who gave a presentation on how the new AB109 Criminal Justice Realignment law is effecting prosecution and incarceration in L.A. County.  Unfortunately both Alex and Mike had to leave for court appearances so many of the questions from the attendees remained unanswered.  This new law appeared to be of concern to the attendees as it appears we may be back to a "slap on the hand" for auto theft related offenses.

Following Alex and Mike's presentation, Tim suggested that due to the configuration of the room, the raffle prizes were outside the meeting room, and he would give the attendees the opportunity to go outside to see what raffle prizes were available and give the attendees a chance to purchase some more raffle tickets.  Secretary Tim Jackson (AAA Southern California SIU) and Treasurer Aristeed Powell (DMV Investigations) then conducted the raffle.  There were a lot of great raffle prizes. Victor Valdez (AAA Southern California) assisted Tim and Aristeed with the raffle.  Again, it appeared that those who bought extra raffle tickets did the best, right Rick. 

Following the raffle, Southern Chapter President Tim Glover (LASD/TRAP) announced that the next meeting would be held on March 15, 2012.  Tim then announced that the Old Spaghetti Factory staff would be taking our orders.  The attendees then had a chance to network with one another prior to, during, and after the meal service. 

The meeting was adjourned following the luncheon.

WSATI Southern Chapter shirts are available.  To see some of the available shirts, please go to WSATIWear.  Please contact Rob Manning at his listed email address for current availability and pricing on the shirts. 

2012 WSATI Southern Chapter Officers in attendance were:

President Tim Glover (LASD/TRAP)
Secretary Tim Jackson (AAA Southern California SIU)
Treasurer Aristeed Powell (DMV Investigations)
Sergeant-At-Arms Brian Yori (LAPD/TRAP)
Associate Director Heather Roberts (Infinity Insurance SIU)
Associate Director Shawn Robison (Workmen's Auto Insurance)
Past President Dave Petrelli (Workmen's Auto Insurance SIU)
Legal Counsel Richard Knapp (Knapp Law Firm, LLP)

Vice President Rob Manning (LASD) could not attend the meeting.