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 2 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 Training Meeting / Luncheon will take place on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Old Spaghetti Factory, 1431 Buena Vista, Duarte CA 91010 (626-358-2115).   

The Guest Speakers will be L.A. County TRAP Deputy District Attornies Alex Karkanen and Mike Malano, who will be giving a presentation on VC 2805 Inspections.

There will be a 2010 WSATI Southern Chapter Training Seminar Committee meeting right after the regular meeting.  If anyone still wishes to become involved in the Seminar planning or wishes to help out at the Seminar, please plan on attending the Committee meeting. 

Directions: 

From South Orange County

Merge onto I-5 N.  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-210 W via the exit on the LEFT toward PASADENA.  Take EXIT 35B toward BUENA VISTA ST.  Turn LEFT onto CENTRAL AVE.  Turn RIGHT onto BUENA VISTA ST.  1431 BUENA VISTA ST is on the LEFT.

From Los Angeles

Merge onto US-101 S.  Keep LEFT to take SAN BERNARDINO FWY toward SAN BERNARDINO.  SAN BERNARDINO FWY becomes I-10 E.  Merge onto I-605 N via EXIT 31B.  Merge onto I-210 W via the exit on the LEFT toward PASADENA.  Take EXIT 35B toward BUENA VISTA ST.  Turn LEFT onto CENTRAL AVE.  Turn RIGHT onto BUENA VISTA ST.  1431 BUENA VISTA ST is on the LEFT.

From San Bernardino

Merge onto I-215 N toward BARSTOW.  Merge onto W HIGHLAND AVE toward CA-30 W.  Turn LEFT onto N STATE ST/UNIVERSITY PKWY.  Merge onto CA-210 W.  CA-210 W becomes I-210 W.  Take EXIT 35B toward BUENA VISTA ST.   Turn LEFT onto CENTRAL AVE.   Turn RIGHT onto BUENA VISTA ST.  1431 BUENA VISTA ST is on the LEFT.

For a map to this location, please click here.

Prior to the arrival of the attendees, Brian Yori (LAPD/TRAP) began preparing the luncheon for the attendees.  Brian has to be thanked for all he did in the very cold, windy, and wet weather. 

Outgoing 2009 WSATI Southern Chapter President Jim Williams (Long Beach Police) started the meeting by welcoming the attendees to the newest venue for WSATI, the Metropolitan State Hospital, James Hall.  (For some it may have been a homecoming)  Jim asked everyone to join him in the pledge of allegiance. 

Jim then requested that WSATI Legal Counsel Richard O. Knapp join him at the podium.  Jim then presented Richard with a certificate of appreciation from WSATI for his long involvement with the organization.  Richard originally was introduced to WSATI when he gave a training presentation at the November 19998 training meeting.  Richard soon became involved with giving legal counsel for WSATI, and became the WSATI Southern Chapter legal counsel.  The certificate read:

Jim then introduced incoming 2010 WSATI Southern Chapter President John Bartolone (DMV Investigations).  John then presented Jim with his "Thank You" gift.

John then introduced the WSATI Southern Chapter Presidents in attendance; Bill Robertson (1998), Dennis Frias (1997), Dave Dempsey (1998), Gary Labb (2000), Bill Lovold (2001), Lou Koven (2002), Phil Macklin (2004), Bud Hood (2007), and the newest Past President, Jim Williams (2009).

John then introduced the other 2010 WSATI Southern Chapter Officers and presented them with their Officer name tags:

Vice President  Dave Petrelli (State Farm Insurance SIU - Retired) 
Secretary Tim Glover (LASD/TRAP)
Treasurer Rob Manning (LASD/TRAP) 
Sergeant-At-Arms Tim Jackson (AAA Southern California SIU)
Past President Jim Williams (Long Beach Police)
Legal Counsel Richard Knapp (Knapp Law Firm, LLP)

John then spoke about upcoming events:

San Diego County ATAC Recovery Officer of the Year Awards Brunch on March 16, 2010
LAPD BAD CATS Detective John Byun's Retirement Party on March 19, 2010
39th Annual WSATI Training Seminar in San Diego on May 24-28, 2010

John then requested that everyone do self introductions and to share information.  The attendees introduced themselves and lots of information was shared.

Jim Williams reminded the attendees that he was taking nominations for the 2009 Billy Osborn Award and that it would be presented at the Training Seminar in San Diego.  The Award is presented to a member of the Southern Chapter.  For the criteria of the award and the contact information for nominations, please go to the Billy Osborn Memorial Award. 

Past President Bud Hood (OCSD/OCATT Retired) spoke about the 2010 WSATI Training Seminar, which will be hosted by the WSATI Southern Chapter.  The Seminar will be taking place in San Diego at the Town and Country on May 24-28, 2010.  Bud asked everyone to think about not only attending but letting him know of some business that might be interested in sponsoring the Seminar or being an exhibitor at the Seminar.  Information on being an exhibitor or sponsor can be located here.

John then introduced Guest Speaker 2009 "Hooter's Hummer" Award Recipient Gabe Marquez (CHP ISU/TRAP). Gabe gave a presentation on construction equipment theft.  Gabe was assisted at times by Crime Prevention Program (CPP) of Southern California Executive Director Ron Poll and CPP Investigator Lou Koven. 

Following Gabe's presentation, John announced that the lunch was ready.  The attendees were then served a Santa Maria Bar-B-Q style luncheon, that had been prepared by Brian Yori while the meeting and training took place.  It included Tri-tip, chicken, sausage, salad, potato salad, beans, and a cookie to top it all off...everyone appeared to enjoy and some took a trip back for seconds...

WSATI Southern Chapter Past President Bud Hood and Chapter Sergeant-At-Arms Tim Jackson conducted the raffle.  There were a lot of different winners, and at the same time many were upset with some of the repeat winners.  If you want to be like them, do what they do... buy extra raffle tickets... 

Following lunch and the raffle, the regular meeting was adjourned.

There were a lot of new faces that came to the meeting as well as several "old" members who had not been to the meetings in some time. 

Following the meeting was a Seminar Committee meeting.  There were many people there offering assistance as the seminar is rapidly approaching.  Dennis Frias and Lou Koven went over the list of possible classes.  As Dave Dempsey said, "It sounds like you have enough training for two weeks of classes."  There definitely should be something available for everyone's taste.