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, January 17, 2019 10:00 am.  The meeting will be held at Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, 7411 Carson St.,
Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 938-7427.  Please note, this is not the Lucille's we normally go to in January.  It is a few miles south of the Cerritos location.

2018 WSATI Southern Chapter President Jeff Enfield (LASD / TRAP) welcomed everyone to the meeting and a new WSATI venue, at Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course, in Long Beach.   

Jeff introduced the other Southern Chapter Officers who were in attendance:

Secretary Johnny Miyasaki (Long Beach Police)
Treasurer Melissa Somers (CPP of SoCal)
Associate Director Rob Midzuno (Nationwide Insurance SIU)
Associate Director Michael Octave (LASD/TRAP)
Associate Director Joe Starbird (Long Beach Police),
Legal Counsel Richard Knapp (Knapp & Spurlock, LLP) 

Vice President Mick O'Neill (Hagerty Insurance SIU), Sergeant-At-Arms Mike Carnakis (LASD / TRAP), Associate Director Jesse Bravo (Irwindale PD/TRAP), Associate Director Alan Skobin (LASD/TRAP). Associate Director Richard Spallinger (NICB),  and Past President Heather Roberts (Liberty Mutual SIU) could not make it to the meeting.

WSATI Southern Chapter Past Presidents who were in attendance:

Ted Saraf (1992), Gary Labb (2000), Bill Lovold (2001), and Lou Koven (2002)

Jeff Enfield announced that the 2019 WSATI Training Seminar, hosted by the Southern Chapter, will take place October 14-17, 2018, at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley.  He said that preliminary information is posted on the WSATI website.

Jeff then introduced the Guest Speaker, Los Angeles Police Department Detective Jimmy Martinez who gave a presentation on "Identity Theft and Vehicle Theft Fraud."  Jimmy's class was well received by the attendees.  Jimmy had a lot of good information how a great deal of auto thefts are being accomplished via identity theft.   

Following the presentation, Jeff opened up the Roundtable Discussion.  Webmaster Gary Labb (Santa Ana Police / OCATT [retired]) advised the attendees of the encrypted online networking roster and gave the attendees the password to allow them access to the roster.

Jeff invited those who purchased luncheon tickets to enjoy their lunch while networking with the others in the room.  A catered lunch was provided to the attendees by the staff from Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course.  This luncheon was enjoyed by the Meeting attendees.  

During the luncheon, the raffle was conducted by Jeff Enfield, with the help of Johnny Miyasaki and Joe Starbird.  The raffle helps raise money for WSATI funds that assist in putting on future seminars, as well as supporting events such as the San Diego and Orange County ATAC Vehicle Theft Recovery Officer of the Year programs.  

There were several new faces that came to the meeting, as well as several "old" members who had not been to the meetings in some time.  Thank you all for your attendance.

Jeff announced the next meeting / luncheon would be held on January 17, 2019.