Motorola, Women in Law Enforcement Honor Executive of the Year
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gaithersburg, Md.,
Police Chief Mary Ann Viverette has distinguished herself as a leader who is
respected for her innovative programs and her willingness to step outside her
comfort zone. Today, she will be recognized as Woman Law Enforcement
Executive of the Year by her peers at the National Association of Women Law
Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) annual conference.
NAWLEE and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) will honor Viverette during the
group's 11th annual conference and she will share her experiences and guidance
gleaned through her 27 years with the police department located 12 miles
outside of Washington, D.C. Motorola is hosting the conference.
"I am very grateful to be recognized by my peers, and happy to be able to
make a contribution at the national level," Viverette said.
The police chief of the second largest city in Maryland also currently
serves as the first woman president of the International Association of Chiefs
of Police (IACP), an 18,000-member organization working on behalf of law
enforcement officials worldwide. "I am glad that I am able to provide a
visual reminder to other women that we are making contributions to law
enforcement everywhere," Viverette said. "Other women have told me how
important it is to see me up there on the dais." She estimated that there are
only about 150 women police chiefs in the country.
It was Viverette's involvement in IACP, along with other women in the
1990s, which planted the seeds of NAWLEE. Networking with other women at IACP
events, they sought out further opportunities to share their knowledge. "As a
mentoring organization, NAWLEE is a very comfortable place for a woman to be,"
she said. Today NAWLEE has about 400 members, including law enforcement
agency leaders and future leaders nationwide.
"Mary Ann's (Viverette's) dedication to law enforcement, and her national
stature as IACP president, make her an excellent choice for this year's
Executive of the Year," said NAWLEE president Susan Kyzer, bureau chief,
Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Gaithersburg's progressive police force, which partners closely with the
Montgomery County (Md.) Police Department, has instituted its own Street
Crimes Unit, which blends features of uniformed and undercover work to
concentrate on rooting out repeat offenders and narcotics suspects. The
department has its own drug-sniffing dog which rides along with officers in
"hot spots" where illegal substances often surface during traffic stops.
These programs are unusual within a force of 49 sworn officers, but they are
crucial given Gaithersburg's proximity to the nation's capital.
Viverette was named police chief in 1986. She graduated from the FBI
National Academy in 1988. She is active on the Commission on Accreditation
for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), and her department has been accredited
since 1993.
In addition to recognizing Viverette's achievements, the conference will
honor the six founders of the organization. They include:
-- Chief Susan Riseling, University of Wisconsin-Madison Police
Department
-- Barbara O'Brien, government affairs director, Cash America
International
-- Chief Joy Rikala, City of Minnetonka, Minn.
-- Chief (Ret.) Alana Ennis, director, General Dynamics Armament
-- Chief Anne Glavin, California State University at Northridge
Department of Public Safety
-- Chief Ellen Hanson, Lenexa Police Department, Lenexa, Kan.
Schaumburg Village President Al Larson and Motorola executives Mark Moon,
corporate vice president, Motorola Networks and Enterprise, and Jackie Wasni,
Motorola Communications & Electronics Inc. vice president, will welcome guests
to the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Conference Center. The conference
runs through Aug. 13.
"Motorola is proud of NAWLEE's efforts to support women who are leaders in
law enforcement and who devote their careers to public safety," Wasni said.
In addition to remarks from Viverette, conferees will hear from keynote
speaker Zulima V. Farber, attorney general of New Jersey. Both are scheduled
to speak on Aug. 10.
About NAWLEE
The National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) is
the first organization established to address the unique needs of women
holding senior management positions in law enforcement.
NAWLEE is a non-profit organization sponsored and administered directly by
law enforcement practitioners. Its mission is to serve and further the
interests of women executives and those who aspire to be executives in law
enforcement. For more information, please visit www.nawlee.com.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in
wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless
Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay
connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment
that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have"
products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks -- along with a full
complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence
and impact, Motorola had sales of US $35.3 billion in 2005. For more
information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit
http://www.motorola.com.
MOTOROLA and the stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent &
Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Motorola, Inc.
