NAACP congratulates police on accreditation

by Guy Djoken

On July 12, 2003, Kim Dine, chief of the Frederick Police Department, accepted full accreditation for the Frederick Police Department from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a commission of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The accomplishment represented the successful culmination of the stringent CALEA process that had been initiated four years earlier.

The Frederick Branch of the NAACP would like to congratulate the chief for this accomplishment, and looks forward to the continued relationship that we have with him, and we will continue with the open communication we have now.

As we prepare for the NAACP state conference that will be hosted by our branch here in Frederick next October, we are proud to inform you that on the national level the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced July 17, 2003 a $1 million contribution from Wachovia Corp.

During the event, our president and CEO, Kweisi Mfume, said: "Respecting and valuing the individual is a core value that Wachovia and the NAACP share. Wachovia understands that real partnership is more than financial support; it is working together to achieve a common goal, in this case the elimination of educational inequity. Together, if we are serious and if we work hard, we can have a meaningful and long-term impact on our children's future."

In response, Wachovia Chairman and CEO Ken Thompson replied: "Education is Wachovia's top community priority and an integral part of who we are as a company. We are committed to working to eliminate educational inequity by supporting organizations like the NAACP that are leading the way in this important area."

"Our organization has done significant work to address educational inequity and we are excited to partner with them in this effort," said Mac Everett, Wachovia director of corporate and community affairs. "We look forward to working together toward the day when every child in every community truly has the opportunity to receive a first-rate education

I'll end today with this call to registration by Marcus C. Williams who is a member of the Frederick County Branch of NAACP and Basileus ­ Alpha Lambda Lambda Chapter.

Call to register

It was just about two years ago when a newly chartered chapter of a fraternal organization, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., with the support of the Frederick County Chapter of the NAACP, the United Democrats of Frederick County, and the leadership of two major churches in Frederick, set out on a mission to register every eligible resident in Frederick County to vote.

You may ask, what might be gained by pursuing such a goal that most might feel is practically unobtainable and near impossible?

Quite simply, the answer is everything.

Not only is this venue obtainable, it will prove to be one of the easier tasks that lie ahead for the citizenry of Frederick County. Taking up one of the most basic rights known to mankind, which we may add at one point was not afforded to all, would basically bring us all back to the proverbial square one, which may ultimately prove to be a good place to start in moving Frederick ahead.

We know that many believe that we are a lot better off than we used to be and this may be true, but there is always room for improvement and bringing everyone to the table in this effort would signify a true fully represented populous. When we truly start working together, something that is often talked about but seldom done, the ramifications would be enormous.