Arizona Automobile Theft Authority A r i zo n a A u t o m o b i l e Theft Authority “Stop the Fast Break to Auto Theft” Public Service Announcement The AATA seeks continued assistance with promotion of a new public service announcement (PSA). Last November, the Tempe Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit through grant funding from the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA), and collaboration with several community partners, produced a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) titled, “Stop the Fast Break to Auto Theft.” The PSA features the voice of the Phoenix Suns, Al McCoy along with a captivating basketball theme, aimed at educating the public about the high risk of auto theft. To view and/or download the PSA, visit the AATA’s website at www.azwatchyourcar.com. For technical assistance or if you need the PSA in an alternate format, please contact John Almasan at 602 364-2887. 2006 Board Meeting Schedule January 13, 2006 April 28, 2006 July 21, 2006 September 22, 2006 November 17, 2006 All meetings begin at 10:00 a.m., at the ADOA Building at 100 N. 15th Avenue, 3rd Floor Conference Rooms, unless otherwise noted. Upcoming Events 2006 International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) Conference in Winnipeg, Canada from August 6 – 11, 2006. Visit the IAATI web site at www.iaati.org for more information. 2006 Western States Auto Theft Investigators Association (WSATI) Annual Training Seminar will be held October 2 – 4, 2006 at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Visit the WSATI website at www.wsati.org for more information. 2006 Arizona Auto Theft Investigators Association (AATIA) and Arizona Auto Theft Authority will host a training seminar October 25-27, 2006 in Laughlin, Nevada. Visit the AATIA website at www.aatia.com for more information. www.azwatchyourcar.com The AATA Pays Tribute to the Late Senator Marilyn Jarrett On March 10, 2006, the AATA lost a longtime friend and valuable partner, Senator Marilyn Jarrett. Senator Jarrett who was instrumental in starting the Arizona Auto Theft Authority (AATA) in the early 1990's, was a dedicated supporter of the AATA throughout the years, and championed numerous auto theft related bills. This session alone, she sponsored several bills aimed at studying, enforcing, and prosecuting auto theft. In addition to auto theft, Senator Jarrett was passionate about forest health and led the way to passage of major pieces of legislation designed to return Arizona’s forest lands to safe and sound condition. She served as Co-Chair of the Healthy Forest Initiative Committee. Senator Jarrett held many leadership roles in both the House and Senate, serving as Majority Whip in both chambers. In her current term, Senator Jarrett held the post of President Pro Tem. She has also served as the chairperson of numerous committees throughout her years of legislative service. Inside This Issue 1400 W. WASHINGTON SUITE 270 Janet Napolitano Governor PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007 Phone: 602-364-2886 Fax: 602-364-2897 E-mail: aata@aata.state.az.us www.azwatchyourcar.com Toll Free: 1-888-668-4433 An Equal Employment Opportunity Agency AATA Board Chairman Sheriff Ralph E. Ogden Yuma County Sheriff Vice Chairman Dean C. Butler Farmers Insurance Sheriff Joe Arpaio Maricopa County Sheriff Sergeant Joe Brosius Public Member Brian Garrett State Farm Insurance Company Chief Sherry Kiyler Chandler Police Department Barbara LaWall Pima County Attorney Robert Carter Olson Pinal County Attorney Ellen Poole Public Member Chief Daniel G. Sharp Oro Valley Police Department Director Stacey K. Stanton Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division Director Roger Vanderpool AZ. Dept. of Public Safety AATA Staff Enrique Cantu Executive Director Paul Boelhauf Chief Financial Officer Ann Armstrong Public Relations Officer John Rares Almasan Public Information Officer Arthur Myer Fiscal Services Specialist Nichole Thompson Administrative Assistant June 2006 • Tribute to Senator Marilyn Jarrett • Auto Theft Day at the State Capitol • March 4th Auto Theft Awareness and Prevention Day • 2006/2007 Grant Awards • 4th Annual Summit on Vehicle Theft • Legislative Update • Upcoming Events She was a devoted mother of 5 children and had 14 beautiful grandchildren. Senator Jarrett will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to work with her. Senator Jarrett addressed attendees at the 2006 Auto Theft Prevention Day at the Arizona State Capitol on February 28th AATA, DPS, NICB, Allstate Insurance Company and Statewide Law Enforcement Partners Host Auto Theft Awareness Events Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano proclaimed Saturday, March 4th Vehicle Theft Prevention and Awareness Day. This proclamation was preceded by the 2006 Auto Theft Prevention Day at the Arizona State Capitol on February 28, 2006. The event was well attended by the AATA’s law enforcement, insurance and legislative partners and featured a vehicle dismantling demonstration by the Allstate Dismantling Team. Opening remarks were made by Enrique Cantu, AATA Executive Director as well as the late Senator Marilyn Jarrett, Sheriff Ralph Ogden, Yuma County Sheriff and AATA Board Chairman, Chief Mikel Longman, AZ. DPS, and Ms. Pat Elliot of Allstate Insurance Company. Lunch was hosted by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). On March 4th, the AATA, in partnership with the Gilbert Police Department, statewide law enforcement agencies, and Weingarten Realty Investors hosted a very successful statewide Vehicle Theft Prevention and Awareness Day. Approximately thirty (30) agencies participated throughout the State by hosting auto theft prevention and/or free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching events in an effort to increase awareness about auto theft while providing residents with the necessary tools to help protect their vehicles. Mark your calendars for next year’s event – Saturday, March 3, 2007. Page 2 A r i zo n a A u t o m o b i l e T h e f t A u t h o r i t y Page 3 June 2006 The AATA Hosts 4th Annual Summit on Vehicle Theft On May 11, 2006, the AATA, in conjunction with the Phoenix Police Department, hosted its 4th Annual Summit on Vehicle Theft at the South Mountain Environmental Center in Phoenix. The Summit was attended by over 200 attendees from statewide law enforcement and criminal justice agencies as well as several representatives from the insurance industry and the Arizona Department of Insurance. Also in attendance were out of state guests from California, Illinois, Texas, Virginia and Canada. Summit presenters provided valuable information on auto theft related topics, including the Arizona/Mexico Border, ID Theft and Methamphetamine Abuse, Arizona’s License Plate Reader Project and the Trucking Industry’s current theft trends. Presenters on these topics included Director Roger Vanderpool, Arizona Department of Public Safety; Bradley Greiner, NICB; Mario Crosswell, OCRA; Jonathan Ammon, Southwest Border Specialist with the Arizona Office of Homeland Security; Lieutenant Bob Ticer, Commander, Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force; Andrew P. Thomas, Maricopa County Attorney; Nicole Pena, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office; Sergeant Dave Mauser, Mesa Police Department and Jeff Heinze, Operations Manager, Swift Transportation. Detective Bernie Castillo, Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force, 2005 Watch Your Car Special Recognition. Enrique Cantu—Arizona Automobile Theft Authority Executive Director Mr. Mel Kowal, Paradise Valley Police Department, 2005 Watch Your Car Special Recognition. Mr. Ruben Chavez and Mr. Paul Palmer, Arizona Department of Public Safety, 2005 Special Recognition. Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force, 2005 Law Enforcement Unit of the Year. Director Roger Vanderpool—AZ. Department of Public Safety The Summit was made possible by support from the AZ. Crime Prevention Association, CAPPS Van & Car Rental, Crown Press Printing, Farmers Insurance Company, Hilton El Conquistador Re- Glendale Police Department, Crime Prevention Unit, 2005 Public Awareness & Community Education Unit of the Year. sort, Lojack Corporation, Mark-N-Gard, Orion Electronics, Remington ELSAG, State Farm Insurance Company, Toyota, and Winner International. Thank you all State Farm Insurance Company, 2005 Private Sector Partner of the Year. Summit Registration Volunteers—Suzanne Wolf, Nancy Temporado, Kathy Groenewold. Enrique Cantu and Maricopa County Attorney, Andrew P. Thomas The AATA Announces 2006/2007 Grant Award Recipients for your participation and support! AATA Recognizes 2005 Award Recipients The AATA’s outstanding law enforcement, criminal justice and private sector partners were honored at an awards ceremony luncheon during the 4th Annual Summit on Vehicle Theft. The award recipients have all demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and innovative approaches to combating and preventing auto theft in Arizona. Enrique Cantu, AATA Executive Director and Dean Butler, Farmers Insurance Group and AATA Board Vice-Chairman hosted the award ceremony. In May, the AATA finalized its 2006/2007 Grant Program awards with funding going out to statewide criminal justice agencies for the Law Enforcement, Public Awareness, Professional Training, and Vertical Prosecution Programs. A total of $4.6 million has been awarded for all AATA Grant Programs, including the annual grant to the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force in the amount of $3,348,500. Funding was approved for such items as officer overtime, vehicle identification number (VIN) etching systems, steering wheel locks, bait vehicle systems and license plate readers. The Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force is a multi-agency Task Force established in 1997 to coordinate a statewide law enforcement effort to combat vehicle theft. The Task Force serves as a statewide resource for the investigation of property crimes involving vehicles, related components and insurance fraud. In fiscal year 2005, for every dollar the AATA funded, the Task Force recovered $10.56 in stolen property for the citizens of Arizona. Last year the Task Force recovered 2,792 stolen vehicles with an estimated value of more than $30.6 million. Legislative Update Detective Dennis Thomas, Mesa Police Department, 2005 Auto Theft Detective of the Year. Officer Dave Goitia, Glendale Police Department, 2005 Patrol Officer of the Year. Officer Paul Sipe, Mesa Police Department, 2005 Patrol Officer of the Year. Officer Neil Brooks, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Honorable Mention for 2005 Patrol Officer of the Year. The Forty-seventh Legislature convened on January 9, 2006. Several auto theft related bills were presented this session. To date, two bills affecting auto theft and the AATA have passed the Legislature and were signed into law by Governor Janet Napolitano. Additional information about these Bills can be found on the Arizona Legislature’s website at www.azleg.state.az.us, go to Bills and search Senate or House Bills by number. Senate Bill 1027 (Bill Sponsors – Jarrett, Harper) was signed by the Governor on April 10th. The Bill expands the prosecution of chop shop operators and classifies the theft of an engine or transmission as a class 4 felony. Officer Sean Coutts, Phoenix Police Department, Honorable Mention for 2005 Patrol Officer of the Year. Mr. Brian Salata, Pinal County Attorney’s Office, 2005 Vertical Prosecutor of the Year. Detective Charles Knapp, Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force, 2005 Task Force Officer of the Year. Ms. Nicole Tankersley, Mesa Police Department, 2005 Crime Prevention Specialist of the Year. Senate Bill 1181 (Bill Sponsors – Jarrett, Bee, Knaperek) was signed by the Governor on April 17th. The Bill modifies the membership of the AATA Board of Directors to allow for the police chiefs, sheriffs and county attorney representa- tives to send proxies on their behalf. The Bill also modifies the county attorney membership to include one county attorney from a county with a population over one million, and one from a county under one million. An optional report regarding the ATA’s programs, successes, funding and impact on motor vehicle insurance costs presented to the ATA committee was eliminated in this legislation. The Arizona Auto Theft Authority wishes to thank the many legislative representatives who supported these Bills this legislative session. If you have any legislative issues you’d like to discuss with the AATA, please contact Enrique Cantu, AATA Executive Director or Ann Armstrong, AATA Public Relations/Legislative Liaison at 602 364-2886 (AUTO).