2004 AAPP Seminar in Vancouver

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2004 AAPP Seminar Wrap Up - Elmer Criswell
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For those who missed the American Association of Police
Polygraphists' 27th Annual Seminar, you missed an
outstanding program. The City of Vancouver, British
Columbia, is, by far, one of the most beautiful cities in
the world. So not only did you miss a great seminar
program but a great time as well. Our Canadian hosts,
Dennis Paulson and the Vancouver Police Department
Polygraph Unit as well as AAPP Director Janene Gordon,
could not have been more prepared and hospitable.

We were standing in 75 degree weather (or whatever that
equates to in centigrade) looking across the beautiful
harbor at snow covered mountains. Later, during that
day, we were standing on top of the mountains (after
taking a short cab ride and then a short mountain-gondola
ride to the top) looking down at the city and able to see
as far as Washington state in 75 degree weather with a
foot of snow on the ground.

The program was very well-thought out and excellent topics
were presented by very knowledgeable and experienced
speakers. The following topics were presented followed by
the speakers:

(1) Cognitive Veracity Assessment - Neil Barker
(2) Countermeasures - Dr. Gordon Barland
(3) Reid Technique of Interview and Interrogation - Joe Buckley
(4) Discussion of False & Coerced Confession Defenses - Joe Buckley
(5) Limestone Technologies - Jamie Brown, Darryl Bullens, Ty Buttle
(6) Criminal Personality Assessment & Interrogation - Elmer Criswell
(7) Polygraph Into the 21st Century - Brian English, Dr. Kirtley Thornton
(8) Lafayette Instrument Company - Chris Fausett, Yasmin Brokema, Pete Brannon, Ross Hahn, Lou Criscella
(9) Team Approach to Interview & Interrogation - Bill Fordy
(10) CM Issues & the Background Investigator - Bob Heard
(11) Quality Control Issues - John Mata
(12) Applicant Testing - Wally Musker
(13) Neurolinguistics - Jan Neiderhofer
(14) Test Data Analysis - Brett Stern
(15) Cognitive Information Processing - Morris Ragus
(16) Ethics - The Honorable Jon Thatcher and Tim Schroeder
(17) Interview of Minors - Billy Thompson
(18) Axciton Systems, Inc. - Bruce White & Sue Luttrell

Most programs were well-attended, even those late in the
afternoon and on Friday had a fair share of attendees
present. We were presented with a special guest at the
Annual Business Meeting with Gordon Moore, former
President and Chairman of the Board of AAPP and former
Director of Texas DPS Polygraph School, before leaving law
enforcement last year to pursue a new career. He stayed
until Friday to visit old friends as well as serve as a
financial advisor to the Association.

The speakers included representation from the following
polygraph schools:

(1) Canadian Police College Polygraph Training School - Neil Barker
(2) PSP/HACC Polygraph Institute @ Northeast Counterdrug Training Center - Elmer Criswell
(3) International Academy of Polygraph - Lou Criscella
(4) Backster School of Lie Detection - Brian English
(5) Department of Defense Polygraph Institute - Brett Stern
(6) Maryland Institute of Criminal Justice - Billy Thompson

Besides a great banquet, the President's Reception, as
always, was friendly and informal with President Mike Mann
personally greeting everyone who entered and the various
Board Members were mingling throughout the crowd making
certain that no one was left standing alone. Also, the
dinner cruise allowed the attendees to experience an
outstanding view of the City as well as have a great
dinner and great company. As Director Janene Gordon stated
frequently - AAPP wanted three things to occur for
everyone:

(1) Learn something new
(2) meet at least one new person
(3) have fun

At AAPP it is virtually impossible not to achieve all
three.

At the Business Meeting the following occurred:

(1) Chicago was re-affirmed for the 2005 seminar - we'll be in the Holiday Inn - Downtown
(2) The 2006 seminar will be in Portland, Maine
(3) Life Member status was granted to the great Ron Decker - one of those who is qualified for the Polygraph Hall of Fame
(4) Officers were elected for 2005:

President - Bruce Robertson
Vice President - Don Imbordino
Board Chairman -Mike Mann (automatically moves here)
Secretary - Bob Heard
Treasurer - Toby McSwain
Director I - Janene Gordon
Director II - Morris Covin
Director III - Roger Butler
Director IV - Karen Clark (appointed to fill Don Imbordino's Unfinished Term)
Director V - Jeffrey Johnson (Tim Madden could not run again due to being promoted which takes him out of polygraph)
(5) There were no significant changes made otherwise.

There was a consensus that AAPP should have an working
closely with the ASTM committee to be certain that AAPP
and law enforcement polygraph issues are represented to
the wishes of the AAPP membership constituency.

At the Thursday night Award Banquet, the following persons
were honored with various awards:

(1) AAPP Appreciation Award - Tim Madden (retiring Director)
(2) President's Award - John Mata (retiring Board Chairman)
(3) Hospitality Award - Janene Gordon & Dennis Paulson
(4) Region I Director's Award - Paul Redmond
(5) Region II Director's Award - Lynn Marcy
(6) Region III Director's Award - Brian Reigle
(7) Region IV Director's Award - Billy Wingo, Jack Ogilvie, Dick Bell
(8) Region V Director's Award - Karen Clark
(9) Max Wastl, Sr. Award - Elmer Criswell
(10) Holly Canty Memorial Award - No Recipient This Year

The after-seminar party began Saturday morning with a
week long cruise to Alaska's Inside Passage. We wish our
AAPP sailors a very fine time, and a very safe time.

I hope we see you all in Chicago for AAPP'S 28th Annual
Seminar - another outstanding time with beautiful weather
already planned for next May (OK so I lied a little). ASTM
will also be holding its Spring meeting in conjunction
with AAPP the Friday and Saturday before AAPP starts. Have
a safe and happy summer!

Elmer Criswell

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