Seminar in Battle Creek host representatives from around the nation
 By Jeff Landenberger
  The Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services’ Law Enforcement Support Office, also known as the 1033 Program, hosted the 22nd annual national training seminar in Battle Creek, Michigan. State coordinators and members of the Law Enforcement Support Office staff gather for a group photo outside the facility they met in during the 22nd annual LESO national training seminar in Battle Creek, Michigan.




A group of over 50 people in civilian cloths stand on green grass in front of a white wall with windows.
        Group
            State coordinators and members of the Law Enforcement Support Office staff gather for a group photo outside the facility they met in during the 22nd annual LESO national training seminar in Battle Creek, Michigan.

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                    Photo By: Jace Armstrong
                    
                    VIRIN: 230823-D-OS362-0127  The LESO Program allows participating Law Enforcement Agencies the ability to acquire excess military equipment that would otherwise be destroyed. LEAs review DoD inventories online and submit requests. In 1990 Congress authorized this transfer of excess DoD property to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. In 1997 the National Defense Authorization Act established LESO to facilitate the program. In 2008 the LESO office was transferred from DLA headquarters to DLA Disposition Services, known at the time as DRMS. At the state level, governors appoint coordinators who oversee program and individual law enforcement agencies that participate in the program. LESO Branch Chief Deborah Smith said the seminar was a success; they had 55 coordinators, representing 38 states that participate in the program. Smith mentioned that organizing a national seminar involves extensive planning, including managing hotel contracts, audiovisual services, and numerous other details. She revealed that the preparation for the next seminar begins immediately after one concludes. Arkansas state representative James Ray found the training and networking and exchanging of ideas on how to best use the program to be very beneficial. He mentioned being able to take back the information on new policies, procedures, regulations to his state and inform his states Law Enforcement Agencies that participate in the program and the changes. Representing Illinois was Federal Programs Manager Rewa Boldrey. She said she had two new staff members with her this year that have very little experience with the LESO program, and this was an opportunity to get them up to speed on the program that provides so much support to their state. Boldrey said that her state primary looks for property from LESO that can be used in an emergency including search and rescue and disaster preparedness. An example of that she said was when a department in East St. Louis used the program to acquire a vehicle they used as a squad car as well as some first aid equipment. She mentioned that not only did it save the taxpayers of East St. louis the cost of that squad car, but it supplies have already helped save a life. DLA Disposition Services Chief of Staff Peter Foreman addressed the attendees, thanking them for what they do and reinforcing our role to support them and answering any questions that they may have. He encouraged them to keep up their diligence and that their oversight at the state level is what makes the program a success.