U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact
Deborah McCarley 602-650-3201

January 17, 2006

FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to be presented

Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18, 2006, the FBI will present Officer Daniel W. Elting with the Director's Community Leadership Award at the offices of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZ POST) Board, 2643 East University Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85034.

Since 1990, the FBI has publicly recognized the achievements of special individuals or organizations in our country that have made significant contributions in the area of anti-terrorism, criminal organizations, drug prevention, and/or violence education/prevention. From a list of highly competitive nominees, the Director of the FBI selects an individual from the Field Office's territory who has had an exemplary impact on their community in the fight against these crimes/criminals, and then awards them the distinguished "Director's Community Leadership Award."

Officer Daniel W. Elting, a fourteen year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, has been instrumental in promoting Anti-Terrorism Training throughout Arizona since September 11, 2001. Officer Elting is currently assigned to the Phoenix branch of the Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) as the coordinator, and as an instructor, for the State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) program in Arizona.

The SLATT Program was implemented in 1996 in response to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the rising militia movement in the United States. At the time of its introduction, responding to pressing concerns, SLATT focused primarily on domestic terrorism and special-interest/single-issue extremist groups. However, after September 11, 2001, America entered a new phase in the fight against terrorism. The SLATT Program began to address the most current, critical counterterrorism issues, such as detection, intervention, investigation, and prevention. SLATT increased training offerings in foreign-inspired terrorism, encompassing specific groups and organizations believed to be involved in the attacks.

The SLATT Program in Arizona, a combined effort between RCPI, AZ Post and the FBI Phoenix Division, has had phenomenal success. Officer Elting has been instrumental in the success of this program and in the training of Arizona Law Enforcement officers in the fundamentals of Domestic and International terrorism, officer safety, terrorism indicators, and the identification and apprehension of terrorists.

In addition to training law enforcement, Officer Elting has also promoted Anti-Terrorism awareness throughout the civilian population of Arizona. Officer Elting has spoken to hundreds of citizens; educating them on the threat of terrorism and the role they can play to assist authorities. In doing so, Officer Elting’s efforts beyond the requirements of his assigned duties and willingness to educate others, has had a profound and direct impact on the war against terrorism in Arizona.

Representatives of the media are welcome to attend the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board public meeting on January 18, 2006, at which time Officer Elting will be presented this prestigious award by the FBI. The presentation will take place at the beginning of the meeting, approximately 10:00 a.m. Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Phoenix Division Keith L. Bennett will present the award.