A Symposium on America’s Drug Epidemic

Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/20/2014
10:00 am-11:30 am

Location
Linder Hall - First United Methodist Church of San Diego

Address
2111 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego
CA
92116

Saturday , September 20, 2014

The City Club, in association with the First United Methodist Church of San Diego, Congregation Emanu-El, YWCA, and La Jolla Country Day School Proudly Present a Symposium on America’s Drug Epidemic

Featuring U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, Dr. Greg LaDue, and Scott H. Silverman

10:00 a.m.

THIS IS A FREE PUBLIC EVENT – but reservations required.

RSVP: cityclubsd@gmail.com, or, 619-235-4041

Laura Duffy – Biographical Brief

Laura E. Duffy was sworn in as the Presidentially-appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of California on June 2, 2010. The Southern District of California encompasses San Diego and Imperial Counties, and has approximately 3.1 million residents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office enforces all violations of federal law occurring in the Southern District of California. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also defends the United States in all civil lawsuits and collects debts owed to the United States.

Ms. Duffy joined the United States Department of Justice in 1993. From 1993 to 1997, she was assigned at Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C., first to the Criminal Division Money Laundering Section and later to the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section. In 1997, Ms. Duffy became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California. Prior to being sworn in as U.S. Attorney, she was a Deputy Chief in the General Crimes Section of the office. From 1997-2008, Ms. Duffy worked in the Narcotics Enforcement Section as an Assistant United States Attorney where she prosecuted Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) cases targeting large-scale drug trafficking  organizations operating internationally and/or in multi-jurisdictions throughout the United States. Her most notable cases involved successful prosecutions against members of the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO), a notorious drug trafficking cartel controlling the Tijuana, Baja California Norte corridor believed to be responsible for importing thousands of tons of cocaine and marijuana into the United States and murdering hundreds of people.

Ms. Duffy is the recipient of many prominent Department Of Justice awards, including the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, which she received in 2008 for her work on the Arellano-Felix drug cartel cases.

Ms. Duffy received her undergraduate degree in 1988 from Iowa State University and her law degree in 1993 from the Creighton University School of Law. Ms. Duffy is married and has one son.

Bill Gore – Biographical Brief

William D. Gore was appointed as the 29th Sheriff of San Diego County on July 3, 2009, and elected a year later in June 2010. Sheriff Gore oversees one of the largest Sheriffís Departments in the nation: with 4,000 employees, an annual budget of over $600 million, and a service area of over 4,200 square miles extending to a 60 mile international border. Along with patrol and investigative operations, his department provides air support, search and rescue service, and forensic support for the San Diego region. His department operates seven detention facilities countywide.

Sheriff Gore is well known for his regional approach to law enforcement and for his energetic deployment of technology to the front lines of enforcement. He spearheaded the creation of the Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center (RTTAC) and a Rapid Response DNA Team that uses forensic DNA to solve property crimes. He created a Border Crimes Initiative, including Operation Stonegarden, recognized nationally for its effectiveness in addressing border crime. A champion of Intelligence-Led Policing, he has increased the department’s reliance on the work of its Crime Analysis Team to strengthen the Department’s crime prevention efforts and assist in the swift apprehension of criminals when prevention fails.

Sheriff Gore’s law enforcement career spans over 40 years. He spent 32 years in the FBI, where he rose to the level of Assistant Director. He served as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Seattle and San Diego Field Divisions, where he implemented the FBI Cyber Crime Squad and Joint Terrorism Task Force. He played a significant role in establishing the San Diego Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the first of its kind in the United States. After retiring from the FBI, Sheriff Gore served as Special Advisor and Chief Investigator to the San Diego County District Attorney. In 2004, he was appointed by Sheriff Bill Kolender to serve as Assistant Sheriff over the Law Enforcement
Services Bureau and then as Undersheriff, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department.

Sheriff Gore is a member of the San Diego County Police Chiefsí and Sheriff’s Association, board member of the San Diego Crime Victims Fund, past board member of the California Peace Officers’ Association (CPOA), and a member of the San Diego Rotary Club. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations including the Arthur E. Hughes Career Achievement Award from his alma mater, University of San Diego (2002). He was selected as ‘Headliner of the Year’ by the San Diego Press Club (2001). President Clinton designated him as a Meritorious Executive in Senior Executive Service (2000).

Sheriff Gore, a San Diego native, holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.

Sheriff Gore’s family is rich in law enforcement experience. His father and older brother were a part of the San Diego Police Department and his middle brother was a San Diego County Deputy Sheriff. His wife was one of the first female FBI agents in the United States.

Sheriff Gore and his wife, Natalie, have a grown son who lives in Arizona.

Shelley Zimmerman – Biographical Brief

Chief Shelley Zimmerman was promoted to Chief of Police on March 4, 2014, and was hired on October 21, 1982, by the San Diego Police Department. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is a graduate of The Ohio State University, with a degree in Criminal Justice. She is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, FBINA #241.

Chief Zimmerman has worked many of the San Diego Police Department’s patrol commands. Shelley also has extensive investigative experience. Some of Chief Zimmerman’s prior assignments have included Vice, Narcotics, Internal Affairs, Multi-Cultural Community Relations Office, the Mayor’s Executive Protection Detail, the Narcotics Task Force and the Field Lieutenant position.

Chief Zimmerman has assisted in the security planning for several large events in San Diego such as the Super Bowl, Republican National Convention, major conferences and the 4th of July Independence Day holiday at the beach, where more than one million local and visitors alike come to enjoy each year.

Chief Zimmerman has received numerous awards and citations throughout her career which has included the San Diego Press Club Headliner of the year award for her undercover work, the San Diego Business Journal’s Woman Who Mean Business Exemplary Award for her civic involvement with both the business and residential communities, the San Diego Police Foundation Women in Blue Award for her commitment to making San Diego one of the safest large cities in the United States and the Gold Key Award from the Hotel/Motel Association for her commitment to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.

Chief Zimmerman’s previous assignment was the Neighborhood Policing section which includes; the Regional Police Academy, Backgrounds, In-Service and Field Training, Juvenile Administration, the Police Range, Volunteer Services, Information Services, Communications, Crime Analysis, and Human Resources. Chief Zimmerman was also the Department’s liaison with the Gang Commission, STAR-PAL, the San Diego Police Foundation, Crime Stoppers, Labor Relations, the Hotel/Motel Association and the Chief’s Community Advisory Boards.

Chief Zimmerman is an avid sports fan and often participates in athletic charity fundraisers.

Greg LaDue – Biographical Brief

Rev. Gregory A. LaDue has been a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 15 years.

He is the Director the New Life Counseling Center at San Diego First United Methodist Church and is responsible for coordinating adult education experiences. Greg leads numerous retreats and teaches frequently in the adult education classes offered at First Church.

Scott H. Silverman – Biographical Brief

For over two decades Scott Silverman was the Executive Director and Founder of Second Chance, a human services agency that is committed to breaking the cycle of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness by offering job readiness training, employment placement assistance, mental health counseling, case management, and affordable housing referrals to people who desire to change their lives. Over the past 15 years Scott has assisted more than 24,000 people in San Diego gain employment – underscoring that Scott is a charismatic speaker and coach, helping
people achieve their passions in life.

He’s an active member of the community as a proud Rotarian of Club #33; a Paul Harris Fellow; Eureka Fellow; member, Eureka Communities National Board of Trustees; and a past Board member of the San Diego Community Housing Corporation.

Through the years, he has received numerous awards recognizing his leadership and dedication to the improvement of his community including the Henrietta Rubenstein Community Award, Eureka’s Outstanding Fellow Award, the Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Frank Curran Humanitarian Award, the San Diego Press Club Headliner Award, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Citizen of the Week Award and It Takes A Community Award Honoree.

In 2003, Silverman was selected as one of the Top 50 People to Watch by San Diego Magazine. In October 2005, he was given the Channel 10 Leadership Award for the second time. In February 2007, Silverman was appointed to the City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention.

In April 2007, he was voted as one of four “Who Are Your Heroes?” sponsored by NBC 7/39 in San Diego. In 2008, he became a member of the Honorary Deputy Sheriff Association. In March 2010, he joined the United Way Home Again Board of Directors as Silverman has received numerous awards and honors including being named CNN Hero of the Week and the City of San Diego honored him by selecting February 19 as “Scott Silverman Day” for his contributions to community.

Of Scott’s book, “Tell Me No, I Dare You: A Guide for Living a Heroic Life”, Ken Blanchard said, “This account of how one determined man has helped countless people transform from victims into productive members of society will touch your heart and melt away your cynicism.”

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