Posted in General on August 28th, 2007
What Happened to ASLET?
For almost twenty years, the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET) was the largest and most active police training organization in the world. Then, in late 2006, and with no notice to members, it closed its doors and disappeared. This interview with Pat Martin, the last chair of the ASLET Board of Directors, explains what brought about ASLET’s demise.
Tim:
I enjoyed Pat Martin’s take on the demise of ASLET. One of his final comments I think strikes at the heart of the problem. Simply, “follow the money.” I have been active in many organizations including JSTA, IALEFI, ASLET, etc. There is so much that goes on that the membership is not aware of. Often, those who are ethical don’t want to hurt the organization by broadcasting the bad conduct of others. In the case of ASLET, I was appointed to the original Executive Board by Ed Nowicki in 1987. I accepted because of my respect for the man. In the third year, at a board meeting, some of the members on the Board wanted to “boost” their own benefits. In a non-profit, you can provide expenses for certain people. The suggestions went beyond paying for Board members conference expenses to cover air fare, hotel, food, and then there was a suggestion to supply a phone credit card during the year. At this point, I said all that was fine, but I felt that these benefits should be made crystal clear to the members. They needed to know exactly where their dues were going and it would also be an incentive for them to run for office next year, when the first elections were to be held. After making that comment, many of the Board members gave me a withering look. It seems that many of the members did not want these actions to be transparent and felt I was going to kill the ASLET cow that could be milked. My time on the Board was over. I have seen the manipulation of money in so many organizations that I conclude that it is merely human nature. Few people are going to give their time to a venture without wanting remuneration. One of the major LEO organizations had a person who helped sell their products to members. It was found that he had misappropriated some of the money. Instead of causing a scandal, they allowed him to resign. He then immediately ran for the Board, citing his years of good work making money for the organization. He was elected to the Board. And so it goes.
As a former member of ASLET I had many questions what brought about its demise. This podcast answered many questions for me. Thanks Tim for an excellent interview.
Tim & Pat,
Thanks for coming forward to let all of us know what happened to ASLET. As an member since 1987, I also loved the idea of law enforcement trainers coming together to share ideas for the sake of making law enforcement safer across the board. I was one of those who had articles published in the Trainer magazine and also was one of the members brought in after several people resigned to fill a board spot until an election could be held. It is sad that there were board and at large members who were obviously self serving and more concerned with their egos rather than providing good law enforcement training but even sadder that they continued on their quest to strike ASLET down forever. As both of you have indicated, I hope that ILEETA will stand the test of time and fill the void without the underhanded methods used against ASLET ever being able to become entrenched in that organization.
Keep up the good work at The Officer.com Tim. You are doing some great stuff.
I have been a member of ASLET for many years. When I attended the 94 use of force conference in Fairfax VA, I got negative feelings after talking to a few of the board members. It felt too “corporate” for a police organization and was lacking substance. I have many years experience in law enforcement and running non-profits. These two don’t mix. Cops are great at doing cop work, but are terrible at running a non-profit. An exception is the IACP, who hire professionals to run the organization for the LEOs on the board. An organization like ASLET is
desperately needed. LE training in the US is chaotic and undisciplined when it comes to understanding what types of training work and what doesn’t. No research, no science and no common sense. There is more research on handcuffs than on LE training! This is especially true at the basic academy level. Every state does their own thing and don’t examine the “product” they are producing. There is IADLEST, but they appear to not accomplish much in determining what types of training works and what doesn’t.
The irony of the first Podcast about the end of ASLET was not lost on me! It made me realize again what a great organization ASLET was and how much was lost. Hope to see you at ILEETA.
PS to EMH: contrary to your views, I have seen common sense and science in much of what is done at many facilities - but yes we could use more.
Having been involved with a number of organizations I have been surprised to see how much the egos of some individuals can overshadow the original goals. When money gets involved it gets even worse. Depending on the manner a magazine is organized, the advertising dollars and the publishing process is easily corrupted. The well-intentioned acts are taken out of context by those who are not included. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Sir, This was the first podcast I’ve ever listened to(thanks to my daughter who can work this machine). I still have questions despite the interview. I recall the letters from the unnamed(in the podcast) school owner and the executive director Hackett. Hackett’s letter, which ran to several pages, complained of the costs of the litigation but never answered or refuted any of the accusations/charges leveled by the school owner. So my questions are #1 Did Hackett use the organization as his personal piggy bank? #2 Did he falsify his resume? #3 Was the organization’s computer info stolen/erased by an employee? Full disclosure on my part _ I am on Police MAgazine’s TREXPO Advisory Board and have met the unnamed school owner and his wife when they have presented at TREXPO in the past. I’ve probaly met other ASLET board members at TREXPO also but am not aware of it. Respectfully, Joe Paskvan Sgt. Cleveland PD(OH)Ret.
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i was a member of aslet for many years and was totally disgusted when i discovered that aslet had gone down the tube so to speak it was only when i didnt get my renewal form for my membership fee and rang their offices from my home in Ireland and couldn’t get a reply i realised something was up. so my wife started surfing the net and read the report it had closed down what a waste as i enjoyed reading the trainer mags about police forces in the USA and all the skills and equipment available. it was a sad day for me. and very bad business practice not to notify members.