SEARCH Welcomes New California Member

Gary K. Cooper

SEARCH is pleased to announce that Gary K. Cooper, Director, California Justice Information Services Division, California Department of Justice was appointed to the SEARCH Membership on March 5, 2008. He was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as California's representative on the Membership Group, filling a vacancy.

"Gary K. Cooper has been a long-time Alternate Member from California, and it is fitting that those years of service have finally been recognized by this well-deserved appointment, said Mr. Ronald P. Hawley, SEARCH Executive Director. "As the 'Unofficial' Member, he has always been an active participant in representing the needs and thinking of California. He understands the issues and the important role California plays in developing national policy, and we look forward to his continued valuable expertise and participation."

The SEARCH Membership Group, which governs SEARCH, is comprised of one gubernatorial appointee from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as eight at-large appointees selected by SEARCH's Chair. This national body of state-level professionals is widely representative of the various disciplines within the justice system, and many are responsible for operational decisions and policymaking concerning the management of criminal justice information, particularly criminal history information. The Membership Group fosters cooperation and communication among justice system professionals in identifying and implementing solutions to common problems.