Barbecue and Awards at "The Shack"

Barbecue and Awards at “The Shack”

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by Maureen Becker
Executive Director

In accordance with tradition (since 2003), the “grand finale” was the awards ceremony and dinner. Never a formal affair, it is a chance to relax, celebrate a week of solid training, networking, and the forging of friendships new and renewed. It is also a time to raise a glass to the hard-working, self-sacrificing men and women of the host agency and instructor cadre.

This being Texas, it was no big surprise that the buffet comprised barbecue and all the “fixin’s”, catered by Riscky’s Barbeque. What was a surprise was the venue, an unassuming, barn-like structure known simply as “The Shack.” The Shack was once the car barn for the M&O Subway, which carried passengers and shoppers from the parking lot on what is now known as Panther Island to the Leonard’s Department Store, a multi-block, “one-stop shopping center”. The subway operated from 1963 until 2002, by which time the store has been sold first to Tandy and then to Dillard’s.

Today it is still possible to see the tracks which carried the subway cars into the barn, which add to the historic atmosphere that imbues the place. On the night of April 12, it was filled with IPMBA Conference attendees who had been shuttled through the Main Street Arts Festival traffic by a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from police department SUVs to the TCSO prison bus – just about everything BUT the M&O Subway cars! Those disembarking the prison bus made it a point to march off as if in handcuffs.

The adjacent beer garden served its purpose well, as attendees enjoyed local brews and barbecue while engaging in lively games of cornhole. Inside, the talented members of the Badge 110 Band entertained those who preferred to relax at one of the 36 picnic tables stretched end-to-end.

The Badge 110 Band was formed by Jacksboro Officer Ricky Spradlin for a National Night Out event. His badge number was 110; hence the name. Band members are Karen Spradlin, lead singer and 32-year law enforcement veteran; lead guitarist LD Hill; drummer Dick Dunn; bass player Aram Doroff; Scott Jenkins, steel guitar and retired police officer; and Ricky Spradlin, now retired and the “hardest-working member of the band” – singer, rhythm guitarist, sound, and set-up guy.

After everyone had enjoyed some barbecue and beverages, the band yielded the stage to co-emcees and IPMBA founding members Allan Howard and Tom Woods. Allan and Tom presented plaques to representatives of the host agencies – Phil Latham, Fort Worth Police, and Greg Bowen and Robert Macklin, Tarrant County College Police – as well as outgoing board member Tom Harris and introduced the members of the current board of directors. Eddy Croissant (Tampa Police Department) was recognized for his role in updating the Maintenance Officer Course curriculum with an autographed copy of Calvin Jones’ Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bike Repair (and a handy “multi-tool”). Much to his surprise and delight, after a day of thinking no-one had remembered, all in attendance sang “Happy Birthday” to IPMBA Vice President Mike Wear.

After the Instructor-Trainers had distributed the medals to the competition finalists, the real winners claimed their prizes. The Fuji Code 2 Max Police Bike, donated by Police Bike Store, will find a new home with Calvin Charles of the MNCPP (MD) Police, and the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 M2.0, donated by Nation’s Best Sports, went to Mike Johnston of the South County Metro (WA) Fire Department.

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