President Emeritus (Past President, Instructor)
Police Chief Gordon A. Bowers (ret.) recently returned to California after “failing retirement” for the third time! His 38 years in law enforcement began as a volunteer Reserve Police Officer, and he progressed through the ranks to Burbank’s Captain of Investigations. For 15 years his responsibilities included departmental Master Planning regardless of his assignment. Bowers also taught personal development and other professional topics for the City of Burbank, Criminal Law for Glendale Community College, and “Law Enforcement Futures” for the Advanced POST class at California State University-Northridge. He received commendations from the California Peace Officers Association for co-authoring California model policies on “Conduct Review” and “Use of Force.” In addition to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, Chief Bowers is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, California POST Command College, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar.
Bowers retired for the first time in 2004, and then moved to Texas to become Chief of Police for the City of Lakeway in 2005. His tenure as Lakeway Police Chief brought significant changes, including reducing Officer and Dispatcher turnover by more than half, upgrading radios and safety equipment, and improving evaluation processes. He also negotiated an Inter-City Agreement for providing 911 and Dispatch service for a neighboring Police Department, and obtained the Department’s first-ever competitive grant, providing $83,000 for mobile data computers. He retired the second time in 2009.
Gordon is Past President of the International Association for Property and Evidence and has served continuously on their Board of Directors since 1997. For over 10 years he was editor of the IAPE quarterly professional journal: The Evidence Log. Several times a year he assists in instructing their 2-day Property & Evidence class for law enforcement agencies across the country, and last year Gordon’s first co-authored book was published (Property and Evidence – By the Book, 2nd Ed.). His 30+ publication credits include articles in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, The Police Chief, Journal of California Law Enforcement, The Evidence Log, and POST Pacesetter. Gordon recently studied Strategic Foresight at the University of Houston, and he has maintained Rotary membership for over 25 years.
Gordon is a Life Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a Charter Life Member of Police Futurists International. He is a member of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, and served as Vice-President of the Capital Area Law Enforcement Executives Association. Other memberships have been as varied as Mensa and the Greater Los Angeles Area Press Photographers Association. He holds a Texas TCLEOSE Master Police Officer Certificate, California POST Advanced and Management Certificates, and Advanced Law Enforcement Planner certification through the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners. Since 1987, “Bowers Consulting” has provided a resource in the areas of policy development, planning, and technical writing, and served as a partner on property and evidence management audits for numerous Police Departments.
“Real” teaching seemed a logical step, and 2011 saw the first of three consecutive semesters as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Austin Community College. Bowers taught courses in Criminal Law, Court Systems, and Introduction to Law Enforcement (his favorite), and was a nominee for ACC’s Teaching Excellence Award. He loved the experience, but family needs took priority, so the third retirement involved leaving ACC, and moving with his wife Susan back to Southern California to be near the vast majority of their family.
Gordon’s wife Susan partners in Bowers Consulting. She is an accomplished professional, with a Bachelor’s degree, a Non-profit Management Certificate, and successful career endeavors varying from international computer software manufacturing to Executive Director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. Her recognitions have included a Key to the City of Burbank, and Congressional Woman of the Year. Both Gordon and Susan are deeply involved in community activities and their local church. They have been married for 15 years, and collectively have six grown children (including one who came to them as a teenager), and seven grandchildren. July 2012 marked their transition from the Texas Hill Country with their two rescue Greyhounds to their exciting new life in San Marcos, California.
