2024 NSA SEMINAR SESSIONS

Tuesday, June 25th

I.G.N.I.T.E. in Idaho

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 201 | Jail Operations

Presentation on the benefits, challenges and lessons learned from the fourth largest jail facility in Idaho implementing the I.G.N.I.T.E. program.

PRESENTERS: Sheriff Samuel Hulse, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho, Lieutenant Brian Johnson, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho

Sheriff Samuel Hulse is the current Sheriff of Bonneville County.  He has worked for Bonneville County for the last 24 years and has 31 years of experience in the Law Enforcement profession.  Bonneville County is a full-service public safety agency with patrol, jail, civil, driver’s license and records functions as well as special operation teams that include S.W.A.T. Dive and Search and Rescue.     

Sheriff Hulse has experience in Patrol, Narcotics, Special Operations and as an Emergency Medical Technician.  In addition to leading the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Hulse currently serves on several local and State boards including Region VII Behavioral Health, the Behavioral Health Crisis Center of East Idaho, Region VII Crisis Intervention Team, DIGB6 (District 6 Emergency Communications Interoperable Governance Board), Behavioral Health Crisis Center of East Idaho Advisory Board, Idaho State Public Communication Commission and the Idaho Behavioral Health Council Advisory Board. In June of 2023, Sheriff Hulse was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Sheriff’s Association.  Sheriff Hulse and his wife Michelle have been married for 33 years. They have four sons, four granddaughters and one grandson. 

Brian Johnson has worked for the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for the past 25 years. He currently serves as the Lieutenant in our work release facility. He has been instrumental in the successful implementation of the I.G.N.I.T.E. program in our jail. He is also a facilitator of, “The Solution” addiction recovery program in our jail, which is part of our I.G.N.I.T.E. program.

Best Practices in Substance Use Disorder Programming in Jails

2:00pM – 3:00PM | Room 202

Despite the recent progress made in the field at expanding access to treatment and recovery supports in corrections, there is work to be done to enhance care for individuals suffering from substance use disorder during and after a period of incarceration. These efforts must occur upon intake at the facility, throughout their time while incarcerated, and during reentry.  The session will describe how correctional agencies have leveraged federal resources to implement programs designed to manage, treat, and support individuals with substance use disorders, highlighting specific elements of their programs, including withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment, and reentry supports using navigators and peers. During the presentation, panelists will share experiences related to hiring and retention of staff, partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, and the use of data to support programming.

PRESENTER: Kashif Siddiqi, Executive Director, Rulo Strategies, Lieutenant Jamie Russell, Corrections Technician, Corrections Deputy, Corrections Sergeant, and Corrections Lieutenant, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Melanie Menear, MHA, MSN, RN CCHP, HealthCare Services Administrative Manager, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Jail Division

Kashif Siddiqi is a Senior Director with Rulo Strategies. In his role, Kash supports the mission by overseeing the training and technical assistance (TTA) offered to local and regional jails, prisons, and community supervision agencies as part of the Comprehensive Opioid and Stimulant Substance Use Program (COSSUP). Additionally, Kash supports the field by overseeing the Jail-based Medication Assisted Treatment Mentor Site Initiative, peer-to-peer site exchanges, and a team of Technical Assistance Coordinators that provide TTA to COSSUP grantees and non-grantees. Kash has over ten years of experience working in corrections to implement and expand programming, research, fiscal oversight, and data analytics.

Before joining Rulo Strategies, Kash was the Director of Fiscal Operations at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts. He has completed a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, where he was selected to receive the George Lewis Ruffin Fellowship. Kash is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

Lieutenant Jamie Russell began her career with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in 1992. During her career Lieutenant Russell has served as a Corrections Technician, Corrections Deputy, Corrections Sergeant, and Corrections Lieutenant. As Corrections Sergeant, she received the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association “Supervisor of the Year” award. In 2003, she was promoted to her current rank of Corrections Lieutenant and assigned as the Jail Commander. Lieutenant Russell received the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) “Jail Commander of the Year” award in 2007. She also received the OSSA “President’s Special Recognition” award in 2010 and the “Meritorious Service” award in 2012. In June 2014 Lieutenant Russell graduated from the FBI National Academy.  Lieutenant Russell has over 2900 hours of training and has obtained Oregon Corrections Certifications through the Executive level. Lieutenant Russell has been married to her husband Zahn for 29 years, together they have two grown children, Ryan and Breanna along with a well-loved Boston Terrier – Ruby. 

Mrs. Menear is a registered nurse working with incarcerated adults at Clackamas County jail in Oregon City, OR. Her primary role oversees in-custody health care, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment programs provided through the contract health vendor. She is also responsible for compliance for national and state accreditation of the jail’s health services programs.  

Mrs. Menear started her journey in correctional health care working for NaphCare, Inc. from 2015-2021 where she helped develop and implement new protocols for opiate withdrawal, and introduced the use of buprenorphine for those with severe withdrawal symptoms.

Prior to 2015, she worked as an emergency room nurse manager, an emergency/trauma nurse, a cardiovascular-specialty hospital nurse, a pediatric ICU nurse and adult ICU nurse near Nashville Tennessee. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2005, Masters of Health Administration in 2015, and a Master’s of Science in Nursing in 2020. She is a certified correctional health professional.

In addition to her work for Clackamas County, Mrs. Menear works with other correctional facilities in Oregon who are looking to improve health care, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment for in-custody clients. Her work with substance abuse treatment in corrections has led to the development of the Clackamas County Jail-Based Substance Use Treatment program which is national recognized, and has played an integral part in helping to advance the care of in-custody clients with substance use disorder and medication assisted treatment.

Sharon Bean is the Jail Population Manager for the New Jersey Camden County Correctional Facility and the Supervisor of Camden County Justice System Reform and Innovations Unit. Since 2003 Sharon has worked with the state of NJ to reduce the unnecessary incarceration of both youth and adults. In her current role, Sharon works with Camden County criminal justice system and community-based stakeholders to safely reduce the adult jail population as well as oversees the creation, implementation, and monitoring of a continuum of policies, practices, and programs to benefit citizens returning home upon release from incarceration. Since 2016, Sharon has worked on behalf of the Camden County Department of Corrections to apply for, and receive, more than $7 million dollars in grant funding to help further the goal of ensuring individuals are better situated at the time of release, from incarceration, to remain free of future law enforcement contact. Sharon is the Project Administrator of the New Jersey Medication Assisted Treatment grant, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance and the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) reentry grants, and the COSSUP Building Bridges Planning Initiative to work with individuals returning home with a substance use disorder. In addition, following selection as a MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Innovation Site, Sharon has worked to establish a network of NuEntry Opportunity Specialists (NOS) with lived criminal justice experience to help bridge the many divides that exist between traditional system stakeholders and the community they strive to positively affect and impact. Sharon Bean has her Masters’s in Public Administration (2005) and Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University, Camden (2001).

Trials and Unrest – From Minneapolis and Beyond

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 203 | Case Study

Operation Safety Net was a multi-agency collaboration that was formed to plan for the trial of Derrick Chauvin. This presentation will address that planning and execution of the trial and preparations. During the Trial Officer Kim Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright kicking off mass violent protests in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis. We will address how we shifted resources from one venue that was prepared for a large-scale riot to another that had no preparations. We will outline how the preparations from the Chauvin Trial were able to be shifted to a new location and the issues that came to light with the transition.

We had partnerships that spanned the state from very small agencies to the use of the National Guard for select missions. When the mission shifted from a court trial to an active crime scene with thousands of protesters, the months of planning and tabletops proved to be invaluable for the mission shift. We conducted AARs with all personnel and had an external audit of our performance, this led to solidifying future planning and training groups.

We would like to share our process and lessons learned with as many agencies as possible so others can be ready if they are faced with a similar situation.

PRESENTERS: Major Shane Magnuson, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and Captain Mike Jerde, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office

On January 3, 2023, Sheriff Dawanna Witt appointed Shane Magnuson as the Major of the Public Safety and Services Bureau. In this role, Major Magnuson oversees HCSO’s Emergency Communications Division and the Enforcement Services Division (led by Captain Mike Jerde).

Major Magnuson came to the Sheriff’s Office in 1999 as a detention deputy. Prior to coming to the Sheriff’s Office, he spent 7 years in the US Army National Guard and worked for Hamilton County Jail in Cincinnati OH.

During Major Magnuson’s time as a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office he worked in Jail, Courts, and the Civil Unit. He was promoted to Crime Scene Technician where he processed crime scenes for 5 years. In 2008 he was promoted to Sgt. and oversaw the Crime Scene unit for the next 8 years. Major Magnuson spent 11 years in the Emergency Services Unit (SWAT), both as a team member and a team leader.

In 2018 Major Magnuson was promoted to Lieutenant where he worked as a Watch Commander at the Enforcement Services Division. After one year in that position, he was moved to Water Patrol as the Unit Commander for two years. In the spring of 2021, he was promoted to Captain and took over the Enforcement Services Division until his appointment to Major.

On January 29th, 2023, Sheriff Dawanna Witt promoted Mike Jerde to Captain of the Public Safety and Services Bureau – Enforcement Services Division.  In this role, Captain Jerde oversees HCSO’s Patrol and Water Patrol, Special Operations Unit, Transport Unit, Civil Unit, and Hospital Security Enforcement Unit.  This Division also has several other Units such as the Emergency Services Unit (HCSO Tactical Team), K9 Unit, WMD Team, Honor Guard, Extraditions, Dive and Sonar Team, and Volunteer Services Division.

Captain Jerde came to the Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a Detention Deputy.  During Captain Jerde’s time as a Deputy he worked in Jail, Courts, Training, and as a K9 handler in the Narcotics Unit.  He was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 and worked briefly at Court Security.  He was reassigned to the Patrol Division and shortly thereafter assigned to the Special Operations Unit full time. 

Captain Jerde has been a Team Members of the Emergency Services Unit since 2000 as a Deputy, Assistant Team Leader, Sergeant-Team Leader and Executive Officer, Lieutenant-Commander, and now as the Captain.  Captain Jerde was a full-time Sergeant and Lieutenant of the Special Operations Unit from 2012 – 2023 when he was promoted to Captain.

Strategies for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 204 | future of law enforcement

Preventing and interdicting child exploitation is extraordinarily difficult work. We face unprecedented and ever-evolving challenges to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. Child exploitation crimes and the threats facing children have been exploding in scale, complexity, and dangerousness with the rapid expansion of digital technology, and this will continue to grow in the future. The alarming state of the threat against children demands comprehensive, serious action. While law enforcement and other professionals have made significant progress protecting the most vulnerable in our society, there is more work to be done now and in the future to protect children from exploitation and hold perpetrators accountable.

This seminar will provide an overview of the growing and evolving sexual exploitation of children, and a call to action for Sheriffs as elected officials and community leaders to influence law enforcement partners, legislators and other elected officials, the technology industry, NGO, interagency and international partners, and others must get serious about the safety risks that modern technology poses to children.to yield the most meaningful long-term gains.

PRESENTER: Alfred Miller, Senior Program Manager, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Alfred “Fred” Miller served over 40 years in county law enforcement. During that time his assignments included crimes against children investigator; communications, patrol shift supervisor, training supervisor, accreditation manager, and command level assignments in all divisions as Public Safety Communications Director, Criminal Justice Training Academy Director and Deputy CID Commander overseeing Special Victims, Internet Crimes Against Children, Digital Forensics and Missing Children investigations. Fred retired from law enforcement in January 2019 and is the Senior Manager of Training Programs for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). He managed the 2021 revision of NCMEC’s Model Law-Enforcement Policy and Procedures for Reports of Missing and Abducted Children. Fred was co-chair of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) workgroup for the 2022 revision of the APCO ANSI Standard for Public Safety Telecommunicators When Responding to Calls of Missing, Abducted and Sexually Exploited Children and member of the workgroup for the 2022 revision of the IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center Model Policy on Missing Persons. He serves on the IACP Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Committee, and currently is a member of the workgroup revising the IACP Model Policy on Missing Children. His professional active memberships include the National Sheriffs Association, IACP, APCO and the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). Since 1996, Fred has served as a contracted Assessment Team leader for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Managing multiagency investigations

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 205 AB | Case study

Based on the DC Sniper case from October 2002 that transfixed the nation one year after 9-11, this presentation reviews the investigative techniques used to track down John Muhamad and Lee Boyd Malvo which navigating the difficulties of managing numerous jurisdictional challenges and innumerable stakeholders who were overwhelmed by the level of violence. From integrating thousands of tips to organizing various local, state and federal investigators and associated staff this presentation explains how this was all done to reach its successful conclusion.

PRESENTERS: Mitch Cunningham, Chief Law Enforcement Advisor, National Sheriffs’ Association

Deputy Chief Mitch Cunningham (ret.) has been a police officer for 38 years, most recently as Deputy Chief for the Wilmington North Carolina Police Department, retiring in 2019 and remaining as an auxiliary officer. Prior to that he was a police officer for the Montgomery County Department of Police, in Maryland, from 1985-2012. There he started a number of crime fighting initiatives including the first Career Criminal Unit, the first regional auto theft team and started the regional data sharing system NCR LInX, in the National Capitol Region which connects hundreds of police agencies, leading to countless arrests and supporting anti-terrorism efforts in the wake of 9-11.

After being selected as Deputy Chief for the Wilmington (North Carolina) Police Department in 2012, he launched a number of successful efforts to drive down gang violence plaguing the city. He also started the agency’s first Peer Support team, created a college scholarship fundraiser -Send a Cop to College- to assist with the professionalization of its future leaders and other leadership efforts. Wilmington North Carolina was designated as hte city with the worst problem regarding opioids and so he implemented a number of initiatives to address this including being the second program in North Carolina that outfitted WPD officers with naloxone. He also began the LEAD program, a pre-arrest diversion program that brought public safety and public health officials to work together to reduce the impacts of opioids. He also was a founder of the Quick Response Team that ensured those who overdosed received care within 72 hours. He was selected to serve on the NC Attorney General’s Task Force on Opioids.

He is a certified training instructor who worked as a law enforcement training coordinator for Cape Fear Community College as well as teaching for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Louisiana State University. He is currently the Chief Law Enforcement Advisor for the National Sheriffs Association. In this role he has provided technical support for clients all around the country seeking to reduce the impact of opioids in their communities. He also serves as an advisory board member for PTACC, a police and treatment community consortium as well as written articles and reported on innovations in law enforcement which assist in successful opioid response strategies.

He was previously a member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the National Capitol Region and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board for Soaring as Eagles a community outreach non-profit serving families of Title 1 schools.

Accountability/Conflict Resolution

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 206 AB | leadership

Addressing issues while still keeping their people focused and motivated. Seminar attendees will learn how to enable their staff to solve conflicts and issues and still maintain solid relationships. Attendees will learn why accountability within the work environment is so important to the overall success of agency.

PRESENTERS: Paul Laney, President/CEO, PDL Connect Consulting, LLC., and Mary Phillippi, President/CFO, PDL Connect Consulting, LLC.

Paul D. Laney served as Sheriff in Cass County, ND from 2007-2018. He worked for the Fargo Police Department from 1989-2007. He is a Marine Corps veteran. Sheriff Laney is co-owner/CEO of PDL Connect Consulting LLC., He consults for several organizations as well as instructs for the National Staff and Command College and the National Sheriff’s Association.

Sheriff Laney has over 2,000 hours of law enforcement training in his career. Sheriff Laney is a graduate of Class 137 of the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) and graduated from the FBI National Academy (FBINA) Class 255 in 2014. He has taught courses for Rasmussen College and the University of Mary.

Sheriff Laney has served on the Board of Directors for the Dakota Territory Sheriff’s Association and has served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Sheriff’s and Deputies Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACo) and the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Cass Clay. Sheriff Laney served on the Board of Directors for the National Sheriff’s Association for 6 years and still serves on three national committees, the Drug Enforcement Committee, the Awards Committee and the Homeland Security Committee for the National Sheriff’s Association. Sheriff Laney hosted a weekly radio show called Law Talk with Sheriff Laney on KFGO Radio from 2010-2012. Sheriff Laney was named the E911 Institutes “Government Leader of the Year” for 2011 and was the National Sheriff’s Association’s 2012 Ferris E. Lucas “National Sheriff of the Year.” On August 13, 2015 during the North Dakota Peace Officers Association Annual Conference, Sheriff Laney was presented the Lone Eagle Award in recognition of his, “Outstanding and Dedicated Law Enforcement in the State of North Dakota.” He was also presented the National Sheriff’s Associations 2017 “President’s Award” for his leadership and service during the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests.

Mary Phillippi is the retired Director of the Red River Regional Dispatch Center (RRRDC) located in the heart of the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. This consolidated Center has been recognized as the first of its kind as it serves Public Safety agencies in two separate states. The Center, which began in 2002, employs fifty full-time employees and serves fifty-seven Public Safety agencies in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Ms. Phillippi has nearly 36 years of Public Safety Communications experience. She started her career in Moorhead/Clay County, MN in 1988 as a Communications Operator. In 2002, when the Fargo/Cass, ND and Moorhead/Clay, MN dispatch centers consolidated she was promoted to Shift Supervisor. She was promoted to Assistant Director in 2010. Ms. Phillippi served as Director from April 2015-January 1st , 2024.

Ms. Phillippi is a member of the Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and National Emergency Number Associations (NENA). She received the ND Chapter of APCO Supervisor/Manager of the year in 2004 for her exceptional leadership and professionalism in contributing to public safety in North Dakota. She received the designation of Emergency Number Professional (ENP) from the National Emergency Number Association. Ms. Phillippi holds a Bachelor of University Studies with a Management Concentration from the University of Mary, Fargo. Ms. Phillippi is the co[1]owner/CFO of PDL Connect Consulting, L.L.C.

Officer Wellness from Pre-Employment through Retirement

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 207 AB | Officer wellness

The hiring pool for public safety has changed drastically while the stress of working in public safety has increased significantly over the past several years. It is critical to consider officer wellness even before the very first day of work with the agency. Partnering with a police and public safety psychologist can improve your hiring process to ensure that you screen out people who inherently have poor stress tolerance and coping skills or who are just not suited for work in emergency services. Making mental health a more salient component of overall wellness throughout the deputy/officer’s career is critical for retention, particularly with the newer generation of officers. This presentation will allow for a discussion about culture change, how to focus on psychological health from the pre-employment evaluation phase to developing wellness programming, and how to appropriately use the psychological fitness for duty process to enhance psychological well-being and increase retention.

PRESENTER: Dr. Heather McElroy, Board Certified Police and Public Safety Psychologist, Psychological Dimensions/SMA

Dr. Heather McElroy is a managing partner of Stone, McElroy, and Associates and Psychological Dimensions.  She is a board-certified police and public safety psychologist and has been a certified police officer since 2011 where she previously served as a member of the Hostage Negotiation Team. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. She has written articles for the Police Chief Magazine and regularly presents at professional meetings including the FBI-NAA National and state chapter meetings, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, National Internal Affairs Investigator’s Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Dr. McElroy currently oversees the evaluation process for over 300 government entities and private organizations.

Voting for incarcerated persons

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 201 | jail operations

For most states across the country, voting from jail is a constitutional right that has not been lost because of their jail status. Empowering jailed residents to vote is a topic that involves legal, ethical, and practical considerations. The valid reasons why jailed populations should vote is detailed in this outline.

PRESENTERS: Sheriff Richard Fuller, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, and Percy Glover, IGNITE Manager, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, MI.

Sheriff Richard C. Fuller III is a 35-year veteran of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office and has performed duties in many roles for the Sheriff’s Office.  His Emergency Services Career has spanned nearly 38 years with his work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Part-time Paid Firefighter, Police Dispatcher, and Reserve Officer with the City of Marshall.  He also worked for the Village of Homer Michigan as a police officer.  Prior to his 2008 Election to the Office of Sheriff, he filled the following Rolls with the Sheriff’s Office, Jail Deputy, Dispatch Deputy, Operations Division Deputy, Jail Sergeant, Temporary Detective, and Operations Division Sergeant.  As Sergeant he oversaw supervising different shifts of staff in the Jail and the Operations Division, the Meth Response Team, A Child is Missing Program, Field Training (FTO), Field Training Supervisor, and Project Life Saver.

Throughout his career with the Sheriff’s Office, he has received service medals for Meritorious Service and Staff Services Awards.  Sheriff Fuller serves on many boards, within Kalamazoo County: Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program (KPEP), Office of Community Corrections (Vice Chair), Metro Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Michigan Sheriff’s Coordinating & Training Council (MSCTC), Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (KCCDA) Clerk, Michigan Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust (ALPACT) Vice Chair, Fight Crime Invest in Kids member. Boards he has served on include Gryphon Place (President), Kalamazoo Downtown Lions Club (President), Prevention Works (Chair), Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (MPRI), and American Red Cross Kalamazoo Chapter Board Member. Richard is a current Silver Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 

Sheriff Fuller graduated from Kellogg Community College (KCC) with an associate in law enforcement and from Spring Arbor University with a bachelor’s degree in the science of organizational management.  He attended the Northwest University Command and Staff School, the Michigan Sheriff’s Office Academy in 2008, the National Sheriff’s Institute in 2009, the Bureau of Justice National Institute of Jail Administrators, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development program in 2019.

Richard serves on the Michigan Sheriff’s Association Executive Leadership board as the 2023 Vice President, soon to be the 2024 President. He is married with two adult children.  The Sheriff has proudly served the Kalamazoo community and has achieved three re-elections to his position since winning his first election in 2008.

Percy Glover is a national speaker, advocate, and educator in a new movement in jail, prison, and criminal justice reforms. As Co-Executive Director of Community Engagement at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office (GSCO) and as a recent contractor for the National Sheriff’s Association; Percy has made it his life mission to help people return to the community successfully after jail and prison. His work with GSCO and I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Naturally & Intentionally Through Education) not only bridges the gap between the community and law enforcement, but also raises the standard for jail reform.

After spending slightly more than a decade as a prisoner in the Michigan prison system, Percy underwent a personal transformation that has transitioned well into his professional life. The personal and lived experience with arrest, jail, prison, and parole provides an expertise that is uncommon. This personal understanding provides the proficiency to excel but for Percy, it has also aided in addressing the breaks in processes while also providing the ability to implement change when traditional approaches were failing systemically.

Percy’s dedication to his community has impacted Flint and Genesee County residents, but also the local, state, and national organizations he’s extended his know-how and support: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, The Sentencing Project,  Black Voters Matter Fund, Genesee County Community Corrections, Taylor Made Re-Entry, H.E.A.L. (Helping Eradicate Adverse Law-Enforcing), Offender Success, When We All Vote, Genesee County Prosecutors Office, Nation Outside, Michigan Liberation, VAAC (Voting Access for All), League of Women Voters, New Paths, Project E.V.O.L.V.E., My Brother’s Keeper, YouthBuild, Project Safe Neighborhoods, The Boys and Girls Club, as well as many of the local churches. Percy is a member of the Big Brothers & Big Sisters Mentoring Taskforce, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; and the author of the 2020 published self-reflective collection of poems that were created while in prison, titled Concrete Lies & Abstract Truths. Percy is also the President and Founder of F.A.I.R. Voting Alliance that became a partner for the second year in a row for Paramount MTV’s National Mental Health Awareness Action Day 2024. Percy has also led jail voting at the Genesee County Jail for the past 13 straight elections, when most jails across the country don’t have a voting process in place for pretrial and non-sentenced detainees.

After leaving prison with a General Equivalency Degree, Percy has since earned an Associate of Applied Science from Mott Community College as a Social Work Technician, a Bachelor of Arts in Relational Communication, with a minor in Substance Abuse from the University of Michigan-Flint, and a Master of Science Administration in Leadership from Central Michigan University. While being very proud of his educational and professional accomplishments, Percy says often “my worst experiences have been my best experiences to educate and service the community”.

Managing Risk in a Video World

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 202 | leadership

Video recordings are everywhere. Whether it’s a body-worn camera (BWC), cell phone camera, in-car camera, bus camera, traffic camera – you name it – cameras and their footage are both and asset and a liability. Both the media and the public use video recordings as irrevocable “truth” when both interpreting and subsequently discussing incidents involving your public employees. Plus, the ubiquity of video capturing devices ensures this will not change and perhaps become more prevalent. As risk managers, leaders have an imperative to both understand and manage video evidence in order to answer this critical question: Is the presence of a video the best evidence of what happened? Law enforcement administrators need to understand the answer will vary from case to case and how to evaluate both the perspective of the camera and the nature of the video itself. This presentation will provide an overview of the use of video in two contexts: understanding an incident that has already occurred and determining root causational factors and using video for training and evaluation of current policies and procedures.

PRESENTER: Chief (ret.) Michael Ranalli, Lexipol

Michael D. Ranalli, JD, retired as Chief of the Glenville, New York, Police Department after having served in that capacity from June 2006 until June 2016. Chief Ranalli began his career in 1984 with the Colonie, New York, Police Department and held the ranks of patrol officer, sergeant, detective sergeant and lieutenant. He was also a member of the Colonie Special Services Team (tactical team) for 12 years, the last two serving as the tactical commander. In May 2016 he was appointed Program Manager II for Lexipol, LLC.

Chief Ranalli is a frequent presenter and author on various legal issues including search and seizure, use of force, legal aspects of interrogations and confessions, wrongful convictions, supervision and leadership and civil liability. He is author of Search and Seizure Law of NYS: Street Encounters 4th Edition, published by Blue360. He is also the editor of Civil Liabilities of New York State Law Enforcement Officers, 4th Edition, by the same publisher. He is a consultant/instructor on police legal issues to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and has taught officers around New York State for the last 17 years in that capacity.

Chief Ranalli is a past president of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police (NYSACOP) and writes the Counsel’s Corner column for the NYSACOP periodical The Chiefs Chronicle. He is a former member of the IACP Professional Standards, Image & Ethics Committee, and the former Chairman of the New York State Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Council. He is also a graduate of the 2009 F.B.I.-Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and is a Certified Force Science Specialist.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the State University of New York, Utica/Rome and a Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Federal Bar (Northern District of New York).

Understanding the Threat Landscape: Terrorism, Trends, and Tactics

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 203 | Case Study

The Critical Protective Analysis Group (CPAG) was created in 2002 following the 9/11 attacks to address a need for specialized and detailed analysis of the evolving threat landscape. CPAG develops a comprehensive understanding of terrorism events by visiting the sites of significant domestic and international attacks, reviewing CCTV footage, and engaging first responders, investigators, and victims in collaborative dialogue. By utilizing these procedures, the team generates event profiles and key concepts beyond the cursory view offered to public audiences. CPAG brings these unique perspectives to partners in the public and private arenas, effectively strengthening community preparedness and resilience, and the larger counterterrorism mission.

Rehabilitation in Corrections

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 204 | Future of law enforcement

A discussion/plan on the reduction of recidivism through rehabilitation. We have partnered with our local community college to bring over fifty education courses available to our inmates: including, degrees in horticulture, welding, small engine repair and CDL programs. The horticulture program yields thousands of pounds of food to our local food pantries throughout the year. Our inmates have the opportunity to have a degree upon their release an obtain gainful employment. We have had inmates sending us letter about their first home purchase for their family because of the skills we have taught them. We also have a tattoo artist at the jail to cover up any gang or human trafficking tattoo’s which also therapeutically helps eliminate certain triggers and PTSD. Our programs have been nationally recognized for the results we are seeing, and we are very proud of it!

PRESENTER: Sheriff James Mendrick, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, IL, Michael Beary, Executive Director, JUST of Dupage County Sheriff’s Office, IL

Sheriff Mendrick is a longtime resident of DuPage County and has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office for 26 years working in varying capacities including Deputy, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major, Administrative Chief, K-9 Commander, and Field Training Officer.

He was elected Sheriff of DuPage County in 2018. Since his election, he has been instrumental of the implementation of numerous programs to benefit and improve the lives of the citizens of DuPage County. The Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigation Team (MERIT) was formed as a collaboration of specialized resources, expertise, and manpower. Sheriff Mendrick was instrumental in the premise and partnership with 36 law enforcement agencies. He also made the canine unit a priority doubling the number of highly trained canines and their skilled handlers to track people, find drugs, locate human remains, and detect explosives. He coordinated with many community partners to distribute thousands of meals to many of DuPage County’s older adults.

In the Correctional Facility he increased rehabilitation services to current detainees, including a Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Medicated Assisted Recovery (MAR) program for those struggling with addictions. Many vocational training programs were implemented that would help prepare incarcerated individuals for successful employment upon release. These programs not only provided knowledge and skill building for those enrolled in the programs, but it also saved money in contractual services. Sheriff Mendrick has made safety and security of the Correctional Facility a priority but installing a new body scanner and is constantly investigating new technology to help eliminate any concealed contraband or weapons entering the secured facilities.

Sheriff Mendrick’s priority is to reduce crime in DuPage County by proactive policing and community involvement. He also hopes to continue to implement programs in the Correctional Facility that will provide education and skill building for individuals while incarcerated to help decrease recidivism.

Can a Physical Environment Contribute to the Risk of Litigation

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 205 AB | legal affairs

Attendees will learn about potential solutions for compliance to ADA requirements, ligature-resistant fixtures and accessories, along with ever-evolving best practices and trends. With overcrowding, deteriorating conditions and staffing shortages plaguing facilities across the country, Katie and Cassey will discuss architectural design strategies and technologies that can be implemented in existing or new facilities to help reduce the number of staff required and how design of the spaces can help with staff retention.

PRESENTERS: Katie Vondrasek, Associate; Senior Project Architect, Dewberry, and Cassandra Franco, Senior Architect, Dewberry

Katie Vondrasek has 12 years of experience focused on building client relationships while delivering detail-oriented designs built upon an organized approach yielding successful results.  Her diverse professional work experience became the foundation for her success as an architect of numerous award-winning public safety facilities including shared facilities between multiple departments and government agencies.  Katie graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Master of Architecture degree.  She utilizes BIM design tools that connect clients to their projects while serving as a trusted advisor throughout the entire design and construction of public safety facility projects. Katie is a regular presenter for the International Association of Chiefs of Police Planning, Design, and Construction of Police Facilities Course and she has presented several times at the Oklahoma Public Safety Conference.  She recently completed the Tulsa Citizens Police Academy and is a regular volunteer with the Tulsa SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Enterprise) Group.

Cassey Franco has more than 30 years of professional architecture experience focused on national projects for health and wellness. Her collaborative approach to each project brings successful outcomes. She deeply understands working with clients to set goals, develop programs that satisfy stakeholders’ needs, and comply with the complex codes required by agencies with jurisdiction.  Cassey’s career path from technician to architect gave her a unique perspective on each project. She works to combine functionality, constructability, and aesthetics with a passion for working with clients to create spaces that meet their needs with a practical approach to design. Cassey’s most recent contribution to behavioral health design includes co-authoring the article “Updating Mental or Behavioral Health Language and Design to a Modern Healthcare Approach,” which appeared in Behavioral Health News in the Fall of 2022, and she presented “Correctional Design for Operational Efficiency & Integrating Correctional Healthcare” at the Oklahoma Correctional Conference in 2021. 

Ethical Decision-Making: 10 Steps for Better Outcomes

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 206 AB | leadership

How do your personnel make decisions? Have you provided them with a systematic approach or is decision-making in your organization dependent on who is making the decision and when they’re making it? Hastily made or poorly thought-out decisions can have dramatic and permanent consequences. And this is never more true than with decisions that have an ethical component to them.

Many law enforcement personnel have never been taught how to make a decision and what needs to be considered in the decision-making process. In this presentation, Gordon Graham will present a 10-step process to help personnel make better, ethically sound decisions. Attendees will learn how to evaluate situations to factor time, organizational policy, past practice, individual skillset and more – then act appropriately to address the issue.

PRESENTER: Gordon Graham, Co-Founder, Lexipol and Risk Management Expert

Reponding to and Investigating Bomb Threats and Swatting Hoaxes

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 207 AB | Public safety

This one-hour training provides attendees an overview of the realities of bomb threats and swatting hoaxes and includes a detailed review of statistics and current trends seen across the country. The training will also cover the characteristics of hoax calls, law enforcement best practices for assessment and response, and the decision-making process for evacuation or sheltering in place.

PRESENTER: Brian LeBlanc, SSA, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston

​Brian LeBlanc is a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) in the Boston Office of the FBI, where he supervises the Domestic Terrorism and Threat Response Squad of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.  Since joining the FBI in 2007, SSA LeBlanc has specialized in complex counterterrorism investigations, as well as in the mitigation of terrorism threats as a WMD specialist and bomb technician. SSA LeBlanc has led counterterrorism investigations domestically and internationally throughout South America, the Caribbean and Africa. SSA LeBlanc has also served as the FBI counterterrorism specialist assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOC) in Afghanistan as well as a long-term assignment to the FBI Legal Attaché Office at the U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya.

Prior to joining the FBI, SSA LeBlanc served seven years as a municipal police officer and six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant.

SSA LeBlanc holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts and a Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.

Reducing Jail Suicides: 7 Key Issues We Don’t Talk About, But Should

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Room 201 | jail operations

Despite the use of multiple strategies to screen, assess, monitor, house, and safely clothe suicidal individuals, suicide remains the leading cause of death in jails. Most jails need to tweak current suicide prevention strategies to truly reduce the number of in-custody suicide deaths, as well as avoid suicide-related lawsuits. This high-energy and interactive session focuses on 7 key issues all jails should consider modifying to strengthen their suicide prevention programs. Practical material with photos, real-world examples, and lessons learned from jail suicide litigation.

PRESENTER: Lisa Boesky, National Jail Suicide Expert, Jail Suicide Experts Services

Dr. Lisa Boesky is a Jail Suicide Expert and Psychologist who has consulted on suicide and mental health/suicide in corrections for over 25 years. She has provided high-energy, engaging, and content-filled trainings and conference presentations on suicide prevention to correctional professionals for over two decades. She serves as an opinion source for national media including USA Today, CNN, Fox News, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, among others. Dr. Lisa is an experienced expert witness and forensic consultant who works on lawsuits related to incarcerated individuals who kill themselves in jail. Find out more at JailSuicideExpert.com.

Understanding the X, Y and Z of the Booming Intergenerational Divide in Law Enforcement

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Room 202 | recruitment, retention, & training

PRESENTER: Jillian Snider, Policy Director, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute; Ret. NYPD, and Dr. Christi M. Smith, Resident Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street

Jillian Snider leads R Street’s criminal justice and civil liberties team and produces research and commentary on public policy related to all stages of the criminal justice system: policing, pretrial policy, sentencing, incarceration, juvenile justice and reentry. In addition, Snider is a retired New York Police Department police officer and currently serves as an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College, where she teaches in the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration. She received a master’s degree in criminal justice with dual specializations in police administration and criminology and graduated with distinction from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She also earned a MPA with a concentration in ethical leadership from Marist College and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.  Snider has appeared as a subject matter expert in a variety of national media outlets including CNN, MSNBC, NBC News and NewsNation, been quoted in stories featured in the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News Digital, Vox, and Newsday and her work has been published in outlets across the country. Additionally, she has been invited to testify as an expert before the U.S. Congress on several criminal justice issues and regularly presents at academic and large-scale law enforcement conferences including the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, American Society of Criminology, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and National Sheriffs’ Association. 

Dr. Christi M. Smith analyzes and presents objective policy solutions through publications on criminal justice issues including overcriminalization; parole and probation; community supervision; and reentry and reintegration. Prior to R Street, Smith enjoyed dual careers in academia and in community supervision, spanning two decades. She served as the interim department chair, academic graduate program director and assistant professor of criminal justice studies at Delaware Valley University. Additionally, her practitioner experience includes working as an adult probation and parole officer, specializing as a domestic violence investigator, forensic mental health specialist, drug court officer and interstate compact officer in the suburban Philadelphia area. She is an executive committee member on the Bucks County, PA Reentry Coalition and the HEAL PA Criminal Justice Reform Action Team. She received a doctorate in public safety with a specialization in criminal justice from Capella University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from  West Chester University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Delaware Valley College. Smith’s activities at R Street include: producing educational pieces and presenting at local, national and international professional conferences on clean slate record-sealing, reducing jail populations, trauma-informed probation, parole and reentry, cannabis legalization, debt-based license suspensions and effective community supervision strategies. Professional membership organizations, conferences and presentations include but are not limited to the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the American Society of Criminology, the National Sheriff’s Association, the American Probation and Parole Association, the National Association of Reentry Professionals, the Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Case Study Human trafficking

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Room 203 | case study 

The investigative steps on the arrest of Michael Lundy. How the case was put together, and the undercover operation that led to his arrest. How to use available resources to conduct these investigations. And the mental health resources to help with the trauma of human trafficking.

PRESENTER: Major Adam Flowers, Canadian County Sheriff’s Office

Major Adam Flowers has been employed with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office since 2011. Major Flowers has 16 years of law enforcement experience and follows a long line of law enforcement officers starting with his father, Jerry Flowers retired Oklahoma City Police and his uncle Dennis Flowers retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Major Flowers founded the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office with the mission to pursue child predators who use the Internet to target children. Major Flowers’s unit with the help of Law Enforcement across the nation, has been successful in detecting and bringing to justice hundreds child predators. This unit operates today constantly detecting and bringing to justice child predators on the internet. Major Flowers also founded the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office computer forensic program in 2012 to analyze digital evidence used to commit crimes.

Major Flowers currently hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Business Administration with a minor in Management Information Systems, a MBA from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and holds multiple certifications in computer forensics and Internet Crimes Against Children investigations. Major Flowers has received the Executive Director’s Award from Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association for the arrests of Internet Predators, Letter of Commendation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives regarding child predator investigations, OSBI’s Director’s Award for Law Enforcement and a Commendation Award from the Oklahoma Sheriff’s and Peace Officers for his work in the Internet Crimes Against Children investigations.

Grievance: Why Attackers Commit Mass Violence

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 204 | future of law enforcement

Mass violence is a major public health issue. Targets include schools, entertainment venues, public spaces, and workplaces. Victims range from students, teachers, concertgoers, and bar patrons to government employees. It may initially seem spontaneous and random, but mass violence is purposeful, planned, and predatory. Most attackers plan mass violence for days, weeks, months or even years, and they follow a discernable trajectory toward violence called the Pathway to Violence.

This presentation will summarize the steps on the Pathway to Violence and focus on the first step, grievance, to explain why attackers ultimately commit mass violence. The seminar will continue by reviewing research related to the grievance phase of the Pathway to Violence and presenting case examples where attackers’ grievances have been identified.

PRESENTER: Erin Langill, Instructor, Counterterrorism Division, FLETC

In 2007, Erin Langill began her career in federal law enforcement with the United States Secret Service (USSS) Uniformed Division, assigned to the White House Branch. She then served as a Senior Protective Intelligence Research Specialist assigned to the USSS Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division at USSS Headquarters in Washington, DC, completing rotations on the Internet Threat Unit and the Threat Assessment Desk. She served as a civilian special agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) at the Coast Guard Academy. Langill is currently an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Glynco, GA, where she has been teaching in the Behavioral Science Division since 2018, and the Counterterrorism Division since 2021. She is also currently a Reserve Special Agent for the Coast Guard Investigative Service at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, where she specializes in family and sexual violence investigations. Langill holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with an undergraduate certificate in Homeland Defense (Curry College), a Master of Public Administration in Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (George Mason University), and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with graduate certificates in Forensic Criminology and Victim Studies (University of Massachusetts).

The Science of Officer Wellness: Evidence-Based Tips for Leadership, Peer Support, and Families

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 205 AB | officer wellness

Evidence-based recommendations for strengthening law enforcement wellness are translated into powerful action steps during this dynamic presentation. Attendees will be provided with clear, practical tips for strengthening behavioral health, mental health, physical health, resilience, and overall wellness. Condensing scientific research into clear, evidence-based action plans, this workshop is focused on providing law enforcement, and those who support law enforcement, with contemporary and emerging insights, along with clear action roadmaps, to strengthen officer wellness. Attendees will take away tips on behavioral health, family support, leadership health strategies, the next generation of peer support, trauma, and suicide prevention.

PRESENTER: Dr. Jaime Brower, VP Peer Support and Clinician Training & Certification, Lexipol

Dr. Brower is currently the Vice President of Peer Support and Clinician Training and Certification with Lexipol. She is the Founder of the National Emergency Responder and Public Safety Center™ (NERPSC) and the Founder/Owner of Brower Psychological Services in Denver, Colorado, supporting over 150 agencies nationally at local, state, and federal levels. 

Dr. Brower has devoted herself to serving public safety personnel and their loved ones for more than 20 years. The breadth of her professional experience includes work with law enforcement, fire, corrections/detentions, EMS, dispatch, victim advocates, military, probation/parole, and other associated professionals, as well as those working in extreme environments like Antarctica. Dr. Brower has personal ties to this population with her father and grandfather’s all proudly serving in the military and her husband, who served in law enforcement for over 38 years. She understands the unique demands and challenges that public safety, military personnel, and their families face while serving their communities and countries.

Dr. Brower has held numerous positions with various professional organizations and is American Board Certified in Police & Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP), currently serving on the ABPPSP Board, as President-elect and the National Chair of Examinations.

Leading an Agency Through Loss

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 206 AB | leadership

When a death occurs in an agency, all eyes are on the Sheriff to lead the agency and the family through the tragedy. This is easily the most challenging thing any Sheriff could face. There are many moving pieces of the response. This training will provide a high-level overview of what every Sheriff and command officer needs to know from an administrator’s perspective about supporting the family & their agency. The session will also talk about the self-care needed for the commanders following this challenging event.

PRESENTER: Dianne Bernhard, Executive Director, Concerns of Police Survivors

Dianne Bernhard, Executive Director of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), retired after 23 years from the Columbia (MO) Police Department as their Deputy Chief of Police. Dianne is most proud of her work as a patrol officer, creating a camp for kids, a Crisis Intervention Team, a leadership academy, and reconstructing and managing a $19 million budget. Dianne was also a devoted member of the Columbia Police Mounted Team. Dianne was first introduced to C.O.P.S. in 2005 when her co-worker and friend, Officer Molly Thomas-Bowden, was shot and killed on a traffic stop. Dianne says, “Witnessing the extreme grief in Molly’s family and seeing C.O.P.S. embrace her family and healing and hope emerging, I became a believer in the power of the blue family.” Dianne is proud to honor Molly while serving all of America’s surviving family members and co-workers by ensuring the C.O.P.S. organization continues to be there for fallen officer’s families and co-workers, for as long as they are needed.

John “Blu” Blumenthal brings over two decades of dedicated service from the Oklahoma City Police Department to his role as Chief Operating Officer at the Warriors Rest Foundation. Blu’s extensive career in law enforcement spans 24.5 years, during which he served in various capacities including Patrol, IMPACT (undercover drug unit), Motors Division, training center, and the Wellness Unit. His tenure saw him navigating multiple critical incidents, offering him invaluable experience in crisis management and resilience building.

Blu’s commitment to his profession and his community is underscored by the tragic losses he has experienced firsthand. His partner, Officer Jeff Rominger, lost his life in the line of duty in 2000, alongside Trooper Matt Evens of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Subsequently, Blu was present during the line-of-duty death of Sgt. Jonathan Dragus in 2005 and the tragic incident involving Recruit Officer Kelley Chase during training in 2012. These experiences have deeply shaped Blu’s understanding of trauma and the importance of mental health support for law enforcement personnel.

His journey towards healing and growth led him to engage in peer support initiatives starting in 2005, culminating in his certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) through ICISF. Blu’s expertise extends to addressing cumulative trauma and fostering resiliency among officers, drawing from personal challenges like job termination, family issues, and work-related incidents. Through seeking and utilizing available resources, Blu transformed his own life, emerging as a beacon of hope and resilience for his colleagues and their families.

Blu finds fulfillment in sharing his story and insights, providing guidance and support to fellow officers and their loved ones as they navigate the aftermath of traumatic events. His dedication to promoting mental well-being and his firsthand experience in overcoming adversity make him a valuable asset to the Warriors Rest Foundation, where he now serves as the Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Blu continues his mission of supporting law enforcement professionals and fostering a culture of resilience within the community.

Faster Decision Making and Safer Outcomes With Drone Video Collaboration

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 207 AB | law enforcement tech

Drones are indispensable tools in law enforcement, search and rescue, and disaster response due to their ability to provide aerial perspectives, monitor large crowds, and assess emergency situations from above. The ability to share information quickly and securely across multiple agencies is instrumental in bringing agencies together, significantly enhances decision support, and improves response.

Seamless video sharing and communication across different organizations ensures critical information is in the hands of those who need it most, exactly when they need it. Through practical examples, technical insights, and strategic considerations, attendees will learn from their peers how to foster a more connected, effective, and collaborative response effort.

PRESENTER: Chrissie Coon, Chief Strategy Officer, Mutualink Inc.

Chrissie Coon, Chief Strategy Officer at Mutualink, where she brings a unique blend of real-world law enforcement experience and a deep understanding of technology’s critical role in operational emergency response and public safety.

Chrissie began her career as a commissioned law enforcement officer more than 22 years ago in Las Vegas, NV, where she developed a profound appreciation for the challenges and complexities of public safety operations. Her career in law enforcement, characterized by leadership roles, technology innovation, and special projects, laid a strong foundation for her transition into the technology sector, specifically focusing on solutions that address communication and interoperability challenges in emergency response scenarios.

At Mutualink, Chrissie leverages her extensive background to drive strategic initiatives that enhance collaboration and situational awareness among law enforcement agencies and technology innovators. Her thought leadership and insights into the operational application of technology in law enforcement have made her a sought-after speaker and advisor on public safety technology strategies. Through her work, Chrissie Coon continues to make a significant impact on the field of public safety technology, ensuring that law enforcement agencies are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century.