2024 NSA SEMINAR SESSIONS

wednesday, June 26th

Beyond the Buzz: The Questions You Must Ask When Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Tools

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 201 | law enforcement tech

As the landscape of AI continues to evolve, law enforcement agencies face the crucial task of discerning between the diverse offerings from vendors. Join this dynamic panel discussion and delve into the intricacies of AI and real-world case studies with leading experts from the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, Amazon Web Services, and Utility. Learn about the AI models shaping modern policing strategies and how these technologies can enhance law enforcement efforts. Most importantly, understand the “tough” questions you must ask when evaluating AI solutions. This session is the opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate AI in law enforcement, ensuring that the technology advances the profession while upholding integrity, accountability, and effectiveness.

PRESENTERS: Jamie Roush, Information Technology Division Lead, Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, Doug Gartner, Principal Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services, Simon Araya, Chief Technology Officer, Utility, and John Boyd, Manager of Law Enforcement Relations, Utility

Jamie L. Roush leads the Information Technology Division of the Alpharetta (GA) Department of Public Safety. Jamie is also the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CRH Analysis Consulting, Inc., an organization devoted to assessing, planning, implementing, and training on technology, data, analysis, and the use of analysis in operational decision making in criminal justice agencies.  She has over 20 years of collective law enforcement experience including a ten-plus year career with the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office commencing as the Crime Analysis Unit Administrator where she commanded a unit of 20 public safety/crime analysts and supervisors.  She is a consultant for organizations such as the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and their projects domestically and internationally to enhance the field of policing.  Jamie is a frequent speaker and author on technical data development and expansion, crime and intelligence analysis, data-driven policing strategies, translating research to practice, and evidence-based policing.  She is a member of the George Mason University Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame for her commitment to using research and data analysis to improve police operations while in Jacksonville.  She is an associate member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a member of the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), and a member of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing (ASEBP).  Jamie holds a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Florida State University.

Doug Gartner assists strategic government technology customers with technical guidance and regarding their application architectures on Amazon Web Services (AWS). He has over 14 years of software engineering experience and has supported the design and implementation of many large-scale software applications. His primary expertise lies in distributed systems and data engineering.

Simon Araya is an accomplished technology executive who has spent over two decades guiding teams and creating inventive solutions for intricate business problems. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Utility, Simon is responsible for driving technology strategy and innovation across the organization.

In the early days of Utility, Simon was responsible for leading cross-functional teams in the design, development, and delivery of groundbreaking software and hardware solutions. Simon earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and has been a part of Utility since its inception.

John Boyd joined Utility with over 34 years of experience in Law Enforcement and currently serves as manager of law enforcement engagement. He is recently retired from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office in Northwest Indiana where he served two terms as Sheriff. He is a graduate of Purdue University and resides in Indiana with his wife Amy and their two children who are currently attending Butler University.

OD Data Collection & Implications for a Co-occuring Capable Law Enforcement Response

2:00pM – 3:00PM | Room 202 | future of law enforcement

The Country has been experiencing a Nationwide Opioid Epidemic in which communities and law enforcement have been struggling to understand and address. The Ulster County Sheriff started a Law Enforcement Opioid Response Team (ORACLE) in 2019 and in 2020 with the help of a Bureau of Justice grant the Sheriff’s Office worked with the community and Ulster County government stakeholders to design and implement an overdose response team with wrap around harm reduction and care management services. In 2022 with additional support from the Buearu of Justice the team expanded to include a Substance Use Community Care Manager and Jail ReEntry Coordinator

Through the work of the Sheriff’s ORACLE team, the Ulster County Sheriff’s office was able to develop a unique and coordinated system to not only respond to non-fatal overdose, but also collect data that had never before been available to target specific interventions based on demographics, location, nature of overdose, and drug of choice. It is through this work that the Sheriff’s Office has identified that in 2023 more than 25% of non fatal overdoses were in fact intentional suicide attempts. This presentation will capture the model in which the Sheriff’s offices uses to identify all overdoses, response methods, data collection, and the emerging urgency to address the overdose epidemic using a co-occuring behavioral health response, as well as the model and workflow we developed to do so.

PRESENTER: Sheriff Juan Figueroa, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Juanita Hotchkiss, Dir. Community & Incarcerated Services, Detective Albert Babcock, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, NY, and Lieutenant Chad Storey, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office

Juan Figueroa has always been moved by a sense of service to people in his community and country. Juan joined the US Marine Corps straight out of Wallkill Senior high school. Stationed in Japan, South Korea, Camp Lejeune NC, he took back with him important lessons in life: the importance of racial diversity and respect, regardless of personal differences.

After active duty with the Marines for four years, Juan served 18 years with the Marine Corps Reserve. During that time, as Chief Warrant Officer, he held primary responsibilities in Operations, aviation logistics support, budget, training, deployment, and base facilities abroad. In the early 1990s he deployed and was in charge of deploying over 150 Marines and support requirements during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Juan became a trooper with the New York State Police in 1988, patrolling roads in Ulster County. During his 25-year career with the State Police, he assumed key leadership roles initially as a Police Academy Instructor and Field Training Officer, then as an Investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for 19 years. Juan worked on several long term investigations involving Money Laundering / narcotics and drug cartels. Investigations during his term resulted in the seizure of over $60 million in cash, 400+ kilos of drugs, and the arrest of key figures in the drug trade. Juan also was part of investigations relating to organized crime, economic crime, corruption, racketeering, extortion, identity and vehicle theft. With a distinguished career as a veteran and five years in the corporate arena, Juan brings a broad perspective to law enforcement. He believes in upholding the law while working with the community and applying proactive, innovative, and sensible approaches to the county’s most pressing issues, such as the opioid epidemic. Juan represents a brand of leadership that values fairness, compassion, respect, and the highest standards of professionalism at all levels. After many years of public service, he remains bound by an unwavering sense of duty and deep commitment to the community.

Juanita Hotchkiss is a Licensed Master Social Worker who has dedicated her career to bringing behavioral health and criminal justice systems together, and closer to the communities that they serve. She is currently the Director of Community and Incarcerated Services at the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. Previously she worked with the Ulster County Department of Mental Health as the Project Manager for the Columbia University Healing Communities Study. In her tenure with Ulster County, Juanita has engaged key stakeholders to implement more then 26 strategies to address the Opioid Epidemic, securing more than $3.1 million dollars in federal grant funding to launch, enhance, and sustain initiatives such as; peer street outreach teams, 24/7 peer supports, and the expansion of the Sheriff’s Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement (O.R.A.C.L.E) program, as well as, Jail based ReEntry Services for incarcerated individuals with Substance Use Disorder. In addition to this, she assisted the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in launching the Anti-Violence Effort Response Team (AVERT) and the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder program in the Jail, as well as several community outreach initiatives to address the opioid epidemic. Juanita received her Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Service, Program Development & Management from SUNY Empire State College and her Masters in Social Work from Adelphi University’s Hudson Valley Center.

Albert Babcock is a Detective with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in New York State. Ulster County is located in the Hudson Valley, one-hour north of New York City. Detective Babcock is currently assigned to the ORACLE Team- (Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement), SAFE Team- (Support and Advocacy Through Frontline Engagement), and team leader for the AVERT Team- (Anti- Violence Empowerment Response Team).

Detective Babcock grew up and lives in southwestern Ulster County, New York. He earned an Associate Degree from SUNY Ulster College in 2001. He is a 22-year veteran of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to joining the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Babcock worked for the New York State Department of Corrections, as a Corrections Officer in a maximum security prison.

He began his career at the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office as patrol Deputy, and took on many other roles throughout his career including assignment to Undercover Narcotics, Detective Division, The Ulster County Crisis Negotiation Team, The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center, Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Resiliency Officer, ORACLE team, and AVERT team.

Detective Babcock served as a Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, Crisis Intervention Team member, Hostage/Crisis Negotiator, Project Lifesaver member, Notary Public, and many other roles. He has extensive training and experience in crime scene processing and photography, crash reconstruction, interviewing and interrogation, and hostage/crisis negotiations.

Detective Babcock is a certified Police Instructor and instructs Crisis Intervention Skills for Law Enforcement, Officer Wellness, Procedural Justice, Implicit Bias, Project Lifesaver, CPR, AED, First Aid, Naloxone, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, Suicide Prevention, and Crisis Intervention Team training.

Upon being assigned to the ORACLE Team- Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement, Detective Babcock felt it was necessary to learn as much information he could about addiction, and people struggling with Substance Use Disorder. Detective Babcock began his education to become a CASAC- Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, and became certified by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports as a CASAC-T in 2024. He is currently a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, and works on numerous projects involving Mental Health First Aid, Substance Use Disorder, Youth Advocacy, Trauma, Suicide Prevention, and Resiliency.

Detective Babcock currently sits on the Ulster County Continuum of Care Board of Directors, Family of Woodstock Board of Directors, UPP Coalition (Ulster Partners for Prevention), SPEAK Coalition (Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness and Knowledge), Ulster County IPVI Taskforce (Intimate Partner Violence Intervention), Ulster County GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination), NYSMART (New York State Missing and Abducted Response Team), Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program Advisor, and is currently the Vice- President of Ulster County Deputy Sheriff’s Police Benevolent Association.

Lieutenant Chad Storey is a native of Town of Shandaken in Ulster County, having graduated from Onteora High School in 1994 and Ulster County Community College/SUNY Ulster in 2001 with an Associate’s Degree in Independent Studies. He joined the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in February 1998 and was a patrol deputy assigned to the Security Unit. He then worked out of the Shandaken substation until April 2011. During that time, he was also a K9 handler and handled one of the first explosive detection canines in Ulster County. In April 2011, he was promoted to Detective and later that year was transferred to what is now the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center as an investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2013 and returned to patrol as the station sergeant in Esopus. In November 2014, he was assigned as this agency’s training coordinator and was responsible for all aspects of training in the Criminal Division. In May of 2019 he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and served in an administration capacity that was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agencies Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement program. In November of 2020 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and is currently the day shift commander, over sees the Agency School Resource officer program and supervises the agency Opioid Response Team. He is a graduate of the International Association of Police Chief’s Leadership of Police Organizations; a DCJS certified master instructor and crisis negotiator, among numerous other certifications. He is the current assistant commander of the Ulster County Crisis Negotiation Team and a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He has also served as vice-president and president of the Ulster County Deputy Sheriffs’ Police Benevolent Association.

Leading In An Ever Changing Public Safety Environment

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 203 | leadership

This seminar is designed for Executive Law Enforcement Administrators who are charged with the responsibility of leading in an ever changing public safety environment. Issues to be discussed during the seminar include hiring, retention, addressing generational differences, and managing in highly toxic political environments.

PRESENTER: Dr. Cedric Alexander, Retired Public Safety Executive, C L Alexander Consulting

Cedric L. Alexander Psy. D. is a law enforcement expert with over 40 years of experience in public safety, currently serving as Commissioner of Community Safety at the City of Minneapolis. He has appeared on national media networks to provide comment on police-community relations and as a CNN, MSNBC, and Fox law enforcement analyst has written numerous editorials including “What’s the plan now, America?”, “The Chauvin trail is holding a mirror up to America’s insufficient police training”, and “Capitol riot a stunning reminder of America’s policing crisis”. Dr. Alexander has also served as Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and as an assistant professor at the University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry. He is a former National President for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Dr. Alexander has lectured on police stress and burnout and currently trains on topics of management and leadership, centered around 21st Century Policing. He is the author of The New Guardians: Policing in America’s Communities for the 21st Century and In Defense of Public Service: How 22 Million Government Workers Will Save Our Republic.

Countering the Counternarrative: Malicious Actors & Factions on Social Media

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 204 | public safety

Social media is a double-edged sword. It provides an excellent avenue with which to reach your community, but has also provided malicious actors an easy way to seed mis- and dis-information campaigns to negatively affect perceptions. This presentation examines the motives of malicious actors and how to best combat false narratives. The presentation includes some high-level education about how AI-created graphics can negatively affect law enforcement.

PRESENTER: Judy Pal, Founder & CEO, 10-8 Communications LLC

With more than 30 years’ experience, Judy Pal has served in management and public relations positions for public safety, government, and the professional sports and entertainment industry in both Canada and the United States. A former broadcast journalist and news anchor; Judy has served in management and executive staff positions with law enforcement across North America. She has extensive experience dealing with sensitive, image‐threatening issues including criminal conduct of police officers, international scandal, and acts of terrorism.

Prior to embarking on a full-time teaching and consulting career, she served as an Assistant Commissioner with the NYPD, Director of Operations for the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) Chief of Staff with the Baltimore and Milwaukee Police Departments, and was a member of the command staff of the Atlanta, Savannah and Halifax (Canada) police departments.

She also worked in the private sector with former NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton working on international law enforcement projects with the Government of Chile and the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service. She has spoken at events across North America, as well as Australia, Uruguay, and the Philippines. She is a regular instructor for FBI Regional Command Colleges across the country, the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration in Texas, and is proud to have conducted training for thousands of law enforcement professionals, including commanders with the NYPD and Philadelphia Police Department, and members of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Pal is a past president of the National Information Officers Association and is a former columnist with The Insighter magazine of FBI-LEEDA and Blue Line Magazine, the national law enforcement publication in Canada. She has authored Strategic Communications for Law Enforcement Executives for the COPS Office, Preparing for Crisis: A First Responder’s Guide to Messaging When it Really Matters, a chapter on media relations in the Air Medical Physician’s Association Principals and Directions of Air Medical Transport (2012, 2007) and served as a subject matter expert editor for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors publication, Response to a High-Profile Tragic Event Involving a Person with a Severe Mental Illness (2010).

Pal began her career in professional sports, working with the Stanley Cup winning Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League before joining the Edmonton-based Canadian affiliate of Ogilvy-Mather as a consultant. She moved to the east coast to pursue broadcast journalism with Global Television, serving as a program host, anchor, producer, and reporter before moving to law enforcement.

Upon moving to the U.S., Pal worked with Madison Square Garden as the Public Relations Director for the Hartford Civic Center, Rentschler Field and the minor league affiliate of the New York Rangers before returning to law enforcement.

Pal holds a Master of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and earned her Certificate in Police Leadership from Dalhousie University, both in Canada.

Mastering Stress in Corrections: Effective Interventions for Improved Well-Being

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 205 AB | officer wellness

This comprehensive course aims to provide corrections/detention officers with a deeper understanding of the negative impact of stress on their mental and physical well-being. By exploring evidence-based interventions and strategies, the course enables officers to mitigate the harmful effects of stress and promotes their overall health and well-being.

PRESENTER: Dr. Genevie Saucedo, Detention Officer, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Dr. Genevie L. Saucedo, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Genevie holds a PhD in forensic psychology with a concentration in crisis response. Her research interests include critical topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder, officer-involved shootings, stress and burnout, mindfulness, and resiliency. With 17 years of experience as a first responder at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Genevie is a highly respected leader in the field of self-care for first responders. She conducts annual training sessions for over 2,000 first responders and has led self-care training sessions across the country, prioritizing the education of first responders and their families. Genevie doesn’t just teach from her academic background; she also shares her personal experiences as a first responder. She has been involved in numerous critical incidents, which has influenced her use of stress management tools for her own recovery, health, and performance. Currently assigned to the Firearms Training Unit, Genevie serves as a full-time firearms instructor and armorer for pistol, shotgun, and rifle weapon systems. She has revamped the mandatory stress and mental conditioning classes for the firearms academy program and continues to strive towards improving stress management resources and education for first responders. Genevie has made significant contributions to the advancement of self-care for first responders, and her work continues to enhance the health and well-being of numerous individuals in this critical field.

Developing Women Leaders: What Your Inner Critic Doesn’t Want You to Know

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 206 AB | recruitment, retention, & Training

Women are underrepresented in public safety and particularly in leadership positions. There are external factors that play a role in this, but the core of this presentation will examine the unconscious actions and beliefs that can hinder women’s development and success in our chosen profession. We will explore how imposter syndrome stifles women’s careers and how to overcome the feeling that they’re not quite ready for that promotion or project. Learn how to overcome the daily battle with the inner critic that reinforces insecurities and how speech and body language can dictate how women are perceived. We will also discuss family planning, relationships, perfectionism, mentoring and how we can all better support the women in our organizations and our lives.

PRESENTER: Brenda Dietzman, Colonel (ret.), Wayfinder Consulting, LLC

Col. Brenda Dietzman (Ret) has more than 28 years of law enforcement and corrections experience.

In 2019, Col. Dietzman retired from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas as the undersheriff in charge of jail operations. She oversaw two facilities with a total population of 1400+ inmates, 300+ employees and a $40 million budget. During her time in law enforcement, she also served as the captain in charge of the Patrol Division and the Judicial Division, a lieutenant in both the Patrol Division and the Special Project Unit, a Community Policing sergeant, detective, and a road patrol deputy.

During her career, she was awarded two bronze medals of Meritorious Conduct, two bronze medals of Outstanding Service, and the Core Value Award from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. Also, she was named the ASIS Officer of the Year, WCC Officer of the Year, Thomas Hopkins Post & Aux. Officer of the Year, Sedgwick County BOCC Chairman’s Award Recipient, WCC Humanitarian of the Year, and the American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year.

In 2019, Col. Dietzman retired from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas as the undersheriff. She is now an IADLEST internationally certified trainer and has presented to national and international audiences for both private and public sector organizations. Previously, she has presented at other national conferences including WIFLE, National Sheriffs’ Association, American Jail Association, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, NLETS, among others. She has also written articles for national publications including Sheriff & Deputy, American Jail, Corrections Managers’ Report and IACP Police Chief magazine.

Her approach includes deep dives into the why behind issues with the thought that if someone understands that they can better address the problem. Her goal for every presentation is that attendees leave with a better understanding and actionable items they can employ immediately.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Wichita State University. She enjoys traveling, photography, mountain biking, meditation and reading. She is married and has three rescue dogs.

Privately Made Firearems: Familiarization and Emerging Trends of Ghost Guns

2:00PM – 3:00PM | Room 207 AB | future of law enforcement

The software to 3D print firearms is readily available and these firearms are showing up at crime scenes regularly, is your office prepared to deal with them? This seminar will help you to identify and recognize Privately Made Firearms (PMF) and the emerging trends associated with PMF’s across the country. Actions you will need to take to prepare your deputies and property/evidence personnel to deal with this emerging threat will be discussed.

PRESENTER: Wayne E. Moser Jr., Firearms Enforcement Officer (FEO)

FEO Moser started his current position with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE, or just ATF) in October of 2020. A native of rural Pennsylvania, Wayne enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school in September 2004. During his 10.5 years of honorable service, Wayne held the Military Occupational Skills (MOS) of a 2111 Small Arms Repair Technician and a 2112 Precision Weapons Repair Technician. Wayne served with 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing (Okinawa), 2D Fleet Anti-terrorism Support Team (FAST) Yorktown, VA, Precision Weapons Section (PWS) Quantico, VA, and Marine Special Operation Command (MARSOC) Camp Lejeune, NC. Upon completion of his service to the U.S.A., Wayne became a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor for Special Operations Command (SOCOM) from 2015 to 2020 with BAE systems, Lockheed Martin, and Professional Solutions as a Special Operations Force Fielding and Training Team (SOF-FTT) and a Gunsmith 1.

Currently, Wayne serves as a FEO in Martinsburg, WV. As an FEO, Wayne’s duties include, but are not limited to, the classification of firearms and ammunition under the purviews the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 and the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968. Wayne also provides expert witness testimony to technical reports in state and federal court as both a defense and prosecution expert. FEO’s are also on call 24/7 as needed by the agency on a weekly rotational duty, to which answers calls and correspondence from the agency, other Law Enforcement (LE) agencies, and the general public. Wayne is also an agency instructor and is relied upon to provide tours of the ATF’s National Firearms Collection (NFC) which houses approximately 15,000 firearms and to provide training to Agency or LEO’s nationwide on NFA and GCA firearms, laws, definitions, and regulations.

Wayne’s personal awards from the Marine Corps and ATF include, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement with star and the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer (OLEO) award from the Southern District of Florida.

Building a Bridge to Health Care at Reentry: Medicaid’s New Role in Jails and Prisons Safety

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

For the first time, Medicaid is being authorized to cover some health services for individuals in the period just before they are released from jails and prisons. These policy changes are groundbreaking and hold potential to improve a range of health and public safety outcomes, including reducing mortality, unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and rates of reincarceration. Implementing these changes requires unprecedented collaboration between jail officials, state Medicaid programs, and community providers. This session will provide an overview of these changes, which include statutory changes made by Congress that apply in all states and administrative changes made by a growing number of states through waivers of federal Medicaid law authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), how the federal, state and local governments are implementing these changes, and their implications for providing health care services in prisons and jails.

PRESENTERS: David Ryan, Senior Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives, HARP, Commander Nathan Wilson, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, CA

David Ryan is HARP’s Senior Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives. David has over fifteen years of experience working on policy issues at the intersection of health and justice. Prior to joining the Health and Reentry Project, David spent over a decade at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office leading policy priorities to advance changes to the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP). He also spent five years working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. His core responsibilities while on staff in the US Senate included legislative affairs and coordinating outreach to federal, state and local agencies and organizations. David holds a BA in Government from Colby College and JD from Suffolk University Law School.

Nathan Wilson is a distinguished law enforcement leader with an extensive background in public safety spanning over two decades. Currently serving as the Division Commander for the Intake Release Center (IRC), Transportation Bureau, and Fugitive Warrants Detail at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), Nathan oversees the comprehensive operations, financial management, and personnel administration of these critical area. Also falling within his command, are all of the Department’s behavioral health programs in Custody Operations and oversite of Orange County’s implementation of CalAIM: California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal in the custody environment.

Throughout his career, Nathan has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence and innovation in law enforcement. As the Bureau Commander and inaugural leader of the Sheriff’s Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau in Patrol Operations, he spearheaded collaborative initiatives with county agencies to enhance crisis intervention services and reduce recidivism rates. His efforts led to the implementation of groundbreaking programs such as a mental health co-response teams, call diversion, and Crisis Intervention Training.

Prior to his current role, Nathan served as the Chief of Police for Stanton Police Services, where he achieved notable successes in crime reduction, addressing homelessness, and community engagement. His leadership was instrumental in forging strong relationships with city officials, residents, and department personnel, resulting in increased public safety and citizen satisfaction.

Nathan’s expertise extends across various facets of law enforcement, including patrol operations, custody operations, internal affairs, and strategic development. He has received extensive training and certifications in public safety leadership, incident management, and patrol deployment strategies, reflecting his dedication to staying at the forefront of industry best practices.

Nathan’s commitment to service extends beyond his law enforcement career, as evidenced by his military service in the United States Army and Army Reserve. His leadership and dedication have earned him numerous accolades and commendations throughout his career, reflecting his unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and public safety.

The Future of Policing

3:15pm – 4:15pm | Room 202 | future of law enforcement

I will be providing an overview of the MCCAs futurist initiative, an initiative that aims to imagine the future of policing and how changes in technology and society will potentially affect law enforcement operations, officer safety, and the law itself.

PRESENTER: Monica Alnes Niklaus, Director of Projects, Major Cities Chiefs Association

Monica is the Director of Projects for the Major Cities Chiefs Association. She previously served as a police officer in Las Vegas, Nevada before working as an intelligence analyst with the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center. She has an extensive academic and professional background in national and international security and a working knowledge of current and emerging threats to the public and law enforcement. During her time as a commissioned police officer she worked in intelligence, specializing in crime trend analysis and sought creative ways to combat crime and other challenges within the community. As an analyst, she served as a subject matter expert on domestic extremism working with law enforcement and private sector partners to prevent mass casualty incidents as well as school related violence.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Monica obtained high honors as a student athlete at San Diego State University where she double majored in Public Administration and International Security and Conflict Resolution. She’s lived in both Germany and Switzerland for many years where she obtained a master’s degree in Global Studies from the University of Lucerne where she focused on international law and counter terrorism. Having worked at the United Nation’s for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland she brings a unique global perspective to the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

She believes the key to reducing crime and preventing violence is by fostering strong relationships within the community and thinking outside of the box to create effective and long-term law enforcement strategies.

Familial Trafficking in America Through the Lens of Justice Professionals

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 203 | case study

This session will present the findings from a national study, specifically the prevalence, characteristics, and challenges of domestic minor familial sex trafficking across the justice process. The data was derived from a national survey and in-depth interviews of justice professionals representing 3,505 cases of sex trafficking during the period of 2018-2021. Major findings call for training of frontline professionals and modified tools to improve victim identification, a better understanding of the unique dynamics between the child victim and related perpetrator that can corrupt the justice process and challenge our assumptions about the efficacy of family reunification.

PRESENTER: Jeanne Allert, Ph.D, Founder and Executive Director, Institute for Shelter Care

Dr. Jeanne L. Allert founded The Samaritan Women in 2007, one of the first restorative care programs for trafficking survivors in the United States. After 13 years of direct service, she created the Institute for Shelter Care, a national initiative that conducts industry research, addresses gaps in service and seeks to improve the quality care for victims of sexual exploitation. Jeanne served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, was the Human Trafficking Contributor for the National Advisory Council for the Conference on Crimes Against Women and is a Graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy. Jeanne holds a Master’s in Education, Master’s in Divinity and a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies, specializing in domestic sex trafficking. Her work has been featured in numerous articles, in the 2015 documentary “In Plain Sight,” and the 2022 documentary “Sex Nation.”

Generations: Working Better Together

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 204 | Recruitment, retention, & Training

Gen Zers are starting their careers and Millennials are taking on leadership positions within our organizations. In a refreshing way, we will explore the numerous positive characteristics they bring to our organizations and how to utilize their unique skillsets. We will study how different generations were raised and how it has molded them into the employees they are today. Building on that information, we will examine researched based studies to explore how to recruit, retain, motivate, and grow them into the leaders that we need right now and in the future.

PRESENTER: Brenda Dietzman, Colonel (ret.), Wayfinder Consulting, LLC

Col. Brenda Dietzman (Ret) has more than 28 years of law enforcement and corrections experience.

Empowering Rural & Small Agencies: Bridging Gaps Through Grants

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 205 AB | rural and small agency

Small and rural agencies face unique challenges in many regions that set them apart from their larger counterparts in major cities and counties. These challenges often stem from limited resources, sparse populations, and distinct needs. To address these issues and support the growth and efficiency of small and rural agencies, the concept of a grant program tailored to their specific requirements can be developed.

PRESENTERS: Alyson Trowbridge, Grants Specialist, Lexipol

Alyson began her career as a grant professional in 2016 while in a dual-purpose role as a Project & Grant Coordinator for a municipality in Southeast Virginia. In that position, she was responsible for the city’s Public Safety grants portfolio, including all grant writing and pre- and post-award management, from RFP development to project execution and completion. During this time, she also played an integral role in designing and developing law enforcement policies and procedures, leveraging sound industry and best practices to advance the city’s strategic goals. In late 2018, Alyson accepted a position as a Grant Manager with a consulting firm based out of New York and was later promoted to Senior Grant Manager. She is an experienced grant writer with a demonstrated history of locating and executing solutions to help clients meet complex challenges. While her specialty is public safety, Alyson also has extensive experience securing funding in areas of economic development, downtown revitalization, disaster recovery and resiliency, critical infrastructure, water quality improvements, transportation, flood mitigation, public open space, historic restoration, and more. In the last three and a half years alone, Alyson has secured over $58 million in grant funding, primarily through state and federal programs.

In 2022, Alyson joined Lexipol where she currently provides specialized support to the Grant Operations Division and Business Development team. Her work with the team includes providing technical assistance and expertise to both internal and external stakeholders as a subject matter expert across federal, state, and foundation grant programs.

Force Multipliers for Small and Rural Sheriff’s Offices

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 206 AB | rural and small agency

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provides a range of free resources and services to help bring home missing children and combat child sexual exploitation. From forensic imaging including age progressions and facial reconstructions by forensic artists to on-site case consultations, NCMEC has resources to assist and support

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).

Elder Financial Exploitation: Innovations for Collaboration on Investigations Utilizing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by Financial Institutions with the Federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

3:15PM – 4:15PM | Room 207 AB | law enforcement tech

By all accounts, elder financial exploitation (EFE) is a growing financial crime that targets older people across the nation with devastating effects and also poses significant challenges for law enforcement responders and investigators. Financial institutions, including banks and credit unions, are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) on a variety of suspicious transactions with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the US Department of Treasury. The number of EFE SARs filed with FinCEN (fincen.gov) increased from 62,000 in 2020 to 106,000 in 2022. In 2023, the number of filings jumped to over 160,000. Banks and credit unions filed more than half of all EFE SARs and SAR filings from all financial institution sources with over $3.4 billion in suspicious activities reported concerning suspected elder financial exploitation. Law enforcement (LE) can access SARs and use the information to conduct investigations that potentially stop EFE by a broad spectrum of perpetrators.

PRESENTERS: Jenefer Duane, Senior Program Analyst, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office for Older Americans, Laura Richardson, Consultant/BSA/SAR Subject Matter Expert, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Jenefer Duane is the Senior Program Analyst in Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus’ Office for Older Americans. In 2013 she led the development of the Bureau’s Money Smart for Older Adults program for 10 years, and currently leads the Elder Fraud Prevention and Response Network program and its pilot Elder Financial Exploitation SAR Review Team Initiative.

Jenefer’s 25-year elder justice career was launched in the mid 1990’s when she led a group of community stakeholders, including 15 financial institutions, to establish the Marin Bank Reporting Project. She then founded and led the non-profit Elder Financial Protection Network in California for 10 years prior to her joining the CFPB in 2011.

She has received numerous awards and commendations for her contributions to the field of elder justice including: the Outstanding Service in Elder Abuse Prevention Award from the California Attorney General, and the Beacon Award from the California Credit Union League. In 2009 she was presented with the FDIC’s 75th Anniversary Chairman’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Financial Education and the Illinois Department of Aging and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation jointly recognized her contributions for the establishment the Illinois Financial Abuse Specialist Team.

More recently, the Money Smart for Older Adults program was presented with the American Society on Aging’s Gloria Cavanaugh Award for Excellence in Training in Education for Older Adults. And in 2019 Jenefer was presented with the CFPB Director’s Mission Achievement Award for her leadership of the Elder Fraud Prevention and Response Network program.

Laura Richardson is a consultant to the CFPB with over 25 years of experience in government and the financial services industry. This includes 12 years working as a Section Chief for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Her work at FinCEN was focused on intelligence analytics with analysts, regulators, and law enforcement to maximize use of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) data for threat prevention and fraud prosecution, with a focus on elder financial exploitation and other types of financial fraud.

She also served in management and analytical roles in investment research and management consulting organizations in the private sector.

Forensic Genetic Genealogy – A Game Changer for Law Enforcement

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Room 201 | future of law enforcement

Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) has emerged as a game-changer for resolving cold cases, sometimes decade old. Since it was first used on the Sarah Yarborough homicide in 2011, FGG has been critical in solving an estimated 2000 cold case violent crimes and unidentified human remains cases. This seminar provides an understandable descrption of how FGG has developed, how it works, how effective it is, and how it can be incorporated into both new and already existing cold case units, It also includes a discussion of new ways of solving cold cases using FGG that were not possible in the past. The presentation is supported throughout by appropriate FGG case studies.

PRESENTER: Colleen Fitzpatrick, President, Identifinders International

Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD is widely recognized as the founder of modern Forensic Genetic Genealogy. She has pioneered the use of genetic genealogy Y-STR and autosomal SNP analysis for generating forensic intelligence on cold cases sometimes decades old. Dr. Fitzpatrick’s expertise with compromised DNA has led to identifications that otherwise were believed to have gone beyond the reach of modern technology. Dr. Fitzpatrick has twice been awarded fifth place in the prestigious international Gordon Honeywell Thomas Cold Case Hit of the Year competition – in 2018 for solving the 1992-1993 Phoenix Canal Murders, the first case solved using genetic genealogy (2015), and in 2020 for her work on the 1991 Sarah Yarborough Homicide, the first case where genetic genealogy was used to generate investigative leads (2011). Dr. Fitzpatrick collaborates with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies. She is a Member of the Vidocq Society, the Australia New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS), the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) and an Affiliate of the Victoria Australia Institute of Forensic Medicine. Dr. Fitzpatrick is the founder of Identifinders International. She lectures widely in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. She has appeared in hundreds of domestic and international newspapers and magazines, and on international radio and television programs. She is the author of three books: Forensic Genealogy, DNA & Genealogy, and The Dead Horse Investigation: Forensic Photo Analysis for Everyone.

Rising physical violence against electric power grid

4:30PM – 5:30PM | Room 202 | public safety

2023 Broke all records for physical violence committed against the U.S. Electric Power Grid showing a 141% increase over year, 2022. Our panel gives a glimpse into what to expect in 2024 and will give EACH SHERRIF the locations of the of top 1% of the Electric Power Grid locations that would be most impactful protecting lives in each law jurisdiction.

PRESENTERS: Senator Bob Hall, Texas State Senator, District 2, Clare Lopez, Counterterrorism Director, Task Force on National & Homeland Security, David Hilt, Chief Technology Director. Task Force on National & Homeland Security, Glenn Rhoades, National Ops Dir Eastern Grid Oversight, Thomas J. Holiday: Oklahoma, Director, Task Force on National and Homeland Security, Mike Swearingen, Electric Power Systems Engineer, Tim Goeders, National Director, Logistics Resilience

Senator Bob Hall is an electrical engineer whose experience in protecting electrical and electronic equipment against the ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) threat began soon after the phenomenon was identified as a threat to the US Minuteman II Strategic Missile System during the cold war in the 1960s.

Senator Hall graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina with a degree in Electrical Engineering and received a Regular Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force. While a cadet at the Citadel, he received numerous awards for his leadership. He was the only Air Force Cadet selected to be a Battalion Commander and was awarded the coveted Wade Hampton saber as the graduating cadet who had contributed the most to the Citadel during the four years he was a cadet.

Upon graduation, Senator Hall began his active duty as a Systems Engineer working to develop the Minuteman Missile System during the Cold War at Norton AFB in California. Here is where he achieved the rank of Captain. It was during his service at Norton AFB that Senator Hall led a project team of engineers to harden the Minuteman Missile System II from the Soviet Union’s nuclear based electromagnetic pulse (EMP) first strike capability, known as the “pin-down” threat. In addition to working to hardening the minuteman missile system, Senator Hall was instrumental in the successful development of the military’s air and ground based EMP detection devices.

Senator Hall designated electric grid security as a top legislative priority and authored the first ever grid security bill in Texas legislative history. His bill required the state to conduct a vulnerability assessment on the EMP threat to the electric grid infrastructure in Texas and report its findings.

Clare M. Lopez is Founder/President of Lopez Liberty LLC, w/a mission to alert Americans to national security threats, both international & from the Islamic Movement/Muslim Brotherhood & their Marxist collaborators in this country. She supported former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan & Tom Trento at Defend the Border/The United West & was an instructor for John Guandolo’s Understanding the Threat “Into Action” program & its online National Security Academy. In mid[1]2023, Lopez offered expertise as national security advisor to U.S. Presidential candidate Bishop E.W. Jackson. She is also senior advisory board member & Director of U.S. Geostrategic Security Issues for Near East Center for Strategic Engagement. She served as advisor/mentor to Special Forces students in a fall 2020 DoD course. From 2014-2020, Lopez served as VP for Research & Analysis at the Center for Security Policy. In 2016, she was named to Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign national security advisory team.

From 2013-2016, Lopez served as a member of the Citizens’ Commission on Benghazi & continues as a member of the Citizens’ Commission on National Security. Formerly VP of the Intelligence Summit, she was a career operations officer with the CIA, professor at Centre for Counterintelligence & Security Studies, Executive Director of the Iran Policy Committee from 2005-2006 & has served as a consultant, instructor, intelligence analyst & researcher for a variety of defense firms. She was named a 2011 Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute.

In Feb 2012, Ms. Lopez was named a member of the Congressional Task Force on National & Homeland Security, which focuses on the Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) threat & serves as its Director for Counterterrorism. She has served as a member of the Boards of Advisors/Directors for the Center for Democracy & Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, the United West & Voice of the Copts. She has been a Visiting Researcher & guest lecturer on counterterrorism, national defense & international relations at Georgetown University. Ms. Lopez is a regular contributor to a range of media on China, Russia, Iran & the Middle East. She is the co-author of two published books on Iran, author of multiple book chapters plus numerous articles on China & its civilian-military fusion Biological Weapons program. She is the author of The Rise of the Iran Lobby & co[1]author/editor of CSP’s Team B II study, Shariah: The Threat to America as well as The Tiger Team’s The Secure Freedom Strategy: A Plan for Victory Over the Global Jihad Movement. She co-authored Gulen & the Gulenist Movement w/CSP’s VP for Outreach, Christopher Holton, See No Shariah: ‘Countering Violent Extremism & the Disarming of America’s First Line of Defense with Frank Gaffney, CSP’s past President & is both editor & co-author of the Center’s Ally No More: Erdogan’s New Turkish Caliphate & the Rising Jihadist Threat to the West. She has contributed chapters to “Barack Obama’s True Legacy”, edited by Jamie Glazov & Elizabeth Sabbaditsch Wolff’s 2019 book, “The Truth is No Defense”.

Lopez received a B.A. in Communications & French from Notre Dame College of Ohio & an M.A. in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. She completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia before declining a military commission to join the CIA.

Mr. Januzik has over 40 years of progressive experience in several areas of power system planning and operations. His qualifications include years of hands–on power system analysis experience in both transmission and generation expansion. He has both regional and national industry committee experience through NERC and has developed and implemented numerous aspects of FERC transmission open access methods and procedures. Mr. Januzik specializes in electric system risk analysis, infrastructure protection and heuristic modeling algorithms. He was the principal developer of a heuristic algorithm for the determination and ranking of critical bulk power facilities on the interconnected systems of North America. Mr. Januzik has conducted several major risk assessments on the electric grid including: The Risk review done on the PG&E bulk power system after the attack on their Metcalf 500kV substation in April of 2013, a system-wide risk assessment for the Texas Public Utility Commission to measure the vulnerability of the state’s electric system to extreme weather events, network risk analysis for the Consolidated Edison system to help determine the locations of new protection equipment after the events of 9/11, and a classified study for the DOE on the potential impacts of EMP produced due to the atmospheric explosion of a nuclear device.

Mr. Januzik has developed several heuristic algorithms associated with electric system security including: The Vulnerability Assessment Tool which identifies the most critical facilities on the grid and produces tabular and GIS based graphical output along with projected loss of load values, and the N+1 system expansion tool which can optimize the addition of new electric facilities to mitigate define grid problems.

David W. Hilt, P.E., President and Owner, has over 40 years of experience in electric power system engineering, operation, and regulatory activities. He has been a manager responsible for the design, specification, and construction of electric substations from distribution to EHV including protective relaying. He has also managed transmission and resource planning activities for a major Midwestern electric and natural gas utility providing expert testimony before FERC and state regulators for transmission expansion and 20 year resource plans. Mr. Hilt has directed the development and installation of state estimation and OASIS systems for a Midwestern Reliability Coordination Center. As a Vice President at NERC, he led the development of the compliance monitoring and enforcement program for the bulk-power system reliability standards in North America working closely with the industry, FERC, and Canadian regulatory authorities. He also developed audit programs as well as event analysis and investigation processes. While at NERC he led the investigation of the August 2003 blackout in the Northeastern United States and Canada providing the technical input to the U.S. – Canada Power System Outage Task Force report. Mr. Hilt’s recent experience includes assessment of risk from cyber and physical attack and grid resiliency.

Mr. Glenn Rhoades, spent over 36 years at Martin Marietta (MMC), Lockheed Martin (LMCO), Jefferson County Government, Home Depot, Best Buy, Lowes, National Non-Profits and Organizational Advisory Boards in various positions including: executive management, engineering planning, special product sales/consulting, operations, administration, subcontract management.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design (Urban and Product Design) degree from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. From 1979 through 1982, Mr. Rhoades studied language at the Mangold Institute in Madrid, Spain and worked for the Christian ministry, The Navigators, at the University of Santiago de Compostella in Spain and studied philosophy and ethics at L’Abri Fellowship in Huémoz, Switzerland.

He joined Martin Marietta in 1979 and retired in 1999 from the Lockheed Martin Corporation. He was on the 1988 Martin Marietta Operations team that took over operations of Johns Manville’s World Corporate Headquarters located in Deer Creek canyon southwest of Denver and later helped the LMCO facilities team relocate the newly acquired General Dynamics Centaur and Atlas Rocket programs from San Diego to Denver. In 1990, Mr. Rhoades was presented the Marietta Martin Peter B. Teets Presidential Inventors Award for his work on the Graphic Equivalency Ruler, a concept tool that Martin Marietta deemed as having a significant potential use by aerospace engineers and designers.

Some of the MMC and LMCO projects included the Instrumentation and Flight Safety System Program (IFSS), the Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program (SICBM), the Peacekeeper Missile Program (MX), the Barstow, California Heliostat plant and various interplanetary spacecraft lab and operations support. He holds a Martin Marietta patent award for the Graphics Equivalency ruler which MMC deemed a valuable tool for engineers to translate drawings from one scale to another with ease.

In 2002, he was the Republican Nominee for Colorado’s newest 7th Congressional District’s State Board of Education seat and later for Colorado House District 26 in 2006. He also served as an Associate Member of the Foresight Institute, which promoted nanotechnology awareness and education and served on the Jefferson Center of Mental Health Board of Directors.

In 2003, he became the CEO and founder of the Colorado Nanotech Initiative, Inc., a 501-c3 non- profit. He joined the group in February of 2003 whose mission was to bring Colorado into the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN). In that same year he became a member of the National Science Foundation’s workshop on the ethical, societal and legal implications of nanotechnology.

On November 16th, 2006 he helped open the University of Colorado’s Nanofabrication Lab which finally allowed Colorado to be accepted into the NNIN. Later in 2008, Mr. Rhoades was appointed to the International Editorial Advisory Panel for the International Journal for Green Nanotechnology-Biomedicine published by the Taylor and Francis Group London, England. He also served as an advisor to Left Side Research, Montana.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design (BED – Architectural/Product Design) degree from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Phoenix in 1993.

Thomas J. Holiday has 49 years of full-time employment in the Electromagnetic Spectrum for U.S. Communications Industry at Radio and TV stations in Ohio, Florida, Texas, California, and Oklahoma. Missions involved improving the performance of licensed Broadcast properties for greater profitability, and better service to community. He has expertise in recruiting talent, team building, retaining talent, FCC license renewal, create & produce programs to enhance image, build morale, establish greater service to community and enhance station profitability. He has a mission to ensure that Oklahoma’s population is protected from threats to any of our 16 critical infrastructures necessary for life: Water and Wastewater systems, Electric Power Grid, Food & Agriculture, Emergency Services, Communications, Healthcare, Financial Services, Dams, Transportation, Information, Materials & Waste, and Government Facilities.

Mike is a retired electric cooperative power systems engineer with 20+ years of experience. He has worked in every aspect of power systems operation including control systems, protection systems, transmission design, substation design, distribution design and NERC compliance as well as regulatory matters. He represented his cooperative as member of the Transmission Working Group (TWG), Market Operations and Policy Committee (MOPC) and Market Working Group (MWG) at the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). He served as an analyst and independent merit reviewer on several projects at the Department of Energy (DOE), was a technical advisor for the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Applications Center (NEETRAC), is an IEEE Senior Member and was named Smart Grid Pioneer by Smart Grid Today.

A Reasonable Defense Denied?

4:30pm – 5:30pm | Room 203 | legal affairs

The objective reasonableness standard embodied in Graham v Connor has been the clear legal standard for evaluating all use of force encounters since 1989. This constitutional standard requires courts to view a use of force incident through the eyes of an objectively reasonable police officer without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. This vision gets a bit blurry when officers find themselves charged in criminal courts. Some courts judge the actions of an officer through the same lens they view the actions of an average citizen. Rather than inquiring what a reasonable police officer would do in a given set of circumstances, some courts would rather ask what an untrained person would do. This disparity has created unpredictable results for officers. Has this inconsistent application of the law denied officers equal protection of the law guaranteed by the 14th Amendment?

PRESENTER: Mary Mara, Attorney Advisor, FLETC, Sam Lochridge, Attorney Advisor (Instructor), FLETC

Mary Mara serves as a Senior Legal Instructor with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), in Glynco, Georgia. Here, she provides legal instruction to both basic and advanced federal law enforcement officers on a wide variety of topics including Constitutional Law, Federal Court Procedures, Federal Criminal Law, Courtroom Evidence, Electronic Law and Evidence and Officer Liability. She also serves as Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Legal Aspects Governing the Use of Force at FLETC. She travels the Country extensively to provide critical training to state and local police officers in FLETC’s well-regarded Use of Force Instructor Training Program. She has authored several law review articles including, most recently, A Look at the Fourth Amendment Implications of Drone Surveillance by Law Enforcement Today, 9 ConLawNow 1 (2017). Prior to joining FLETC in 2018, Ms. Mara practiced law in the Detroit area for more than 27 years. She served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County, Michigan for 11 years (1991-2002), trying more than 100 capital felony cases with a special emphasis on the investigation and prosecution of child sexual predators. Ms. Mara then served as chief of civil litigation for Oakland County for 16 years (2002-2018). In this role, she acted as police legal advisor for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. She also spent considerable time defending Oakland County Sheriff Deputies in Federal District Court against alleged civil rights violations arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Most of these lawsuits involved claims of excessive force. She is a proud graduate of Michigan State University (BA 1987), Michigan State University College of Law (JD 1991 magna cum laude) and Western Michigan University (LLM Homeland and National Security, 2017, with high honors).

Sam Lochridge currently serves as an Senior Legal Instructor with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), where he instructs on all areas of legal subject matter. In addition to instructing basic courses at Mr. Lochridge specializes in the instruction of use of force, and travels across the country facilitating the FLETC Use of Force Instructor Training Program. Mr. Lochridge is a graduate of Reinhardt University (B.A., magna cum laude) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (J.D.). He began his career in criminal justice in 2003 working as a deputy sheriff in Bartow County, Georgia. Over the course of his ten-year law enforcement career, Mr. Lochridge performed a variety of duties including serving on the command staff of two police agencies. Graduating from law school in 2014, Mr. Lochridge worked as an assistant public defender in the Coweta Judicial Circuit, in Georgia, where he defended felony criminal cases. He went on to serve as a prosecutor in both Fulton and Paulding Counties litigating felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases.

Robotic Teaming in the Tactical Environment

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

This seminar focuses on the effectiveness of using multiple unmanned systems during an operation. This can include, sUAS, ground robotics, and maritime unmanned vehicles. Every discipline of unmanned systems we incorporate becomes a force-multiplier when operating in austere environments. Learn to manage, operate, and understand how to use multiple unmanned TTPs in a variety of operations.

PRESENTER: Justin Swartz, Training Lead, FLYMOTION

Justin Swartz is the Lead of FLYMOTION’s Training Division. FLYMOTION is a Tampa based tech company that specializes in unmanned systems technology and integration solutions. FLYMOTION is the industry leader in public sector training, contracting, and consulting. Clientele includes local and state public safety agencies, federal agencies, defense sectors, and international allies. FLYMOTION pledges to be “Supporting Those Who Serve.”

With over 5 years of dedicated service at FLYMOTION, I am proud to have served as the Training Lead for the past 2.5 years. My journey in this role has been enriched by a diverse clientele that has exposed me to a wealth of knowledge on best practices and critical operating tactics for both domestic and international operations.

My passion lies in unmanned systems technology, and I’ve dedicated years to developing training courses and implementing scenario-based learning for these cutting-edge technologies. As an early adopter of utilizing various unmanned assets across operations, I am committed to championing the concept of “Robotic Teaming” across different sectors of public safety and defense.

In addition to my role at FLYMOTION, I also serve as the Director of Training for UTAC, a hands-on training conference focused on equipping frontline professionals with the latest technology tools. Through these endeavors, I am committed to advancing innovation and excellence in the field of unmanned systems and ensuring that those in the field have access to the best training available.

Chaplains – A Confidential Wellness Resource

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

The crisis of stress-induced health issues and suicide in the law enforcement population brings to light the benefits of a confidential wellness resource always available to officers—chaplaincy. In addition to confidentiality, chaplains have the training and experience to aid officers at every level of their wellness needs: mind, body, and, perhaps most important, their soul. Further, given the emerging nexus between psychospirituality, resiliency, and post-traumatic stress recovery, chaplains can be a suitable segue for furthering these modalities in the policing community. This presentation builds on the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB) article called, Chaplains—A Confidential Wellness Resource.

PRESENTER: Greg Amundson, Senior Instructor (Chaplain), FLETC

Greg Amundson has spent over 23 years in government service during which time he served both his home-state of California and our nation. He was a Captain in the United States Army, a Special Weapons and Tactics Team Operator (SWAT) and Sniper for Santa Cruz County, a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border and an Agent on the highly effective Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) Team. Greg currently serves as a Senior Instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s (FLETC) in the Enforcement Operations Division, Use of Force Branch.

In addition to his extensive government work, Greg has dedicated years to honing his skills in a multitude of disciplines. He was a former owner of the nation’s first CrossFit gym, and he traveled around the world teaching functional fitness and self-mastery principles for over nineteen years. Greg is a Krav Maga Black Belt (Professor) with Krav Maga Worldwide and the Krav Maga Association of America, and he served for fifteen years on the Krav Maga FORCE Training Division. Greg was the section chair on physical fitness for the National Tactical Officer’s Association (NTOA) where he spearheaded the nation’s first standardized performance qualification test (PFQ) for SWAT and ERT. Greg is also an honor graduate of the prestigious Los Angeles Police Department Handgun Instructor Training School (HITS).

Outside of his government service, Greg is an ecclesiastically endorsed and ordained minister, a law enforcement chaplain, and a thought-leader in the field of integrated wellness practices. He is an alumnus of both the University of California at Santa Cruz (BA Legal Theory) and Western Theological Seminary (MA Ministry and Leadership & MA Biblical and Theological Studies). Greg enjoys writing and is a national bestselling author of several books on biblical studies, physical fitness, and leadership. Greg has also been published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB).

Breaking the Cycle of Substance Abuse & Co-Occurring Mental Disorders: A Path to Recovery During Incarceration

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 206 AB | jail operations

Innovation, modernization, and accountability yield results in a recently renovated state-of-the-art stand-alone building that the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has transformed into a unique substance treatment unit for incarcerated individuals. Sheriff Evangelidis breaks down the modified therapeutic community model that his department has implemented in this unit at Massachusetts’ Worcester County Jail and House of Correction.

The space allows those who qualify to be removed from general population for the 3 or 6-month duration of the program and placed in this rehabilitation unit and treatment clinic twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This separation eliminates the external pressures of being in general population for those struggling to achieve sobriety.

The multi-departmental effort works to address the root causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders while also setting individuals up for success beyond sobriety. The program is coupled with specialized classes and vocational opportunities, only seen in a select few correctional facilities in the country.

Sheriff Evangelidis represents the largest county by area in Massachusetts. Since 2011, he has adopted a policy that emphasizes the importance of drug and alcohol rehabilitation while also maintaining a tough stance on crime. This approach has enabled his staff to comprehensively tackle the issue of substance abuse while ensuring the safety and security of Massachusetts residents.

PRESENTER: Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Eric Eisner, Director of Communications, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis was elected Worcester County Sheriff on November 2, 2010. Since then, Sheriff Evangelidis has remained committed to running the Sheriff’s Department based on the mission of professionalism and public safety. As Worcester County Sheriff, Evangelidis has increased the hiring standards to the highest in the field of corrections in the Commonwealth. Evangelidis is also currently the only Sheriff in Massachusetts that does not accept political contributions from employees or their spouses, a policy that has promoted a better working environment for all employees. Evangelidis’ previous public service includes serving as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County, MA. Evangelidis also served in the Massachusetts Legislature from 2002 – 2010, serving on the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Public Safety. Additionally, Evangelidis practiced law for over 20 years as an Associate at Wausau Insurance Company and the law firm of Pellegrini and Seeley. Sheriff Evangelidis attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1983 and received his Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia in 1987. Evangelidis currently serves as a member of the Massachusetts Port Authority Board of Directors and serves on the Worcester County Opioid Task Force. Lew Evangelidis is honored to serve as Sheriff in the largest county in Massachusetts, which includes 60 towns and over 850,000 residents.

Eric Eisner serves as the Director of Communications for Massachusetts’ Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Eisner has worked to improve the branding of the sheriff’s office as well as implement new technology to bolster recruitment efforts for correctional officers. He works with every department under the sheriff’s office to disseminate information to the public and educate citizens on the role of the sheriff’s office. Before joining the Evangelidis Administration, Eisner served as a Chief of Staff in the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he worked on policy and managed constituent services. Eisner also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development, an organization that aims to positively contribute to a collaborative workforce pipeline by providing a centralized location for students to gain the technical and employability skills needed to meet the needs of the region and beyond. Eisner attended the University of Massachusetts at Lowell graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience and Business Administration in 2021.

24 Years Post Columbine – Many Challenges Remain the Same

4:30pm – 5:30PM | Room 207 AB | Case Study

Uvalde, Parkland, Columbine, and many other tragedies, serve as lessons that must be taken seriously when it comes to response. Locks, security systems, fences, and panic buttons were of no use once the active threat was present. Nothing but clear communication and coordinated police efforts bring a swift resolution to these tragic events.

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.