Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference

Overview

This year’s Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference will focus on “Building Community Trust, Officer Safety and Ethical Leadership.”  The past year has been truly challenging for police-community relations across the United States.  There have been many tragic events where the injury of citizens may have led to a climate of discontent that culminated in the assault on police officers in Louisiana and Texas.  In an effort to make sense of all these dynamics, this conference will bring together experts from the fields of law enforcement, academia and the community to discuss strategies to help restore community confidence while simultaneously enhancing officer safety. We will accomplish this through a prism focusing on procedural justice, police officer emotional health, understanding the impact of implicit bias, and promoting ethical leadership.

A Note from Greg Smith, Director - ILEA

Tuition

Tuition includes all instruction and handouts. Lodging and meals are excluded.

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Sessions and Faculty

Download Agenda

Keynote Speaker

• State of Police-Community Relations in America: Where We Were… Where We Are… And Where We Are Going
  United States District Judge Samuel Lindsay was born and raised in San Antonio. His formative years took place in the sixties and early seventies, a time when police-community relations exploded. We have not seen such a tenuous time in police community relations until 2012 to present. In this session, using the backdrop of his professional experience, Judge Lindsay will share insights to help heal the relationship with discontented communities and the law enforcement profession.
• Hon. Sam A. Lindsay, U.S. District Judge

General Sessions

• UNIDOS – Hispanic Community Outreach for Law Enforcement
  "The UNIDOS program is a successful Hispanic community outreach initiative. In partnership with other surrounding law enforcement agencies, UNIDOS (which means UNITED in Spanish) has been bringing the police and Spanish speaking residents together to improve relationships since 2002. Meetings are hosted and moderated by police officers entirely in Spanish, and include presentations on areas of importance to the Hispanic community. Grand Prairie Police Chief Steve Dye, the program's founder, will give an executive overview of the initiative and lead a panel discussion with local UNIDOS officers on current topics."
• Steve C. Dye, Chief, Grand Prairie Police Dept., TX
• Leadership in Police Regionalization: Why Mission Matters
  This presentation focuses on two research studies completed in Pennsylvania regarding police regionalization. It will summarize the concept of regionalization, findings from the studies and the impact these studies may offer to the police field. There will be further discussion on the impact leadership, mission, and other variables can have on such agencies. Pros and cons and challenges of regionalization will also be discussed.
• Matthew D. Harris, PhD, University of Maryland University College
• Patrick J. Hughes, PhD, University of Baltimore
• Managing Your Message in Crisis
  Successful communication will get the right information, to the right people, at the right time, so they can do the right thing. In today’s social world, being prepared is paramount. In this fast-paced, interactive session, learn the one goal, two secrets the media do not want you to know, the three sins, four strategies and five tips for communicating in crisis. Those who begin messaging first, have the advantage of managing the narrative versus responding to the media.
• Judy Pal, Former Chief of Staff, Baltimore Police Dept.
• July 7, 2016: Lessons Learned
  On the night of July 7, 2016, a protest was organized in Dallas by the Next Generation Action Network in response to police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota just days before the protest. The Dallas protest was one of several held across the United States on the night of July 7. There were approximately 800 protesters involved, and around 100 police officers assigned to protect the event and the surrounding area. During the protest, a lone gunman opened fire on the police killing 4 Dallas Police officers and 1 DART Police officer. Multiple Dallas and DART officers were shot during the incident as well. DART Police Chief James D. Spiller and a Dallas Police Department representative will be on site to discuss the challenges both departments faced, how the departments recovered from the tragedy and lessons learned.
• James D. Spiller, Chief, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Dept.
• Charlottesville Police Department: Lessons Learned
  In July and August of this year, protesters from around the country converged on the small town of Charlottesville VA to protest and counter protest the actions of the city to have two civil war era statues removed. These rallies, especially the ‘Unite the Right” rally on August 12, gained national attention with the tragedies that shocked this Central Virginia community. This presentation will discuss the events of both the rallies, events leading up to the rallies and issues a department could expect to encounter should they face a similar protest.
• Steve Knick, Lieutenant, Charlottesville Police Department, VA

Breakout Sessions

• Understanding Youth Engagement in the 21st Century: Tools for Law Enforcement to Enhance Community Capacity
  The President’s Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing identified several commendations to assist law enforcement in enhancing youth engagement. Transitioning the recommendations to practice not only helps the police agency enhance their community policing, but also leads to crime reduction. This session will highlight best practices in youth mentoring as a tool to law enforcement to build relationships and reduce crime.
• Thedrick Andres, Lieutenant, Arlington Police Dept., TX
• Tarrick McGuire, Lieutenant, Arlington Police Dept., TX
• The Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center: Help When and How You Need It!
  The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center is a training and technical assistance (TTA) resource designed to support law enforcement, communities and justice systems at the state, local and tribal level to prevent and reduce crime, combat violence and enhance public safety through the use of evidence-based practices. The Diagnostic Center provides customized TTA to jurisdictions to assist them with their specific criminal justice challenges by leveraging available resources throughout OJP and obtaining specialized services to fill in those gaps. This presentation will provide an overview of the Diagnostic Center process and of the range of services available to communities through this process.
• Katharine Browning, PhD, Policy Advisor, OJP Diagnostic Center
• Policing and Protecting with Emotional Maturity
  There is an economic cost to an officer’s overextended/stressed behaviors in the field. These behaviors include a Tendency to Over Control, Argumentative Attitude, Conflict Escalation, and Use of Excessive Force. We are helping officers better predict those behaviors so they can better prevent those behaviors. This enables the officer to extend their career at work and improve the quality of life at home. Additionally, when officers are aware of the “bright spots” and “blind spots” in their emotional intelligence, they are able to “turn up” or “turn down” their response based on the situation. When officers are able to measure and address their own overextended behaviors, they can help other officers do the same.
• Marcel Brunel, Lumina Learning Americas
• Moral Duty of Police Leadership: “To Protect and To Serve”
  The responsibility incumbent upon every leader of a law enforcement organization is “To Protect and To Serve” (Peel, 1829) all members of the community. This responsibility carries within it the "moral duty” to also protect and serve the men and women of the department who put their lives on the line each day and night serving as police officers. Too often, I read of officers found administratively guilty before the completion of investigations, district attorney reviews, or even the forensic analysis of evidence, in review of officer-involved shootings. Deadly force events are tragic. No officer leaves roll call with the intent to take the life of another person. Too often leaders fail to consider the totality of circumstances officers face in making a deadly force decision. The United States Supreme Court in Graham vs Connor, best defined the necessity for us not to armchair-quarterback an officer’s decision. Leaders must wait until all the facts are in. Police leaders owe their community, its leaders, and their officers, a duty to remain objective throughout
  an officer involved shooting investigation. Bowing down to political winds and societal forces exemplifies weakness.
• Thomas E. Meloni, PhD, Western Illinois University
• Protecting the Emotional Health of our People – Emotional Body Armor
  Is an intensive presentation identifying those issues that manifest while working on the front lines of a demanding career. These demands lead to many issues regarding (but not limited to) trauma, relationships, finances, mental health and substance abuse matters that result in the loss of relationships, jobs and eventually their life. The presentation is designed for all first responders and their family members if they choose and to provide them with the tools to help individuals being held back both personally and professionally by the bonds of addictive behaviors, co-dependency, family systems or trauma in any form. Participants will examine those barriers and experiences that influence the capacity for a happy, healthy life and career. The intensive presentation experience will reveal how painful life and job experiences are and that they can hamper the growth of individuals and block the ability to be authentic in relationships with self and others. While there is a stigma associated with reaching out for help or reaching out for help for others within the profession, the presentation is designed to overcome these barriers. The presentation is also designed to empower first responders to look within and confront issues (both on and off the job) such as trauma, co-dependent relationships, setting healthy boundaries, using tools to increase self -esteem, to understanding and effectively experience all emotions and creating a tactical personal self-care plan to be successful in their personal and professional lives.
• Sean Riley, Safe Call Now
• Tactical Emergency Care: Preventing Deliberate Indifference
  Law enforcement today finds itself at a pivotal time for the profession. Agencies are facing issues with Constitutional Policing, Interpersonal Skills and Tactics. Additionally, the inability or refusal by law enforcement personnel to render medical aid to those in need place agencies in the spotlight, have to answer to claims of “Deliberate Indifference”. With the implementation of a Trauma Kit Program that is based on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), an agency will be able to prepare its staff to render aid to themselves, each other, the victims of crime/accidents and subjects injured by law enforcement action.
• John Slish, MD, Gainesville Police Dept., FL
• Daniel C. Stout, Lieutenant, Gainesville Police Dept., FL
• Effective Strategies for Recruiting Women in Law Enforcement
  It is a fact women in the field of law enforcement are under-represented at all levels of the modern police agencies.  The female officer possesses a different skill set then her male counterparts.  Most women within the profession realize they are at a physical disadvantage on just about every citizen encounter.  This disadvantage has caused females within the profession to strengthen their communication skills and their problem solving skills to decrease the necessity of physical encounters.
  
  Recent changes in policing have caused agencies across the country to recruit officers who have good communication skills and are able to problem solve to prevent physical confrontations whenever possible.   Because female officers use these skills there has been a renewed focus on hiring women within our profession.  We will discuss strategies which your agency can implement to increase your chances of appealing to the female recruit and some practices to help retain the women you currently have within your organization.
• Carrie White, Lieutenant, North Richland Hills Police Dept., TX

Overnight Accommodations

Hyatt Place Plano welcomes our guests attending ILEA – Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference, at The Center for American and International Law. We have set aside a block of rooms with a group rate of $100 plus applicable fees/taxes for 12/17/2017 - 12/19/2017.

Please make your reservations by 12/4/2017. As long as the reservation is made by this date, and the group block has availability, you will receive the group rate. Any reservations not received on or before this cut-off date are subject to hotel availability at the best available prevailing rate.

Booking Instructions

Book online

Type in Arrival/Departure Dates
Enter Group/Corporate #: G-LA27
or
Call 888-HYATT-HP (888.492.8847) or 972.378.3997

Dates available: 12/17/2017 - 12/19/2017
Mention the group name: CAILAW / ILEA – Contemporary Issues

• A valid credit card is required to make reservations
• Tax Exemption Certificates and Credit Card Authorization Forms may be faxed to the hotel directly at 972.608.4427 prior to your arrival.

Course Cancellation Policy

Occasionally, the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) may be forced to cancel a scheduled program. Whenever possible, the decision to cancel is made at least fourteen days prior to the start of the program, and registered participants are notified once that decision has been made. If the distance to the training site requires that you make airline and/or hotel reservations, please contact ILEA (+1.972.244.3430) to inquire about the status of any program before making travel arrangements. While paid registrations in cancelled courses will be refunded in full, ILEA will not be responsible for monetary loss due to cancellations or changes in airline or hotel reservations.

Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.