ALERT International Conference
Opening Ceremonies
Welcome - ALERT President Geoff Bush
US National Anthem
Canadian National Anthem
Opening Remarks
Briefing - Spokane County Sheriff Office Staff
Essential Concepts for 21st Century Police Leaders
Chief Damon Simmons (PHd) - Liberty Lake Police Department
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Body and How it Affects the Job/Driving
Dr. Lois James (PHD) - WSU College of Nursing Sleep and Performance Research
Building the Best Course: Give Your Students the Best Chance at Success
Stephen Capellas - IADLEST Instructor/CJTC EVOC Instructor
Track Day
7:00 – 7:30 am Depart Group A to Kalispel Raceway
Depart Group B to SCSO Training Center
7:30 – 8:00 am Tour/Orientation of facility
8:00 a.m.
Training Events:
Group A (Raceway)
o Stop Stick - Instruction Station and deployment.
o SCSO- Pursuit driving (Incorporating intersections, civilian traffic, and pedestrians) Terminate/Continue pursuit
o Vendors display of new vehicles GM/FORD
o Steven Capellas- Best techniques for building Cumulative A & Cumulative B cone courses
Group B (SCSO Training Center)
o Vancouver (CAN) PD- Tactical Vehicle disabling technique.
o SCSO-Pursuit Intervention Technique application (Driving)
o SCSO- Decision Maker/obstacle avoidance techniques
o SCSO-Pinning vehicles/high risk stops/drug stops.
o Tour of SCSO regional training center
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Training Events:
Group B (Raceway)
o Stop Stick - Instruction Station and deployment
o SCSO- Pursuit driving (Incorporating intersections, civilian traffic, and pedestrians) Terminate/Continue pursuit
o Vendors display of new vehicles GM/FORD
o Steven Capellas- Best techniques for building Cumulative A & Cumulative B cone courses
Group A (SCSO Training Center)
o Vancouver (CAN) PD- Tactical Vehicle disabling technique.
o SCSO-Pursuit Intervention Technique application (Driving)
o SCSO- Decision Maker/obstacle avoidance techniques
o SCSO-Pinning vehicles/high risk stops/drug stops.
o Tour of SCSO regional training center
5:00 pm Departs for hotel
5:30 pm Bus arrives at hotel
Tire Forensics
TJ Tennent, The Tyre Guy
At the end of this course the Emergency Vehicle Technician should be equipped to:
•Determine the proper tire and tire application for vehicles.
•Understanding tire disablement.
•Understand the difference between Passenger, Euro-Metric, Euro Commercial, Medium Commercial and Commercial Tires and how they should be applied.
•Understand vehicle loads vs tire pressure.
•How to understand tire failure and the root causes.
•Know where to get tire information
•Understand what speed ratings are and how it can attribute to an accident.
•Know what load ratings are.
•Know how a tire is constructed.
•Know how important the vehicle door placard information is and how it can reduce the possibility of an accident.
•Understand the importance of rim/wheel information and where to find it.
•How important is your partnership with the attorney and other members of the team.
•The importance of proper tire terminology.
•How important are the tires, in a crash, if none of the tires failed.
•What reference publications do you need.
•Know what information should be part of the report.
•Know what to request thru discovery.
•Understand why tire category, tread pattern and tread depth are important to the vehicle’s operation.
•Know how to understand what the tire/rim are telling you (How to become a “Tire Whisperer”)
Dinner Banquet
Dinner Banquet and Scholarship Raffle
Speaker:
RAFFLE - Benefit Bruce Cabral Scholarship Fund
Break Out Day
Training Events (Choose One)
Vehicle CQB - This course is designed as an introduction to skills and techniques required to conduct High-Risk Vehicle Takedowns and vehicle barricaded suspect resolution.
Requirements: Eye protection, Personal Duty/Tactical equipment, note-taking materials, 25 rounds of Simunition or UTM for both rifle and pistol.
Below 100 - Below 100 is an officer safety and survival course focusing on the initiative to reduce police line-of-duty deaths to fewer than 100 per year. This training covers the real facts of how line-of-duty deaths are occurring across the country and what can be done to address the problem.
VDI - “Patrol Vehicle Ambush Survival Skills Training Laboratory” — This workshop is designed to improve law enforcement driver trainers adn training supervisors capability to design and develop individual training exercises and drills, along with full scale training courses and programs, that address the existing, evolving, and emerging risks posed by vehicle ambush-type attacks targeting officers, agents, deputies, etc.,
An emphasis is placed on developing reality-based scenarios which more fully engage students in the training, increase the perceived value of training, and clearly achieve specific training goals and objectives.PIT Techniques with "Behind-the-wheel" Exercises - The precision Immobilization technique is a use of force technique used by law enforcement to terminate vehicular pursuits. When correctly done the PIT maneuver although being a use of force could result in a deadly force situation for the officer. This class will help the officer to be able to articulate his or her actions when deciding to use the PIT maneuver during vehicle pursuit situations and in accordance with their agency’s policy and procedure.
OnStar Vehicle Location Assistance Technology and Demo
OnStar Vehicle Location Assistance Technology and Demo, Sherry Leveque
Law enforcement across the US and Canada leverage OnStar technology to help locate stolen vehicles quicker with real time GPS location information. Other features to further aid law enforcement with vehicle recovery and apprehend suspects, include:
· Remote Ignition Block, which blocks the ignition from being restarted once the vehicle has been turned off, and
· Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, to prevent acceleration and safely slow the vehicle down to help minimize risks associated with pursuits.
Attend this session to learn more about OnStar technology, explore case studies highlighting public safety’s strategic use of OnStar to bring emergency incidents to a safer conclusion, and experience Stolen Vehicle Slowdown from the driver’s seat in a live demonstration.
Panel Discussion - Future of Vehicle Driver Training
Four panelists discuss the future of vehicle driver training in general and in regard to the use of simulation. Moderator led discussion and open to group questions.
Moderator: Jeff Eggleston, L3
Jeff Eggleston is currently the Curriculum Manager for L3HARRIS Driver Training Solutions. He began his law enforcement career in 1979, serving as a military police officer with the Marine Corps. He also served with the Urbana, Ohio Police Department as a patrol officer, range officer and baton instructor. Jeff owned driving schools in Urbana and Marysville, Ohio and in 1990 joined the Marysville Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, range officer and in-service driving instructor. Jeff was a lead instructor at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy from 2003 until retiring in 2015 responsible for driver standards and curriculum for all law enforcement in the state. He has written, designed, instructed and supervised numerous basic and advanced academy classes, including Defensive and Pursuit Driving; Patrol; Stops and Approaches; Traffic Enforcement Technologies; and Firearms. He was certified as a secondary career technical instructor through the University of Toledo and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Jeff has presented at the National Conference of High Schools that Work and was a law enforcement instructor with Tri-Rivers Career Center until 2003. Jeff has completed the advanced driving instructor program offered by the Maryland Corrections and Police Training Commission, Precision Immobilization Techniques Instructor Course at the Fairfax County Virginia Police Academy, Off-Road Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor Course in Hollister, Calif., and the Vehicle Ambush Countermeasures Course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). He also has served as a curriculum review committee member with FLETC. Jeff has worked as an expert witness in the field of Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations and has consulted on track facility design. He is a 2006 recipient of the Attorney General’s Innovation and Excellence Award, a 2009 recipient of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Director’s award and a 2013 recipient of the ALERT “Z Man” award.
Panelist: Albert Liebno, Jr., Md. Police & Correctional Training Commissions
Albert Liebno, Jr. is the current Executive Director of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (Maryland’s POST Agency) in Sykesville, Maryland. He began his law enforcement career in 1974 with the Maryland State Police and was most noted for his 18 years of overseeing that Department’s EVO program. In 1985 Mr. Liebno developed, received approval and implemented MSP’s first “formalized” EVOC program in the Department’s history. In 2001 Al retired from the Maryland State Police with 28 years of service. Immediately following his retirement he continued his passion for EVOC training in the position of Administrator for Maryland’s new Public Safety Education and Training Center’s statewide Driver Training Facility. Then in 2007 he was promoted to the newly created position of Skills Training Administrator with the responsibility of supervising, directing and integrating all “skills” related training for the MPCTC providing all types of practical skills training for police and correctional officers from Maryland’s 160 police and 33 correctional agencies.
Al has also provided vehicle operations training to civilian students as a Driver’s Education Instructor for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration new driver program. He also works with the seven High School administrators in his county of residence educating parents and Jr/Sr students in developing proper skills to handle unexpected emergencies while driving on the highways.
Panelist: Melissa Cicio
Melissa Cicio is currently a Sergeant with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. She has been with CMPD for 12 years. She has worked as a Patrol Officer, a Detective with the Gang Enforcement Unit, the Lead Driving Instructor for the CMPD Training Academy, and back to Patrol as a Sergeant. Melissa currently serves as a Subject Matter Expert for Basic Law Enforcement Training, LE Driver Training for the North Carolina Justice Academy. Melissa currently teaches Law Enforcement Driver Training, Crowd Management, Communication Skills for Law Enforcement, Patrol Techniques, and Techniques of Traffic Enforcement in the BLET curriculum for North Carolina. She is also a Def Tech munitions instructor. Melissa has a passion for developing training that directly impacts vehicle operation and officer safety both inside and outside of their patrol vehicle.
Panelist: Steve Westerberg
Steve Westerberg is a certified police officer for over 34 years, serving in various roles. He has been instructing emergency vehicle operations since 1990 and has been the EVO program manager in two different states over the years. In 1991, Steve began a 30 (+) year journey with SKIDCAR System Inc, initially as an instructor locally and then in the mid-1990’s taking assignments around the U.S. and Canada teaching new SKIDCAR instructors for SKIDCAR System Inc. He has worked with instructors from all over the world in my current capacity as the senior instructor trainer and special projects director for SKIDCAR System Inc., learning something from each and every program and individual along the way.
Steve’s current certified position is with the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training agency as a regional training coordinator for eastern Oregon. In this capacity he covers eight counties of Oregon’s 36 and 40,988 of Oregon’s 98,466 square miles (41.6%) to assure constituent agencies have the opportunities for maintenance and specifically requested training programs.
Steve continues to manage the development of new driver training instructors in Oregon and has recently developed a new ORVO (Off Road Vehicle Operations) class targeted towards a public safety personnel that frequently operate in four-wheel drive situations.
Brought to you by: L3 Harris
Legal
Amanda Barack, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
Amanda (Blackledge) Barak is a Branch Chief and Senior Instructor in the Legal Division of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, Glynco, Georgia, where she teaches legal courses to law enforcement officers and agents from more than one hundred partner organizations. Topics include constitutional law, criminal law, and use of force. She is a former city attorney for the City of St. Marys, Georgia where she also served as the City’s solicitor and created and managed a Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program for first time non-volent offenders. Ms. Barak regularly facilitated training for the City’s police force. While living overseas in Singapore for five years, she was a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Navy, working hand in hand with key Navy leaders as part of the installation leadership team. She also volunteered as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate for the Navy. Ms. Barak is a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution where she mediates general civil as well as domestic cases ordered to mediation by courts within Georgia. She has served as a mediator for the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Barak attended law school at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida, and after graduation served on their administration team as the Director of Alumni Affairs. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Florida Bar. Ms. Barak is married to a Special Agent (Retired) with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Driving Into The 21st Century
Presented by Tim Vogt, Federal Law Enforcement Center (FLTC)
"Change is Essential For a Police Department's Growth"
Doug Gillespie, Former Las Vegas Sheriff
Douglas Gillespie started his career in Law Enforcement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on November 11th, 1980. For the next 34 years, Doug worked in many capacities and ultimately became the elected County Sheriff leading LVMPD for the final 8 years of his career. He attributes his success at LVMPD to his rural upbringing in upstate New York as well as his broad range of assignments at Metro. Doug was born in Abington, Pennsylvania and moved to New York when he was 7. Doug developed an interest in Law Enforcement at a young age although no one in his immediate family was in law enforcement. After graduating high school, Doug attended college at Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating in May of 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Fortunately for him, he tested for LVMPD while a senior at RIT and in the fall of 1980, LVMPD called with a job offer. Doug seized the opportunity and never looked back.
During his career at LVMPD, Doug worked many assignments. His broad range of assignments prepared him for the most challenging position he ever held, The Elected Sheriff of Clark County, Nevada. The elected Sheriff is by State Statute the head of LVMPD, a metropolitan police department. In 1973, the Clark County Sheriffs Department merged with the Las Vegas City police department to form LVMPD. When compared to other police departments across America, LVMPD is one of the 10 largest police agencies in America.
Doug vast experience gave him the knowledge and confidence to lead LVMPD. Before becoming Sheriff, Doug worked many assignments within the department and became very familiar with Patrol, Training, Special Assignments, the Detective Bureau and the County Jail. Doug also gained experience in the support side of the agency as well. Doug was a founding member of the LVMPD Foundation, and also the Health and Welfare program for all commissioned employees.
Since his retirement in January of 2015, Doug has spent the majority of his time doing things he just did not have enough time to do when working. Doug is married to his wife Louise and they have two grown daughters. Doug is also a very proud Grandpa and has 3 granddaughters. Doug continues to work with his police department. He comes back at least 2 times a year and does some lectures on Leading in Law Enforcement. He also continues to mentor members of his agency.
Breakfast
As a part of your conference registration you receive a daily meal ticket for use at GPSTC. The restaurant opens at 6:30. Your meal ticket is good for use at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Second Half Track Day
Training Events
Group A
o Skid System(s) Experiences (wet/dry)
o PIT (low speed)
o Static Displays, Demos, Tire Deflation Devices
Group B
o Challenge Course
o Backing Exercise Experiences
o High Speed
Experience Designed By Brian Stokes of Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Brian Stokes began his professional career serving as a jail officer in 1995 for the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office in Dublin, Georgia. Stokes moved up the ranks working in several different positions throughout his twenty two year career including Patrol, Drug Unit, Traffic (I.C.E.), Investigations and Warrant Service Division.
Stokes helped establish the Sheriffs Response Team and served as team leader and commander from 2006-2017. Stokes also served as General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Taser Instructor and Defensive Tactics Instructor for the department along with the Sheriff’s Response Team.
Stokes joined the staff at the Georgia Public safety Training Center in the Police Academy’s Drivers Training Section in 2017, where he applies his years of law enforcement experience to train Georgia’s Law enforcement officers. Stokes was promoted to manager over vehicle operations in January 2023.
Brought to you by: Federal Signal
"Live" Vehicle Crash (Traffic Stop)
GPSTC EVO/Crash Investigation
Chuck Odom and the crash reconstruction team (Jason McDowel , Truman Boyle, David Hopper)
First Half Track Day
Training Events
Group A
o Challenge Course
o Backing Exercise Experiences
o High Speed
Group B
o Skid System(s) Experiences (wet/dry)
o PIT (low speed)
o Static Displays, Demos, Tire Deflation Devices
Experience Designed By Brian Stokes of Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Brian Stokes began his professional career serving as a jail officer in 1995 for the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office in Dublin, Georgia. Stokes moved up the ranks working in several different positions throughout his twenty two year career including Patrol, Drug Unit, Traffic (I.C.E.), Investigations and Warrant Service Division.
Stokes helped establish the Sheriffs Response Team and served as team leader and commander from 2006-2017. Stokes also served as General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Taser Instructor and Defensive Tactics Instructor for the department along with the Sheriff’s Response Team.
Stokes joined the staff at the Georgia Public safety Training Center in the Police Academy’s Drivers Training Section in 2017, where he applies his years of law enforcement experience to train Georgia’s Law enforcement officers. Stokes was promoted to manager over vehicle operations in January 2023.
Brought to you by: Federal Signal
Breakfast
As a part of your conference registration you receive a daily meal ticket for use at GPSTC. The restaurant opens at 6:30. Your meal ticket is good for use at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Live Crash Info and Data
Live crash info and data about it
Presented By: Chuck Odom and the crash reconstruction team (Jason McDowel , Truman Boyle, David Hopper)
PIT Techniques
Presented By: GPSTC EVOC Staff
Kyle Archer
Kyle Archer began his law enforcement career in July 1998 with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Deputy. In 2000, Kyle became a POST certified law enforcement officer by graduating Basic Mandate academy training through Fulton County Public Safety Training Center and was promoted to Deputy Sheriff and continued serving the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in the Field Services Bureau progressing through the ranks to Lieutenant during his twenty-year tenure. Archer worked in several positions including Field Services, Internal Affairs, and Traffic Enforcement and Collision Investigations. Archer created and established a structured Field Training Program serving as the Field training coordinator and agency liaison for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for the Central Region Traffic Enforcement Network. Archer served as an agency General Instructor and Driving Instructor.
Archer joined the staff at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in July of 2018 for the Driver Training and Vehicle Operations Section of the Georgia Police Academy, applying his law enforcement experience to train Georgia Law Enforcement officers. In March 2023 Archer was promoted to Supervisor of Driver Training.
Vendors and Raffles
Take a moment to visit our amazing vendors, but more raffle tickets and win a prize.
Atlanta Vehicle Pursuits
Presented By Chief Darin Schierbaum, Atlanta Police Department
Darin B. Schierbaum was appointed to be the 26th Chief of the Atlanta Police Department by Mayor Andre Dickens in October 2022.
A native of southern Illinois, Chief Schierbaum joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2002 after ten years with the Johnson County Illinois Sheriff’s Department. Upon graduating as class valedictorian of Academy Class 180 he was assigned to Zone 5 where he held several assignments including Beat Officer in the Midtown neighborhood, plainclothes detail officer, and a member of the HOPE/Crises Intervention Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and served in Zone 6 as a sector Sergeant on the Evening Watch. As a Sergeant, he would later supervise the Zone 5 Burglary/Larceny Unit which successfully lowered the number of burglaries occurring within the downtown and midtown areas.
Following his promotion to Lieutenant in 2009, he commanded the Zone 6 Morning Watch, Evening Watch, and later Field Investigative Team before being assigned to the newly formed Community Oriented Policing Section (COPS). While at COPS he commanded the Community Liaison Unit, LGBT Liaison Unit, Hispanic Liaison Unit, and the Graffiti Abatement Unit.
He was promoted to Captain in 2013 and assigned as the Assistant Commander of the Communication Section where he oversaw operations of the 911 Center which answers more than 1.1 million 911 calls annually and provides all dispatch services for the Police and Fire Departments. While assigned to the Communications Section the team was responsible for achieving maximum compliance during the Insurance Services Office (ISO) communications center assessment which was instrumental in the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department obtaining an ISO Class 1 rating – the highest rating awarded and a rating held by only 136 communities our of 48,000 nationwide.
In January of 2015, he was promoted to Major and assigned to the Special Enforcement Section which was comprised of units that carry out the Department's mission to combat illegal drug sales, counter-terrorism investigations, violent crime trends, repeat offender federal prosecutions, joint APD/FBI gang investigations, and joint APD/ATF gun crime investigations. During this time the department joined with the US Attorney’s Office to launch a Drug Market Intervention in the English Avenue community. This initiative combated the engrained open-air drug markets laying the groundwork for the revitalization of English Avenue which is now home to an Atlanta Police Foundation @Promise Center, APD Recruit Housing, and several homes for APD officers.
In August of 2015, he was assigned to the Training Section overseeing all recruit, in-service, and specialized training for the department. While training commander, he and the training staff began implementing recommendations from the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
These progressive reform measures were implemented in both recruit and in-service curriculum, earning recognition from the US Department of Justice. As part of these initiatives, 40-hours of Crises Intervention Team (CIT) training was added to recruit mandate training as well as adopting Fair and Impartial Policing curriculum. Training partnerships were formed with the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta Citizens Review Boards, LGBT, faith-based, and youth communities. While assigned to the training section he oversaw the expansion of reality-based training programs, mental health programming for sworn and professional staff, implementation of the Tactical Field Operator program as well the preparedness initiatives for the Bicycle Response Team and the Mobile Field Force.
In August of 2017, he was assigned to Zone 5 as the Section Commander, responsible for 911 patrol units, investigations, proactive crime fighting and community engagement in the downtown and Midtown communities. During this time Zone 5 hosted the 2018 College Football National Championship Game, 2018 MLS Cup, and Super Bowl LIII in 2019. Zone 5 also hosted annually the Gay Pride Parade and celebrations, Black Gay Pride, DragonCon, Christmas Parade, St. Patrick’s Parade as well as many sporting and entertainment events at State Farm Arena and Mercedes Benz Stadium. Working collaboratively with the community, the officers and investigators of Zone 5 were successful in reducing overall crime in Zone 5 by 5% even as the Zone saw substantial growth.
In March of 2020, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and assigned to the Strategy and Special Projects Division. Housed in this Division is the Program Management Unit, Planning and Research/Accreditation Unit, Retired Reserves Unit, Tactical Crime Analysis Unit, Atlanta Police Leadership Unit, Open Records Unit, Overtime/Use of Force Tracking, and the Atlanta Police Historical Society.
He was advanced to Assistant Chief in 2022, and in June 2022, Mayor Dickens appointed him to serve as Interim Chief following the retirement of Chief Rodney Bryant.
Chief Schierbaum holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Herzing University and a master’s degree from Columbus State University in Public Safety Administration. He is a graduate of Atlanta Police Leadership Institute - Tier 5, Police Executive Research Forum - Senior Management Institute for Police (Session 76). He is a certified POST instructor for the State of Georgia as well as a certified Crises Intervention Team and Fair and Impartial Policing instructor. Chief Schierbaum is a resident of the Midtown community and enjoys spending his off time at bookstores and exploring historically significant sites in and around the city.
Opening Ceremonies
Welcome - ALERT President, Geoff Bush
US National Anthem
Canadian National Anthem
Opening Remarks - GPSTC Director, C.G. Wigginton
Logstics Brief - GPSTC Staff
Special thanks to C.G. Wigginton and his team for their hardwork, dedication, and hospitality for this year’s ALERT International Conference.
Breakfast
As a part of your conference registration you receive a daily meal ticket for use at GPSTC. The restaurant opens at 6:30. Your meal ticket is good for use at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Registration
Didn’t get a chance to check in during pre-registration? It’s okay, we’ve got you covered.
Pre-Registration
This is the best time to check-in, grab your registration materials, and welcome other conference attendees.
Be a Host
〰️
2024
〰️
Be a Host 〰️ 2024 〰️
Interested in HOSTING a future Training Symposium/Conference?
Complete a Conference Site Proposal form and forward it to info@alertinternational.com
Host Agency Duties and Responsibilities (Click Here)
Thank you for your support and consideration.
