The 2nd annual event is returning to unite forward-thinking police professionals aiming to advance curriculum design and training best practices for the benefit and improvement of academies across the nation. This year’s conference will be held August 6-8 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, with a room block conveniently located at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
Here are five can’t-miss features FRA has planned:
Two-part preconference workshop
The first day of The Police Academies and Training Symposium will offer a two-part workshop:
Part One will focus on designing your academy for recruits’ best interests. Bob Rossi, Ed.D, leadership and curriculum administrator, Phoenix Regional Police Academy, will lead the session and discuss how to use time to increase learning and repetition; analyze your academy practices and new approaches to improve training practices; design your academy for recruit success now and in the future; and assess the value of virtual learning for specific portions of the education.
Mike Ramirez, defensive tactics coordinator, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, will lead Part Two of the workshop, which will explore the implementation of team arrest and control tactics. Ramirez will discuss how to utilize team arrest tactics for law enforcement and citizen safety and injury reduction; analyze insurance, FMLA and litigation costs associated with community member injuries during an arrest to highlight the importance of team arrest training, comprehend the ripple effect of poor decision-making on liability to your agencies and how that could affect your department’s ability to recruit and retain people; and grow law enforcement officer capabilities to align with citizen perception and build strong relationships with the community you serve.
There will be a networking cocktail reception following the workshop, allowing participants to enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and face-to-face networking with peers.
An insightful keynote address
The second day of the main conference will feature a keynote address on the future of police academy training and education with two industry-leading speakers, Sasha Larkin, deputy chief, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Michele Freeman, chief (retired), City of Las Vegas, Department of Public Safety, who will reflect on the challenges police educators have faced in recent years; the nationwide recruitment and retention crisis impacting departments across the United States; the necessity for police academy success and improvement for the next generation of officers; and positive educational changes that can improve the quality of policing and repair valuable connections with community members. The discussion will be moderated by Professional Speaker and Moderator Jennifer Lier.
Industry experts covering hot button topics
More than 15 expert speakers will take the stage at this year’s event. Attendees can look forward to hearing from speakers including, but not limited to:
- Sasha Larkin, deputy chief, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
- Mike Ramirez, defensive tactics coordinator, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
- Bob Rossi, leadership and curriculum administrator, Phoenix Regional Police Academy
- Monica Alexander, executive director, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
- Lindsey Alli, MBA, CLEE, sergeant, cadet program coordinator, recruiting unit, Columbus Division of Police
- Joshua A. Ederheimer, deputy director, federal protective services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Michele Freeman, chief (Retired), City of Las Vegas, Department of Public Safety
- Paul Goldenberg, chief advisor, policy and international policing, Rutgers Center on Policing
- Marvin (Ben) Haiman, chief of staff, Metropolitan Police Department
- Nicholas Howe, Ph.D., director of Institute of Policing, Staffordshire University UK, Institute of Policing
With 17 comprehensive sessions on this year’s agenda, attendees will hear from the speakers on a range of pressing industry topics, such as:
- National level report on police academy training and education
- Capitalizing on technology to advance training
- An evidence-based approach case study on the evaluation of police learning and development
- Cognitive learning and the 21st century student
- Establishing a culture of excellence by setting standards from the beginning
- Physical ability testing success
- Use of force training and de-escalation
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations in learning and development, curriculum, and delivery
- The impact of Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) on academy training and organization
- Educating supervisors and managers on ethical policing
Food & beverage included in registration
In addition to high-quality content and speaking faculty, attendees will enjoy top-notch food and beverage throughout their conference experience. Registration for the conference includes all meals listed on the agenda, including breakfast, lunch, and hors d'oeuvres and cocktails during networking receptions.
A world-famous venue
Located in the heart of the Las Vegas strip, attendees will have three days to enjoy the world-famous Horseshoe Las Vegas, which offers a lively casino, breathtaking shows, and delicious food. With the room block conveniently located at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which is connected to the Horseshoe, attendees will be able to easily balance conference sessions and networking with the many other amenities and entertainment available.
The Police Academies and Training Symposium will be held August 6-8 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. For more information, including the full agenda, list of speakers, and registration information, click here.