The discussion will focus on how to manage and respond before, during, or after a critical incident. Panelists will discuss all types of critical incidents, regardless of scale, scope, and complexity. The panel will share best practice response disciplines and processes, clarification of roles and responsibilities, strategies to strengthen your partnerships, and much, much more.

Moderator: Pia Forbes, Communications Strategist, VISTRA

Panelists: Darin Schierbaum, Chief of Police, Atlanta Police Department, Craig Owens, Sheriff, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Frank Johnson, Senior Director, Community Law Enforcement Liaison, Walmart, Yogananda D. Pittman, Chief of Police, University of California, Berkeley, Emil Hill, Principal, The Creshiem Group.

Sponsors: Altria, FirstNet Built with AT&T, ForceMetrics, SoundThinking, Motorola Solutions, Inc., Walmart​

The panel will discuss their career transitions to new law enforcement agencies, private sector, and public office. Panelists will discuss the process which helps expand the capacity of individuals to perform in new leadership roles, as well as the skillsets and mindset needed to be successful. They will share their opportunities, challenges, successes, and lessons learned.

Moderators: Carmen Best, Director, Microsoft Global Security Risk Operations, Former Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department

Panelists: Keybo Taylor, Sheriff, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Robert J. Contee III, Assistant Director, Office of Partner Engagement, FBI, Garry McFadden, Sheriff, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Jeffrey Gilbert, Vice President and Chief Security Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, Shelley Benoliel, Senior Director of Global Safety & Security, Splunk.

Sponsors: Starbucks Coffee Company

Women in law enforcement make up a little over 12% of the workforce and only 3% sit in leadership positions. This table talk discussion will address challenges, the masks women put on daily to survive in a male dominated field, tips to balance work and family, and the fears women have for their own sons, brothers, and/or husbands. In addition, panelists will discuss their own struggles/frustrations with the field and what they consider when they are offered promotions.

Moderator: Reneé Hall, Former Chief of Police, Dallas Police Department

Panelists: Erika Shields, Former Chief of Police, Louisville Metro Police Department, Jeri Williams, Former Chief of Police, Phoenix Police Department, Danielle Outlaw, Deputy Chief Security Officer, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Debra Williams, Chief of Police, Clark Atlanta University Police Department.

Sponsors: Siren, Verizon Wireless

Men in law enforcement are often looked at as the “strong one,” but what happens or who can they go to when their strength is crumbling, and they need someone to step up and carry them for a while. Based on a National Institute of Health survey of 434 police officers, 26% reported current symptoms of mental illness putting males in law enforcement at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Panelists will have an opportunity to discuss the challenges of leadership, the job, and stressors.

Moderator: Keith Humphrey, Chief of Police, University of Memphis

Panelists: Jason Armstrong, Chief of Police, The Apex Police Department, Steven Tomkins, Sheriff, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Ford, Assistant Chief of Police, Sylvester Police Department.

Sponsors: Siren, Verizon Wireless

Keynote Speakers: Brian Turner, Associate Deputy Director, FBI & Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP
Honorees: Beverly Harvard, Former Chief of Police, Atlanta Police Department, Former U.S. Marshal, Northern District of Georgia, Jackie Barrett Washington, Former Sheriff, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
On Fire: How Great Leaders Thrive Through Downturns and Navigate Difficult Situations. The purpose of this luncheon panel discussion is to hear from leaders across various law enforcement entities who have led through challenging situations that tested their organizations, political environment, and community support. Panelists will discuss how they navigated through crisis and critical moments.

Moderator: Ashley Etienne, Award Winning Communication Strategist and Advisor

Panelists: Carmen Best, Director, Microsoft Global Security Risk Operations, Former Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department, Murphy Paul, Former Chief of Police, Baton Rouge Police Department, Patrick “Pat” Labat, Sheriff, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

Sponsors: FirstNet Built with AT&T, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., NICHE, SoundThinking, Starbucks Coffee Company, Target, Wrap Technologies

(This offsite event is optional with an audience focus on students and faculty.)
All are welcome and encouraged to attend this two-hour in-person summit, which brings together national leaders from law enforcement, and HBCUs, as well as, community activists, talent acquisition experts, and collegiate students for a think tank on public safety. Participants will be invited to participate in conversations about community safety and engagement, careers in law enforcement, equitable employment outcomes, problem solving techniques, and much, much, more.

This roundtable discussion will address the ongoing political, cultural, and social challenges many federal, state, local governments and communities may confront as we continue in this hyper charged year of a national election campaign.
Opening Speaker: Hugh Clements, Jr., Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of Justice

Moderator: Mark Winne, Journalist, WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA

Panelists: Patrick “Pat” Labat, Sheriff, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Pamela Smith, Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department, Yogananda Pittman, Chief of Police, University of California, Berkeley, Jeffrey Glover, Colonel, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Melanie Campbell, President/CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Marcia Conner, Executive Director, National Forum of Black Public Administrators, Wayne Harris, Deputy Chief (Retired), Rochester Police Department.

Sponsors: Axon, Motorola Solutions, Inc., Reynolds

Calling all CEOs! People often say its lonely at the top, but it does not have to be. This private session will focus on issues facing today’s law enforcement environment, officer wellness and morale, advancing diversity, the constant internal and external challenge with maintaining trust, declining recruitment and retention efforts and the safety concerns it creates for officers and communities, gaps in law enforcement leadership, and much, much, more.

Moderator: Murphy Paul, Former Chief of Police, Baton Rouge Police Department

This panel discussion will define what a growth mindset is and why it is needed for successful leadership. Panelists will discuss strategies to prepare for and handle on the job challenges, tips to improve an officers immediate and long-term safety, wellness, and resilience, provide resources, and how new trends in education and training can improve officer safety.

Moderator: Emil Hill, Principal, The Creshiem Group

Panelists: Gina Hawkins, Assistant Chief Deputy, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Mirtha Ramos, Chief of Police, DeKalb County Police Department, Moses Perdue, Chief of Police, Spelman College, Charles Prescott, Chief of Police, Morehouse College, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, Chief of Police, Louisville Metro Police Department, Manuel Morales, Chief of Police, Miami Police Department.

Sponsors: Cellebrite, Target

This panel discussion will bring awareness to missing persons of color. It will provide information on vital resources and tools available to missing person's families and friends and educate the minority community on personal safety. According to statistics, people of color account for 13% of our U.S. population, yet they make up 40% of all missing people reported. Panelists will cover trends, tips, ways to collaborate, disproportionalities in victimization, and national resources.

Moderator: Gaétane Borders, Ed.S., President & CEO, Peas In Their Pods, Inc.

Panelists: Mark Pooley, Director, Investigative Support (AI/AN), The University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Center for Human Identification (CHI), Ronald Gathe, Jr., United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Louisiana, Russell Barnes, Founder, The Phylicia Simone Barnes Foundation, Inc., Donna Green, Member, Surviving Parents Coalition.

This panel discussion will highlight the connection between future leaders and an organizational environment that is conducive to the accumulation of experiences. Hear from executive leaders about strategies for leadership development and engagement, the role of organizational culture in creating a succession plan, and why these are critical aspects in securing long-term organizational success.

Moderator: Dr. Cedric Alexander, Former Community Safety Commissioner, Minneapolis, MN.

Panelists: Mark Gwyn, Former Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), George Turner, Former Chief of Police, Atlanta Police Department, Rachel Rossi, Director, Office for Access to Justice.

Sponsors: Indivior Treatment Services Inc., NICHE