Registration is under way for the Ohio Attorney General’s 2012 Law Enforcement Conference, set for Oct. 25–26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The annual event provides law enforcement and others with excellent training and networking opportunities.
The conference theme is Protecting Ohio’s Children. The 30 workshops available fall into six course topic tracks:
- Emerging Crime Problems
- Officer Wellness
- Management/Technology
- Legal
- Gangs
- Keeping Ohio’s Children Safe
In addition, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy will showcase its three new firearms simulators, which will be available for conference attendees to try out. OPOTA will use the MILO Range Pro simulators for regional firearms and use-of-force training. The simulators feature more than 425 scenarios, scenario-authoring software, and a library of firearms drills and exercises. They use high-definition video and recoil weapons, tasers, and other realistic equipment.
In terms of workshops, staples such as search and seizure law, gang intelligence, and civil liability law will be covered at the conference as an annual review. Also available will be new courses that incorporate current events and trending topics, such as Internet cafés and the use of GPS devices in investigations.
Also among the offerings is a workshop covering law enforcement’s operational response to the Chardon school shooting in February. A law enforcement panel that includes Geauga County and Chardon officials will discuss valuable resources available to first responders, the investigation, family and community events, and media relations.
Another panel-oriented workshop, Investigations of Officer-Involved Shootings, will feature officials from Ohio’s three largest law enforcement agencies. They will talk about the challenges facing officers and agencies following an officer-involved shooting and provide advice on how smaller departments can use existing resources when responding to and investigating these incidents.
Also planned is a workshop in the 2011 release of exotic animals in Muskingum County. The presenters will talk about related 911 calls, the experiences of first responders, efforts to locate the animals, and problems encountered throughout the ordeal. They also will discuss the media’s role, the event’s aftermath, and Ohio’s new law addressing private ownership of exotic animals.
The conference will feature three guest speakers, including keynote speaker George Piro, an FBI special agent who interrogates detainees thought to have information that could help prevent terrorist attacks. Piro spent seven months interrogating Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi leaders. Also speaking are Jason Thomas, a former Marine who helped with 9/11 rescue efforts, and Jack Park, a local sports radio personality and leadership development consultant.
To register for this year’s conference, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LEConference. For more information, call 740-845-2684 or e-mail LEC@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
Morgan A. Linn
Assistant Attorney General and Legal Analyst