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Media > Newsletters > Law Enforcement Bulletin > September 2014 > Register now for the AG’s Law Enforcement Conference

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Register now for the AG’s Law Enforcement Conference

9/12/2014
Law enforcement agencies across Ohio and the nation have to work harder, smarter, and more collaboratively than ever before in the face of dwindling resources and increasingly cunning criminals. The Ohio Attorney General’s 2014 Law Enforcement Conference — scheduled Oct. 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus — will update attendees on recent trends and provide great networking opportunities across several criminal justice disciplines.

The conference is the premier gathering of state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers in Ohio. Each year, there is something new to gain. Not only is it a great chance to network and exchange ideas, but also allows participants to hear about cutting-edge techniques, major criminal issues, and legal updates from experts in the field. The conference also celebrates and honors law enforcement officers with the distinguished valor, training, and service awards during the Oct. 29 luncheon.
 
The cost of the conference is $75, and all workshops qualify for credit toward this year’s continuing professional training requirement for peace officers and troopers.
 
The conference is open to all professionals serving the criminal justice system. Law enforcement, attorneys, social workers, corrections officers, probation officers, and judges can customize a track that works best for their professional needs. Continuing education credit is also offered for social workers and attorneys.
 
Each year, the conference presents a theme in line with Attorney General Mike DeWine’s mission of protecting families. Seniors, who are becoming increasingly victimized by criminals, were a natural focus for this year as a complement to the Attorney General’s recently announced Elder Justice Initiative. The Protecting Ohio’s Seniors track offers workshops on the prosecution of financial crimes against the elderly, elder abuse, law enforcement’s connections with older adults, and evidence-based prosecution.
 
The conference also provides five other tracks. Attendees may take a full track or mix and match among the workshops. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will present a track focused on Crimes Against Children. This track includes workshops on missing children; abuse and fatality investigations; case studies in child pornography cases; and sex trafficking.
 
There is also a Management/Technology track, through which participants will learn about social media; procedural justice and police legitimacy; close call reporting; and alternative ways to deal with synthetic drugs. Workshops on drug trends; distracted driving; and sovereign citizens will be featured in the Emerging Crime Problems track.
 
For attorneys, or anyone wanting a legal update, the Legal track offers updates in domestic violence, human trafficking, concealed carry, Fourth Amendment search and seizure, and identity theft laws. Lastly, the This & That track offers a variety of workshops ranging from homicide investigations to interacting with Muslim populations.
 
Each year, the conference brings new speakers and workshops. Among this year’s new presenters is Chief David Oliver of the Brimfield Police Department. Oliver has gained international attention thanks to his department’s Facebook page. He will discuss how his department uses social media in its day-to-day operations and community building efforts as well as pitfalls and helpful hints to be aware of.
 
A workshop led by Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Paul Herbert, creator of Ohio’s first human trafficking court, is also new this year. He will talk about how to recognize and respond to human trafficking victims who may also be prostitutes.
 
A topic that law enforcement deals with on a daily basis is distracted driving. But sometimes even law enforcement officers are distracted by all the technology at their fingertips. To address this topic, OPOTA Training Officer Scott Whatley will be joined by sports anchor Dom Tiberi of Columbus’ WBNS-10TV, who lost his daughter Maria to distracted driving, to talk about distracted driving crashes involving police officers and ways to prevent them.
 
This year’s conference also presents three keynote speakers addressing a variety of topics. First, James A. White Sr. will speak at the opening session on Oct. 28 about personal and professional empowerment in law enforcement. White is a senior master training coach and owner of Performance Consulting Services in Columbus. The lunch on Oct. 28 will feature Bobby Smith, a retired Louisiana state trooper and internationally recognized speaker and author who was left blind when a violent offender shot him in the face in 1986. Lastly, Michael LaRiviere, a member of the Salem, Mass., Police Department, and Ursel McElroy, deputy director of education and policy for the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section, will share insights on responding to elder abuse. Their talk is the opening session on Oct. 29.
 
To register for the conference, complete the online form or print a registration packet to mail. The registration packet also contains descriptions of all workshops. The deadline to register is Oct. 19. For those traveling to Columbus on Monday, Oct. 27, the Fraternal Order of Police will host a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Callahan’s restaurant, across the street from the hotel.
 
For more information about the conference, visit the Ohio Attorney General’s website. If you have questions, call 740-845-2684 or send an email to LEC@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.