Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference

Overview

As 2014 came to a close, police organizations in the U.S. found themselves under intense scrutiny once again. The police actions in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York revealed the perception or the reality that justice is meted out in an unfair or biased manner. Additionally, more U.S. police organizations are currently under consent decrees than at any other time in our history. What factors are at work bringing U.S. police organizations to this point in our professional history?

The 2015 Contemporary Issues and Ethics Conference explore issues related to the chain of events that bring us to this tumultuous time. Use of force seems tied to Department of Justice examinations of police practices. Where patterns and practice of inappropriate use of force are found, a consent decree may soon follow.  Actual or perceived inappropriate uses of force are also tied to erosion of the public trust.

This two and one-half day conference offers police executives, supervisors and officers an opportunity to hear national experts, peers, and colleagues discuss these vital issues.  Arlington Texas Chief of Police and IACP Civil Rights Committee Chair, Will Johnson provides opening remarks that put current events in the context of a greater need to better understand and implement issues of procedural justice. Chief Johnson then returns on the 17th to participate in a round table discussion on improving the public trust. Nationally known use of force expert and PoliceOne contributor, Terrance Dwyer, Esq. provides a national overview on police use of force issues from a legal perspective. Kevin Elliott, co-author of an article "Ethics of the Use of Force: Duty, Principle and Morality" in Law Enforcement Ethics (Ed. Brian Fitch, 2014), offers his thoughts on that very topic on April 15.  Other nationally known practitioners and researchers will help us explore topics related to improving police performance by using skills related to procedural justice, the impact of consent decrees and methods of developing and restoring the public trust. On balance this should be one of the most informative conferences of the year.

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Tuition

Tuition includes all instruction and handouts. Lodging and meals are excluded.

Agenda and Faculty

Wednesday, April 15

9:30 am

Welcoming Remarks

• Michael J. Marchand, President, The Center for American and International Law
• T. Neil Moore, Ed.D., Director, ILEA

10:00 am

Setting the Stage - Keynote Address

As 2014 came to a close, U.S. policing was dealing with the aftermath of incidents in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York. These events, the growing number of Police agencies under consent decrees in our nation and questions about the public trust are at the fore of U.S. policing concerns. Chief Johnson sets the stage for this conference.

• Will D. Johnson, Chief, Arlington Police Department (Texas); Chair Civil Rights Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police.

11:00 am

Break and Refreshments

11:15 am

Examining the Landscape on Police Use of Force

This presentation provides a national overview from a legal perspective on police use of force.

• Terrance Dwyer, Esq., Associate Professor in the Justice and Law, Administration Department at Western Connecticut State University; New York State Police (ret.)

12:00 pm

Lunch (On Your Own)

1:15 pm

Protocol, Policy and the Investigation of Police Use of Deadly Force

How does good policy, on scene protocol and thorough investigation play into the public understanding of police use of deadly force?

• Michael Berkow, Director, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service

2:00 pm

Break and Refreshment

2:15 pm

Protocol, Policy and the Investigation of Police Use of Deadly Force, cont.d

• Director Berkow

3:00 pm

Break and Refreshments

3:15 pm

Ethics of the Use of Force: Duty, Principle, and Morality

This presentation examines the many features of police use of force. Among those features, it examines situational factors, training police culture and various aspects of officer stress.

• Kevin A. Elliott (ABD), Texas State University

4:00 pm

Conclude for the Day

Thursday April 16

9:00 am

Consent Decrees – The Federal Perspective

What triggers an agency review by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division? What should a municipality and police department expect when the DOJ visits your agency? What expectations might the impacted agency have regarding a potential consent decree? The Department of Justice answers these questions and more.

• Timothy D. Mygatt, Special Counsel, USDOJ - Civil Rights Division 

9:45 am

Break and Refreshments

10:00 am

Impact of Consent Decrees: On the Police, On the "City"

This presentation describes the role of a consent decree monitor. Because of his unique background, Dr. Bowman will also discuss the impact of consent decrees on local government and on police organizations.

• Theron Bowman, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager, Arlington, Texas; retired Chief of Police, Arlington, Texas; Consent Decree Monitor

10:45 am

Break and Refreshments

11:00 am

Talking the Walk: Idea to Implementation in the Conversant Organization

Recent research uncovered a concern that many young officers in police organizations may be ill prepared to effectively communicate internally and externally in their work environment. If true, what does that mean for agencies attempting to focus on renewed efforts to improve community engagement?

• Mary Ann Wycoff, Researcher, Police Executive Research Forum

11:45 am

Lunch

1:00 pm

"Guardian Training" Utilizing the Concepts of Procedural Justice: Evaluating its Effects in Washington State

Using the principles of procedural justice, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission has been developing a new form of training, guardian training, to guide the effort of new officers in the field. What is this new style of training? How might it help improve police-citizen contact?

• Joycelyn Pollock, Ph.D, Texas State University

1:45 pm

Break and Refreshments

2:00 pm

Procedural Justice: Preliminary Results From the Texas Experience

Texas police agencies, in many instances are ahead of the curve. This presentation examines some of the early results of research in Texas police organizations using procedural justice principles.

• Paul Reynolds (ABD), Texas State University

2:45 pm

Break and Refreshments

3:00 pm

Police Legitimacy a Curriculum for Commanders

This presentation centers on an innovative curriculum to bring police commanders on board to sustain principles of procedural justice.

• Jeffery Hadley, Chief, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety

4:00 pm

Conclude for the Day

Friday April 17

9:00 am

The Importance of the Public Trust

Trustworthiness is one of the four core values of procedural justice. Chief Johnson provides a police commander’s view on the importance of the public trust as we work at policing in a democratic society.

• Will Johnson, Chief Arlington Police Department (Texas); Chair Civil Rights Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police.

9:45 am

Break and Refreshments

10:00 am

Procedural Justice and the Public Trust – The Police Community’s Perspective

This panel discussion highlights the initiatives being undertaken by several of our nation’s police organizations. It also provides an opportunity determine how procedural justice is evolving as a cornerstone concept in U.S. policing.

Panelists:

• Mark Aziz, Deputy Chief, Dallas Police Department
• Jeffrey Hadley, Chief, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
• Will D. Johnson, Chief, Arlington Police Department

12:00 pm

Concluding Remarks

• T. Neil Moore, Ed.D., Director, ILEA

Overnight Accommodations

Hyatt Place Plano welcomes our guests attending ILEA – CIEC (Contemporary Issues & Ethics) at The Center for American and International Law. We have set aside a block of rooms with a group rate of $92 plus applicable fees/taxes for 4/14/2015-4/17/2015.

Please make your reservations by 3/31/2015. As long as the reservation is made by this date, and the group block has availability, you will receive the group rate.  Any reservations not received on or before this cut-off date are subject to hotel availability at the best available prevailing rate.

Booking Instructions

Book online at dallasplano.place.hyatt.com
Type in Arrival/Departure Dates
Enter Group/Corporate #: G-CL54
or
Call 888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or 972-378-3997

Dates available: 4/14/2015-4/17/2015
Mention the group name: ILEA – CIEC

Course Cancellation Policy

Occasionally, the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) may be forced to cancel a scheduled program. Whenever possible, the decision to cancel is made at least fourteen days prior to the start of the program, and registered participants are notified once that decision has been made. If the distance to the training site requires that you make airline and/or hotel reservations, please contact ILEA (+1.972.244.3430) to inquire about the status of any program before making travel arrangements. While paid registrations in cancelled courses will be refunded in full, ILEA will not be responsible for monetary loss due to cancellations or changes in airline or hotel reservations.

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