View Agenda
Explore the schedule of sessions for The 17th Police Recruitment and Retention Summit
Register to Attend ⭐
Tuesday - September 22, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 5:15 PM
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
Start the day with an assortment of fresh juices, freshly brewed coffee and tea, seasonal fruit, warm pastries, farm-fresh eggs, bacon and sausage, and golden breakfast potatoes.
*Menu items are subject to change.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
Special Presentation: Retention by Design: Supporting Women in Today’s Police Workforce
- Understand the key factors driving attrition among women in law enforcement
- Examine how workplace culture, policies, and leadership impact retention
- Identify gaps in scheduling, career progression, and support systems
- Learn how departments are making changes to improve retention and long-term career sustainability
Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement - Morning Summit
Speaker
Vereen Barton
Assistant Division Chief, Director of Patrol Service at Maryland-National Capital Park Police
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
From Recruitment to Leadership: Building Career Pathways for Women in Policing
- Explore how departments are creating clear pathways from recruitment through leadership roles
- Understand the role of mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership development in advancing women
- Identify barriers to promotion and career progression
- Learn practical strategies to support long-term career growth and leadership development
Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement - Morning Summit
Speaker
Ali Hill
Lieutenant at San Diego Police Department, Backgrounds & Recruiting
Speaker
Yasmin Brown
Assistant Chief, Director – Special Operations Division at Maryland-National Capital Park Police
Speaker
Ettice Brickus
Deputy Chief of Police & Chief of Staff at Montgomery Police Department
10:45 AM
10:45 AM – 11:10 AM
Networking Break
Enjoy snacks and refreshments while mingling with other attendees, included in your registration! Freshly brewed coffee and tea, paired with granola and protein bars to keep you going.
*Menu items are subject to change.
11:10 AM
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM
Roundtable Discussions – Choose Your Own Adventure!
- Women and Wellness: Sustaining a Career in Policing
Discuss practical ways to manage stress, burnout, and long-term well-being in a demanding profession.
2. Navigating Leadership in a Command Structure
Moderator: Ettice Brickus, Deputy Chief of Police & Chief of Staff, Montgomery Police Department
Share experiences and strategies for leading effectively within hierarchical and traditionally male-dominated environments.
3. Balancing Career and Personal Life
Moderater: Ali Hill, Lieutenant, San Diego Police Department
Explore how women in policing are managing schedules, family responsibilities, and career growth.
4. Women in Specialized Units: Navigating Unique Challenges
Discuss the unique demands, expectations, and opportunities women face in specialized roles such as SWAT, investigations, and task forces.
5. Mentorship and Sponsorship That Make a Difference
Moderator: Vereen Barton, Assistant Division Chief, Director of Patrol Service, Maryland-National Capital Park Police
Exchange ideas on finding mentors, becoming one, and creating meaningful support systems within departments.
6. Preparing for Promotion and Career Advancement
Talk through the steps, challenges, and strategies for moving into supervisory and command-level roles.
7. Building Credibility and Navigating Bias
Explore how women establish credibility, handle bias, and build trust within their teams and departments.
8. Recruiting and Supporting the Next Generation of Women Officers
Moderator: Brisa Daniel, Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator, Surprise Police Department
Explore how to attract, support, and retain more women entering the profession.
9. Transitioning into Leadership: First-Time Supervisors
Share experiences and strategies for stepping into leadership roles and managing the shift from peer to supervisor.
Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement - Morning Summit
Moderator
Ali Hill
Lieutenant at San Diego Police Department, Backgrounds & Recruiting
Moderator
Brisa Daniel
Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator – Hiring and Background Investigation at Surprise Police Department
Moderator
Ettice Brickus
Deputy Chief of Police & Chief of Staff at Montgomery Police Department
Moderator
Vereen Barton
Assistant Division Chief, Director of Patrol Service at Maryland-National Capital Park Police
12:10 PM
12:10 PM – 12:15 PM
Closing Remarks
12:15 PM
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
A crisp salad selection and hot lunch buffet featuring a variety of proteins, seasonal sides, and a sweet dessert to finish — served with freshly brewed iced tea.
*Menu items are subject to change.
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 2:50 PM
Addressing Mental Health, Burnout, and Retention in Policing to Build a Sustainable Workforce
- Understand how stress, burnout, and cumulative trauma impact retention and performance
- Identify where departments are falling short in supporting officer well-being
- Learn practical strategies to build sustainable workloads and support systems
- Explore how leadership decisions directly influence mental health outcomes
Speaker
Bill Brown
Director of Program Development at Prison Yoga Project
2:50 PM
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
Networking Break
Coffee and tea alongside chilled sodas, fresh popcorn, chips, and pretzels.
*Menu items are subject to change.
3:10 PM
3:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Designing Mental Health and Wellness Strategies That Actually Work
- Learn how to design mental health and wellness initiatives that drive real impact
- Understand the role of leadership, supervisors, and culture in supporting officer well-being
- Explore practical approaches to implementing peer support, resources, and workload adjustments
- Identify ways to measure success and ensure long-term sustainability
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Unwind with an open bar of beer, wine, and cocktails, plus a variety of passed appetizers – all included in your registration!
*Menu items are subject to change.
Wednesday - September 23, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
Start the day with an assortment of fresh juices, freshly brewed coffee and tea, seasonal fruit, warm pastries, farm-fresh eggs, bacon and sausage, and golden breakfast potatoes.
*Menu items are subject to change.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
The New Reality of Police Recruitment and Retention
Gain insight into how departments are adapting their strategies to attract, hire, and retain officers in a rapidly changing environment.
Speaker
Brisa Daniel
Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator – Hiring and Background Investigation at Surprise Police Department
Speaker
Eric Perez
Detective, Lead Recruiter at Fort Lauderdale Police Department
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
What the Data Is Telling Us in Recruitment and Retention
- Examine current data on recruitment, hiring, and retention across law enforcement agencies
- Identify key trends shaping workforce challenges and opportunities
- Translate data insights into practical actions to strengthen workforce strategy
Speaker
Austin Beck
Sergeant at City of Arvada
Speaker
Alex Johnston
CCO/Co-Founder at Epic Productions, LLC
Speaker
Mike Ford
Creative Director at Epic Productions, LLC
Speaker
Jeff Link
Director of Marketing at Epic Productions, LLC
10:45 AM
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Networking Break
Freshly brewed coffee and tea, paired with granola and protein bars to keep you going.
*Menu items are subject to change.
11:15 AM
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Turning Culture into a Retention Strategy
- Understand how organizational culture directly impacts recruitment and retention outcomes
- Identify the leadership behaviors and workplace dynamics that influence officer satisfaction and longevity
- Learn how departments are creating environments that support engagement, performance, and retention
- Explore practical ways to strengthen culture without relying solely on compensation or incentives
Speaker
Doug Shoemaker
Public Safety Executive Advisor at PowerDMS by NEOGOV
12:00 PM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
A crisp salad selection and hot lunch buffet featuring a variety of proteins, seasonal sides, and a sweet dessert to finish — served with freshly brewed iced tea.
*Menu items are subject to change.
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Modernizing the Hiring Process to Compete for Talent
- Identify opportunities to streamline each stage of the recruitment and hiring process, including application management, communication tools and other touch points
- Learn how departments are improving speed without compromising standards and modernizing the record-keeping process
- Explore practical approaches to creating a more efficient and competitive hiring experience
Speaker
Dareick Barr
Office of Background Investigations and Credentialing at United States Capitol Police
Speaker
Sean Cassidy
President at PoliceApp
Speaker
Taylor Walker
Director, Police HR Operations at Chattanooga Police Department
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
The Missing Middle: From Reactive to Proactive Recruiting
- Identify where reactive recruiting creates avoidable work
- Create meaningful next steps for promising candidates who aren't yet ready to apply
- Apply proactive recruiting strategies that improve applicant quality
Speaker
Joel Henry
Director of Law Enforcement Recruiting at CivicHire
Speaker
Kylie Kaiser
Director of Operations at CivicHire
2:30 PM
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Tools and Tech
Presented by RespondCapture
Leading service providers will showcase their offerings in a quick-pitch setting. Evaluate the latest and greatest tech tools to bring back to your organization.
Speaker
Ryan Lewis
CEO at RespondCapture
2:45 PM
2:45 PM – 3:10 PM
Networking Break
3:10 PM
3:10 PM – 4:00 PM
Using Mentorship to Improve Retention and Career Growth
- Understand how mentorship impacts retention, engagement, and long-term career development
- Learn how departments are structuring mentorship programs beyond initial onboarding
- Identify the key elements of successful mentor-mentee relationships
- Explore practical ways to build or strengthen mentorship programs that support officer growth and longevity
Speaker
Jason Tsui
Sergeant at San Diego Police Department – Backgrounds and Recruiting Unit
4:00 PM
4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
AI for Public Safety: Recruiting Smarter, Hiring Faster, Leading Better
Explore how AI and automations are beginning to reshape recruiting, staffing, and daily police operations. Discuss what these changes mean for workforce strategy and how departments can prepare for a more efficient, technology-enabled future.
Speaker
Ash Jacques
Founder & CEO at GovSource
4:50 PM
4:50 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Unwind with an open bar of beer, wine, and cocktails, plus a variety of passed appetizers – all included in your registration!
*Menu items are subject to change.
Thursday - September 24, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 11:05 AM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM – 11:05 AM
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
Start the day with an assortment of fresh juices, freshly brewed coffee and tea, seasonal fruit, warm pastries, farm-fresh eggs, bacon and sausage, and golden breakfast potatoes.
*Menu items are subject to change.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Opening Remarks
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
Rethinking Police Staffing and Doing More with Less
- Explore how departments are adapting staffing models to address ongoing shortages
- Understand the role of civilian positions and alternative response models
- Learn how agencies are reallocating workload to reduce pressure on sworn officers
- Identify practical approaches to maintaining service levels with limited resources
Speaker
Dareick Barr
Office of Background Investigations and Credentialing at United States Capitol Police
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
The Role of Community in Recruitment in Rebuilding Trust, Rebuilding the Pipeline
- Explore how departments are building trust, transparency, and stronger community relationships
- Learn how community engagement efforts can support recruitment and long-term workforce sustainability
- Identify practical ways to align other departments to support your community outreach strategy
Speaker
Antonio Barnes
Motivational Speaker, Peer Support Specialist, Counselor, Author at The Antonio Barnes Project
Speaker
Jefferson D. Williams
Sergeant, Community Engagement Unit at Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
10:45 AM
10:45 AM – 11:05 AM
Networking Break
Coffee and tea with a build-your-own grab-and-go lunch: fresh sandwiches and wraps, chips, and a cookie. Enjoy it here or take it with you!
*Menu items are subject to change.
11:05 AM
11:05 AM – 11:55 AM
Hot Topics in Policing: What’s Changing Right Now and What It Means for You
- Understand how social media and digital communications are used for recruitment and how they can set your department apart from the rest
- Discuss how transparency is impacting hiring outcomes and solidifying your online presence
- Hear practical examples of what is working for targeted recruitment across generations using job boards, online ads, and other underutilized options
11:55 AM
11:55 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Remarks
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