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THE ILEETA CONFERENCE –
A MEETING OF THE MINDS AND BODIES
By Jim Smith
 

Recently, law enforcement educators from across the country gathered for the training event of the year.
 

Is there someone in your agency who knows how to maintain and service an AR-15/M-16 duty rifle? Or, is there an officer who can set up your agency’s Web site? How about having an instructor who can train your agency’s officers how to manage aggressive behavior? The “yes” answer to these questions (and much more) was provided by the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) at the 2004 ILEETA International Training Conference and Expo. This conference was held on April 13-18, 2004, in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, IL.

Attendees from Near and Far

Three hundred thirty-six dedicated law enforcement instructors from across the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom participated. The special opening ceremony had officers wearing their uniforms which represented agencies from the NYPD, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Chicago Police Department, the Office of the Sheriff in New South Wales, Australia, and many, many others. Indeed, it was an impressive sight.  A kilt wearing bagpiper and a multiagency honor guard kicked off the event, along with a classically trained singer, Commander Paul Ruffolo of the Bensenville, IL, Police Department, singing the “Star Spangled Banner.” Chicago’s “top cop,” Superintendent Phil Cline, provided opening remarks to the entire group, along with a warm welcome from SAC Tom Kinear, head of the FBI’s Chicago office.

Latest Technology Available  

A vendor expo, which took place on April 13, 2004, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on April 14, 2004, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, was held along with the ILEETA International Training Conference. The expo featured the latest technology available to law enforcement, including many high-tech weapons, such as the new X-26 TASER®, the PepperBall launcher, and The Defender (one of the first times shown in the US), a 20-gauge, five shot revolver which fires less-lethal munitions. Fascinating demonstrations of these new technologies were held. The newest batons, pepper sprays, holsters, weapons, firearms simulators, and more were prominently displayed.

The Brass Was There, Too

A number of police chiefs were also a part of the ILEETA Conference, including Chief Bert DuVernay of the New Braintree, MA, Police Department; Chief Bill Harvey of the Lebanon, PA, Police Department; and Chief Jeff Chudwin of the Olympia Fields, IL, Police Department. Chief Harvey added, “I believe that it’s important for officers to see ‘the brass’ participate in events and to be reachable. The greater understanding that we all have, the better and safer it is for all involved. Ultimately, we all have the same goals in mind.”
Not every officer (or even every chief of police) can qualify for ILEETA membership, nor can any officer attend the ILEETA Conference. All members of ILEETA must be instructors, and there are no associate or student members, either – that’s it, just instructors. Since ILEETA membership is all about sharing, the association is careful on who is allowed into its membership ranks. For example, over 200 PowerPoint® programs, extensive reports, position papers, and more are available for free on the ILEETA Web site for members to download, so membership security is an important consideration.  Following the conference, ILEETA is adding a “royalty-free” section of law enforcement photos (also free for members to download) for use in brochure development, PowerPoint programs or reports. Anyone trying to join ILEETA from outside a law enforcement agency is specially screened before they are accepted.

Well-Known Trainers

Forty-nine separate topics of instruction were presented by some of the world’s most well-known and respected instructors, representing federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement at the 2004 ILEETA Conference. Such well-known trainers as Attorney Mike Brave, Phil Messina, Joe Truncale, Terry Smith, Gary Klugiewicz, Dr. Alexis Artwohl, Roland Ouellette and Chuck Mader were on hand to share their knowledge and skills with their peers. Additionally, some not so well-known instructors (but just as knowledgeable and dynamic) made presentations which ranged from Steve Ashley’s “How to Set Up Your Own Web Site” to Neal Rossow’s “The Trainer’s Role in Mentoring.”
The purpose of the annual ILEETA Conference is to share knowledge and skill in order to make the law enforcement profession as safe and effective as possible.  This also equates to greater safety for the public and even potential assailants. Nine separate tracks of training were held simultaneously during most of the ILEETA Conference so the decision of which topic to attend wasn’t an easy one for many conference participants. Corporal Kerman Wedemeyer of the Vancouver, WA, Police Department offered, “The instructors were quality people who were willing to share information and resources – ‘share’ being the operative term.”

Comments

Two consistent comments heard throughout the conference were:  “We can’t attend all the topics” and “There’s just too much information for one person.” Officer safety was also a common thread throughout the ILEETA Conference, since keeping officers alive should always be the primary goal of any law enforcement agency; thus, use of force became an important focus during the conference. “The conference included not only a wealth of information, but the opportunity to network and meet with officers from around the world involved in the critical issue of police training on use of force,” stated Lieutenant Howard Rahtz of the Cincinnati Police Academy.
Some agencies sent multiple officers to the conference in order to take advantage of the mountain of course offerings at one location. No agency evidenced this more than the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Indianapolis, IN, which shut down their entire training unit so all instructors could attend the conference. Lieutenant Lora McGrath, Assistant Director of Training, who also attended the conference, stated, “The ILEETA Conference was absolutely worth our agency’s time and money. In fact, it was much cheaper than sending individual officers all over for various courses. We were able to attend just about every topic and then we could share among each other. This also helped the training unit spend some time together and bond away from our office and during the conference’s after-hour’s activities. We’ll definitely plan on attending the next ILEETA Conference.”

A Chance to Network 

The formal learning program was the main focus of the conference, but there was much more offered. Incidental learning outside of the classroom was also encouraged by ILEETA’s leadership. Instructors could be seen discussing various training issues over the complimentary coffee, donuts and fresh fruit each morning, and in the hotel’s hallways each night. A hospitality room was also open each night to encourage conference participants to network; to reestablish old friendships; and to make new friends.   The ILEETA Conference offered eight separate instructor certification courses and an M-16/AR-15 armorer’s course, in addition to other instructor focused offerings. As much information as possible was packed into in the allotted time slots. Course instructors spent considerable time discussing training issues beyond their allotted time slots. Sergeant Ray Cordell of the South Barrington, IL, Police Department added, “The best part of the conference is that you didn’t waste my time. This was an important point, since information was provided in a direct and efficient way. These were top-notch, internationally known instructors.”

Contest Garners National
Media Attention

There was no question that the 2004 ILEETA conference was a successful, serious law enforcement training conference. However, Ed Nowicki, ILEETA’s Executive Director, found a way to add a little levity to the conference while supporting two worthy causes. The “2004 Dunkin’ Donuts World Cop Donut Eating Championship” was held April 14, 2004. Forty-one sworn law enforcement officers from Canada and the United States participated in the contest before a packed audience. When the powdered sugar cleared, Officer Terry O’Brien of the Town of Geneva (WI) Police Department experienced the sweet taste of victory by devouring ten chocolate frosted donuts in three minutes. Officer O’Brien won a Second Chance vest and the handgun of his choice from SIGSauer. The contest raised over $2500 which was donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the ILEETA Scholarship Fund.
Perhaps the most concise way of evaluating the 2004 ILEETA conference was offered by Officer Brannon LeBouef of the Gretna, LA, Police Department, who stated, “People were falling all over each other to be helpful, informative and friendly. The conference had a wonderful social aspect which I did not expect, but loved. I learned so much, both in and out of class. I spent $1200 of my own money to attend and, outside of my vest and gun, this was the best money I’ve ever spent in my law enforcement career.  I am a smarter, safer, and more professional law enforcement trainer because of the conference. I look forward to the classes next year.”

Plans for 2005 

ILEETA plans to include multiple instructor certification courses at the 2005 ILEETA Conference. Additionally, the 2005 conference will include added instructor development topics which will benefit virtually any law enforcement instructor. An enhanced “Training Administration” track will benefit training unit supervisors and academy directors. 
The 2005 ILEETA International Training Conference and Expo will be held at the Chicago Sheraton, N.W. in Arlington Heights, IL, on March 29-April 2, 2005. For further information on ILEETA or the 2005 ILEETA Conference, call (262)279-7879 or go to www.ileeta.org.