Riveting speakers, critical incident training highlight national training expo

Mass shootings, terrorism, hurricanes, and other threats to America’s security were among the topics addressed by experts at the AAST-sponsored conference this summer.

Author Lt. General Russel Honoré, left, signs his book, Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters, for Mike Martinez of the San Bernardino, Cal., Sheriffs Department.

Law enforcement officers of all ranks came from as far away as California to hear the insight of keynote speaker Lt. General Russel Honoré and other nationally-renowned speakers at the first-ever National Law Enforcement Training Conference & Expo.

The NLETC, a comprehensive three-day training event held August 10-12 in Tampa, Fla., joined law enforcement with experts in the field of managing critical incidents. Lt. General Russel Honoré, who retired from the U.S. Army after serving as commander of the Joint Task Force in charge of post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, spoke on leadership and preparedness in the 21st Century.

“The general’s segment allowed us to be part of the front lines of post-hurricane New Orleans during the recovery efforts when he and his group stepped in and began putting the city back together,” said Capt. Richard Denney, Virginia State Police. “His training and that of the other speakers gave attendees a fresh and valuable perspective on real-world crisis situations and how to properly handle them.”

Col. Steven Flaherty of the Virginia State Police offered attendees an insider’s view of the 2007 Virginia Tech campus tragedy from a law enforcement perspective, while Sheriff Rich Stanek of Hennepin County, Minn., conducted training on how he and his department were put to the test when the I-35 Bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during rush hour traffic two years ago. Additional speakers addressed other serious topics.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve attended any course as informative as this,” commented an attendee on an anonymous evaluation form, with another calling the speakers “riveting.”

The Florida Highway Patrol Troop C Honor Guard presented
the colors on the first day of the conference.

Law enforcement officers on the federal, state, and local level, as well as civilian, college, and military security professionals took part in educational tracks that dealt with such topics as natural and man-made disasters, investigative intelligence analysis, and other critical incidents.

Calling preparedness “the key to success,” Conference Chairman 1/Sgt. Jeffrey Lane was pleased with the success of the AAST-sponsored event. “AAST has an opportunity to help train America’s law enforcement community, while helping provide valuable scholarships for the children of state troopers. It’s a win-win situation.”

The staff of the NLETC included, front row left to right, Sharon Blanchard, principal of the Blanchard Company; Angie Ishee, AAST Public Relations Manager; and Bryan McDougald, AAST South Carolina State Director. Back row left to right, Chris Ricks, AAST Missouri State Director; Ken Howes, AAST Executive Director; Kenneth Musick, AAST Texas State Director; Jim Clare, AAST Virginia State Director; and Jeff Lane, NLETC Chairman.

Proceeds from the NLETC will go to the AAST Scholarship Foundation. Information about the 2010 NLETC will be posted as details become available.

What attendees had to say about the NLETC:

Relevant and real world situations that could impact any agency.

Best group of speakers ever!

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