Course Descriptions

Leadership Development Track

• Workplace Civility - Presented by Michelle Bennett, M3 Academy
• Creating a Civil and Bully-Free Workplace training is comprehensive training designed to foster understanding, meaning, and clarity as well as the legal ramifications regarding the topics of workplace incivility, bullying, and violence. Workshop participants will learn about the causes of, and damaging effects of, negative workplace behaviors and actions.  Participants will also learn powerful tools, tips, and techniques to confront and address these behaviors and to confidently combat workplace incivility and bullying.  This highly interactive workshop provides new concepts and tools participants can apply immediately to plan for and build a respectful, safe and accountable culture at work. 
  
  
• Building Your Leadership Toolbox - Presented by Michelle Bennett, M3 Academy
• “Preparing to be a great leader – build a leadership toolbox”. Too often we see leaders get promoted or appointed to positions without a good sense of how to be a good leader, follower and motivate the team towards the larger organizational mission. The course was developed to give tools and knowledge to new leaders as they prepare or move into formal or specialty positions. The course will cover the tenants of good leadership practices within a public safety agency. Topics include: 

  • Team dynamics  
  • Building trust 
  • Wellness
  • Accountable Leadership
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Having difficult conversations
  • Leadership growth
  • Being a good follower
  • Empowering high performance  
   
•  Preparing for PRA Litigation - Presented by Mike Sommerfeld, Pierce County Prosecutor's Office
• Public record officers are the star witnesses in public record act litigation.  Public records lawsuits typically arrive without warning and disrupt agency functions, but public records officers can take steps to prepare in ways that can improve litigation outcomes and reduce the inevitable stress that accompanies judicial review of agency record response decisions.  This presentation will discuss the most common public record act lawsuit claims, typical PRA litigation procedures, terminology applicable to public records act claims, public record officer participation in responding to requester discovery demands, and the public record officer’s role in preparing declarations for submission as evidence in show cause hearings, summary judgment motions, and hearings on the merit (trial).  The presentation will also address best practices for depositions and best practice strategies for minimizing litigation risks. 
  
  
• Leadership and Accountability in Law Enforcement Support Services - Presented by Jeffrey Beazizo, Lake Stevens PD
• Developing leaders for law enforcement support services is often an overlooked function of a police department.  This class will explore the importance of and strategies for developing civilian leaders both pre and post promotion.  Once promoted, civilian leaders are responsible for holding employees accountable, preferably in a way that promotes growth and future success.  This is another area where civilian leaders are typically not developed for success.  Steps and strategies for conducting a proper investigation that protects both employee rights and agency needs will be discussed.  Processes required for proper documentation and progressive discipline will be covered.  Tips and tricks for recognizing when training and support are the correct path vs. discipline will be shared.
  
  
• Employee Evaluations, Coaching, & Counseling - Presented by Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions
• Providing feedback to employees is one of the most critical aspects of a supervisor’s job and can make the difference between a high performing team and one that fails to live up to expectations. Unfortunately, feedback can also be one of the most challenging supervisory tasks. This interactive seminar is designed to provide tips to help supervisors feel more confident in performing this essential function. Participants will learn: 
  • The connection between performance management and employee engagement 
  • How to establish realistic and meaningful expectations
  • Tools that assist supervisors in finding the right words to use when giving feedback
  • Factors that influence how the feedback is given and received
  • How to analyze the proper approach for addressing various performance concerns
  • How to solicit employee input
  • Ways some employees push back and how to respond
  • How to memorialize the feedback throughout the year and in the annual evaluation
    
    
• Resolving Conflicts & Managing Difficult Conversations - Presented by Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions
• Although a congenial workplace is preferred by the most of us, things tend to derail when we encounter an uncomfortable situation or incident.  Oftentimes the transition from an uncomfortable situation to a more congenial workplace begins with “We Need to Talk”.   In this interactive workshop attendees will learn: 
• How to define workplace conflict and why it can make a team stronger when handled effectively 
• How to introduce a discussion about an uncomfortable situation 
• How to avoid triggering hot buttons, assumptions and the blame game 
• How to recognize and resolve conflicting communication styles 
• How to select and apply a conflict resolution approach 
• How to move forward by establishing guidelines for future interactions 
• The supervisors role in setting the foundation for a team where employees resolve their own conflicts 
• Things to consider when supervisors assist their employees in resolving ongoing conflicts 
• Issues to consider when using an outside party to assist with conflict resolution 

• Property and Evidence Management: 101 - Back to Basics - Presented by Shannon Turner, FileOnQ
• This class will serve as both an introduction and a refresher to Evidence Management and what those job duties and responsibilities entail.  The class will discuss property room geography and how the layout and organization of your property room can provide efficiency.  Preparing for an audit is an essential part of any evidence room workers responsibilities and tips and tricks will be shared.  Finally, the class will cover how to establish efficient methods for the review and disposition of property and evidence. 
  
  
• Evidence Best Practices Panel - Presented by a Panel of Local Experts
• Join our panel of experts consisting of Shannon Turner from FileOnQ, Heather Ging of Kirkland PD, Emily Cain of Battle Ground PD, and Erica Meeks of Lakewood PD as they discuss best practices for handling property and evidence.  Everything from how to properly handle evidence, protect chain of custody, security issues, safely handling drugs and firearms, and many other topics.  Registrants will be given the opportunity to ask questions prior to the conference as well as during the session. 
  
  
• Evidence Retention/Disposition - Presented by Ed Claughton, PRI
• The separation of records operations and evidence operations often leads to disparity between understanding what is a record and what is evidence, and when both can or should be purged. The growth of digital records has further complicated the ability to identify what is eligible for destruction. Learn how to develop procedures for bringing consistency and parity to the proper management and retention of records and evidence in this engaging course. 
  
  
• Accreditation, Audits, & Inventories for Evidence - Presented by David Doll, WASPC and Kirsty Jones, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office
  
• This class will cover the WASPC Accreditation Chapter 17, Evidence and Property Control Function how to conduct a proper evidence “Audit” and proper evidence “Inventory.”  Our course will include an overview of the accreditation process, how to build “proofs” of compliance for a standard, and discuss some of the common challenges experienced by accrediting agencies.  We will also provide practical tips for preparing for and conducting property room audits and a full inventory.  An extensive portion of this class time will be available for asking accreditation, inventory, and audit questions.
  
  
• Property/Evidence Packaging - Presented by Amity Locken, WSP
• This class will focus on packaging evidence specific to each area of analysis (DNA, Controlled Substance, Fire, etc) for submission into the crime lab, RFLE and paperwork required for each area and how to properly fill it out, and how to submit that evidence to the Crime Lab.  This class will also cover the Sexual Assault Kit submission requirements and the process for submitting them.  Time permitting the class will have a general question and answer period at the end. 

• Disaster Preparedness/Recovery - Presented by Leslie Turner, FreeDoc
• Disasters happen all the time, are you ready or are you just tempting fate?  When it comes to disaster preparedness, the most obvious is to protect human health and safety -  but what about your records and information? Do you even know which records are the most valuable and most vulnerable and should be prioritized? Are there suitable measures in place to protect essential records?  This session will provide you with the knowledge and skills to identify risks, plan and be prepared for any kind of disaster – be it natural or man-made.  Once you assess your risks and develop a plan of action, the next thing is to be able to swing into immediate action if you are struck with a disaster, and what it takes to restore and recover from an event.
  
  
• Managing LE Records for the Future - Presented by Leslie Turner, FreeDoc
• There is no denying managing records and information in today’s world is a daunting task, and the rapid evolution of technology just increases the challenges agencies face.   How can an agency prepare for the future if they can’t even keep up with the present?  This session offers tips and strategies on how an agency can move forward NOW and align best practices for records management with the use of technology, and envision the successful implementation of records management for the future.
  
  
• BWC Best Practices Panel - Presented by a Panel of Local Experts
• Join our panel of experts consisting of Morgan Damerow from the Attorney General’s Office, Mike Smith counsel for Tacoma PD, and Mandi Caldwell of Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office as they discuss lessons they have learned since deploying body camera programs and how to work within the public records act. The group will discuss all types of issues including how to deploy a program, being the “go-to” person for issues, how to conduct a cost study, and privacy concerns and needed redactions (that may be inconsistent with other records). Registrants will be given the opportunity to ask questions prior to the conference as well as during the session.
  
  
• PRA Expert Panel - Presented by Panel of Local Experts
  
• Join our panel of experts consisting of Morgan Damerow from the Attorney General’s Office, Mike Smith counsel for Tacoma PD, Mike Sommerfield counsel for Pierce County, Jeanne Johnson Jacobs of Everett PD and Snohomish County SMART, Julie Ubert of Lake Stevens PD, and Cathy Munoz of City of Cheney as they discuss anything and everything public records act.  Each panelist will present a segment on the types of complicated issues they routinely field questions on or face routinely.  You can expect topics to include juveniles, IA’s, personnel files, and any fresh relevant case law.  Registrants will be given the opportunity to ask questions prior to the conference as well as during the session. 
  
  
• Sealing/Expunging Records - Presented by Julie Ubert, Lake Stevens PD
• This class will provide information on what agencies need to do when they receive court orders to seal or expunge records.  Students will receive an overview of the state law and the requirements to comply with orders received.  The class will provide assistance in understanding the different types of orders and what your agencies responsibilities to comply are.  Students will leave with an understanding of how to develop step-by-step procedures based on their individual agency’s records management system.
  
  
• Accreditation & Audits for Records - Presented David Doll, WASPC and Cathy Munoz, LEIRA/City of Cheney
• This class will cover the WASPC Accreditation Chapter 5 Records Management and how to prepare for any audit.  Our course will include an overview of the accreditation process, how to build “proofs” of compliance for a standard, and discuss some of the common challenges experienced by accrediting agencies.  We will also provide practical tips for preparing for various audits such as ACCESS, FBI/CJIS, or overall WASPC accreditation.  An extensive portion of this class time will be available for asking your audit and accreditation questions.   

• Michelle Bennett
• Mike Sommerfield
• Janet May
• Leslie Turner
• Ed Claughton
• Julie Ubert
• Cathy Munoz
• David Doll
• Jeanne Johnson-Jacobs
• Mike Smith
• Morgan Damerow
• Heather Ging
• Emily Cain
• Erica Meeks
• Shannon Turner
• Kirsty Jones

Certificate Info