National LEL Training Conference Speakers and Facilitators Sergeant (Retired) Pete Abrams Pete Abrams has been an LEL in Wyoming for three years, helping to create the state s first-ever LEL program. He retired from the Casper Police Department in 2014 after serving 25 years as a peace officer. Prior to retirement, he supervised Traffic and Special Events. He employed a data-driven approach to reducing crashes and introduced ecitation to his department. Pete is a member of the DuPont Kevlar Survivors' Club. Sergeant (Retired) Art Amato Art Amato is a 30-year law enforcement veteran and is a retired Patrol Sergeant from the Union (MO) Police Department. He is a POST-certified Generalist Instructor, as well as a POST-certified specialist instructor in the field of DWI Investigation and Reporting. Art is an LEL for the Eastern Region of Missouri with the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division. He serves as a member of the MO SFST/DRE Advisory Board, and will participate on the Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Council Board as one of three LELs appointed by MODOT. He is a certified NHTSA instructor and is qualified to instruct six NHTSA programs. Art developed the Officer Roadside Safety Program in 2008, and has been instructing the course throughout the state. He is a past recipient of the People Saving People Award presented by NHTSA and the LETSAC Board. Chief (Retired) Paul Bernat Chief Paul Bernat began his law enforcement career as a seasonal officer in Bethany Beach, DE before being joining the Dover, DE Police Department (DPD) in July 1989. While with DPD, he worked the Patrol Unit, Drug Unit, K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Unit, and Community Policing Unit. Paul retired after 27.5 years with DPD and after serving as chief of police from 2014 to 2017. Paul currently works for the Delaware Office of Highway Safety as the part-time Law Enforcement Liaison. He holds an Associate s degree in Criminal Justice from Delaware Tech and a Bachelor s degree in Criminal Justice from Wilmington University. Sergeant (Retired) Michael Bible Michael Bible is a 25-year veteran police officer, retiring in 2011 from the Westminster Police Department in Carroll County, MD. He started as a cadet and served as the Community Education and Field Services Bureau Sergeant during his career. He accepted a position with the MD Highway Safety Office as the Western Maryland Regional Traffic Safety Program Manager, a position he held for five years and now serves as the MHSO s Law Enforcement Program Manager. Mike is a graduate of the Western Maryland Police Academy, the Greater Chesapeake Law Enforcement Executive Development School (LEEDS), and the Police Development Executive School (POLEX). He was the recipient of two Chief s citations at Westminster Police and the Maryland Highway Safety Office Chief Award. Lieutenant (Retired) Nicholas Breul Nicholas Breul is a retired Lieutenant with the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia and served actively in law enforcement for more than 27 years. Nick s extensive career included him serving as a detective, a patrol sergeant, a detective sergeant in Homicide and as an agent conducting investigations into fatal police use of force. He was a member of the Force Investigation Team (FIT), which earned a Weber Seavey award for their thorough and impartial investigations into police use of force. He was later promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Public Information Officer for the Police Department and then went on to supervise the Traffic Safety Branch. Nick retired in 2013 and was named Director of Security Operations for the Washington National Cathedral. In 2014, he joined the NLEOMF, bringing his passion for law enforcement and history to his role as Director of Officer Safety and Wellness.
Sergeant (Retired) David Corp Dave is a retired Sergeant from the Kansas Highway Patrol. During his 28-year career with the Patrol, he served as a Field Trooper, a KHP Pilot, and an Instructor Development Specialist. Dave has trained more than 15,000 officers in Standard Field Sobriety Testing, Preliminary and Direct Breath Testing, Court Room Testimony, and Drug Evaluation and Classification. Dave was instrumental in bringing the Drug Recognition Expert program to Kansas. In 2001, Dave joined the Kansas Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety as the head of a four-person LEL team. He developed the SAFE program (Seatbelts Are for Everyone), which has expanded to 62 counties, more than 145 high schools and approximately 80,000 students every year. Dave is the recipient of the Spirit Award from the DUI Victims Center of Kansas, a two- time recipient of the People Saving People Award and a NHTSA 2015 Public Service Award. Sergeant (Retired) Steve Dillard Steve Dillard is a 35-year veteran in Law Enforcement where he served 27 years with the Red Bank Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in Chattanooga, TN. Steve has served in numerous position in his career from Communications Division, Patrol Division, DARE Officer, Supervisor with the Patrol Division (Cpl. and Sgt.), GDI/Training Officer, Detective Sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Division with Red Bank PD, supervised the departments Reserve Program, Special event Supervisor for the City of Red Bank, and that department s property custodian. Steve served as a Network Coordinator for three years in the Cumberland Region of Tennessee and in July 2009, Steve was hired as a full-time LEL for the East TN Region. Steve is the State DUI Detection and SFST State Coordinator and the TN Highway Safety Office Training Coordinator. Deputy Chief Raphael Grant Deputy Chief Raphael Grant commands the Prince Georges County, MD Police Department Bureau of Administration and Homeland Security. He started his career in public safety in 1992 as a Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician with the Prince George's County Fire Department; in the course of his duties, he was seriously injured battling a structural fire. In 1998, Deputy Chief Grant joined the Prince Georges County Police, working in patrol, Narcotics Enforcement, and undercover in the jail and in transport vehicles posing as a prisoner. Deputy Chief Grant graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland University College with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Business Administration. Earl Hardy Earl Hardy is retired from the North Carolina Highway Patrol and currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of the Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. He advises the Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer on commercial motor vehicle traffic safety issues, traffic law enforcement operations, programmatic and technical advice, carrying out special project which address law enforcement operational policy, management and training issues relative to promulgating and enforcing regulations and traffic laws. Prior to joining FMCSA, Earl served as a member of the Enforcement and Justice Services Division at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Earl has a bachelor s degree in Justice and Public Policy from North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, NC. Captain (Retired) Roger Hayes Roger Hayes is Director of Law Enforcement Services for the Georgia Governor s Office of Highway Safety. Prior to this appointment, Roger served as the Middle Georgia Traffic Enforcement Coordinator and the Southwest Georgia LEL. Roger retired from Robins Air Force Base in 2013 with 33 years of federal service. A certified Peace Officer in the State of Georgia for more than 30 years, he proudly serves as a Reserve Deputy with the Houston County Sheriff s Department. Roger served 15 years with 2
the Centerville Police Department, earning the rank of Captain and serving as Commander of the Professional Standards Division. In 2010, Roger received the GEICO National Public Service Award for Traffic Safety and Accident Prevention. Mike Joyce Mike Joyce has served as a Marketing Specialist in NHTSA s Office of Communications and Consumer Information for more than 10 years. He currently manages communications for multiple traffic and vehicle safety efforts, including NHTSA s national seat belt enforcement campaign, Click It or Ticket, and the social norming campaign, Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time; the agency s Government 5-Star Safety Ratings campaign; and the heatstroke prevention and awareness campaign, Where s Baby? Look Before You Lock. Thomas Kimball Tom Kimball serves as the Director of the National Traffic Law Center of the National District Attorneys Association. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee Law School and has served in the Criminal Justice system since graduation. He was a public defender in east Tennessee and Kentucky before taking a position as a prosecutor in Chattanooga, TN. Tom was named the TN Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor in 2002 and remained in that position until January 2017. In a typical year he trained more than 300 prosecutors and 1,800 law enforcement officers in traffic safety topics. Tom was honored to receive the Kevin Quinlan Award from the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility in 2014 and the MADD Tennessee Excellence Award in 2015. Sheriff Michael Lewis Mike Lewis is serving his third consecutive four-year term as Sheriff of Wicomico County, MD. He retired from the Maryland State Police after 22 years of service. His duties included the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement Team (PACE), and he was the MSP's leading Criminal Interdiction Expert. Sheriff Lewis remains a certified Maryland and NHTSA instructor and is responsible for training more than 10,000 law enforcement officers throughout the United States and around the world. He has been recognized by federal and state courts as an expert witness in the areas of Highway Interdiction, Hidden Compartments, and Drug Valuation. Lieutenant (Retired) Scott McConkey Scott McConkey is a 34-year law enforcement veteran, retiring as a Lieutenant from the Minnesota State Patrol in 2011. Prior to joining the MN Patrol, Scott was a dispatcher for the Kandiyohi Sheriff s Office in Willmar, MN, and a Police Officer for the Fergus Falls Police Department. Scott is currently employed by the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety as the Southern Minnesota LEL. He is a graduate of Willmar Community College and Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji, MN. His law enforcement training included the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the IACP Leadership in Police Organization (LPO). He is the recipient of a number of awards for his service accomplishments. Corporal (Retired) Garry L. Parker Garry attended the Texas Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Academy before receiving his bachelor s degree in criminal justice and master s degree in criminology from Concordia University. He holds many licenses including Master Police Officer, Police Instructor, Motorcycle Safety Instructor, Advanced Driver Training Instructor and Firearms Instructor. Garry has 38 years of law enforcement experience and retired from the Texas Department of Safety in 2009 as the Public Information Officer at the State Capitol. He is currently employed as an LEL and Instructor with the Texas Municipal Police Association. Garry is a traffic safety consultant and serves as an expert witness in wrongful death and injury motor vehicle crash cases. 3
The Honorable Earl Penrod On December 31, 2016, Judge Penrod retired as Judge of the Gibson Superior Court (IN) after 34 years, and is presently serving as a Senior Judge for the Indiana Office of Court Services, Judicial Education Division. Judge Penrod joined the faculty at the National Judicial College in 2002, and he teaches for the American Bar Association/Judicial Division s National Conference of Specialized Court Judges. He is presently on the Executive Committee, and is a Past Chair of the NCSCJ. Judge Penrod serves as the American Bar Association Judicial Fellow in cooperation with NHTSA, a position he has held since November of 2012. In addition, he served on the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board. Judge Penrod is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards including the Lifesavers Public Service Safety Award presented by NHTSA. He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Louisville and a Master of Judicial Studies (M.J.S.) degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, along with an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LLD) from Oakland City University (Indiana) in 2010. He is a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College, the Graduate Program for Indiana Judges and was the first judicial officer to be granted a Master s certificate from the Indiana Judicial College. Judge Penrod is also a regular contributor to The LEL newsletter with his Tips to Testify Column. Lieutenant (Retired) Thomas Reagan Thomas Reagan retired as a patrol lieutenant in February 2014 after more than 25 years of service with the Bangor, ME Police Department. He has a long history of traffic enforcement, with an emphasis on impaired driving enforcement, and was one of the first DREs in the state of Maine. He is a DRE instructor and continues to teach and lecture on the topic. He has received a number of awards for his work in drug prevention activities and his dedication to the DRE Program. Tom is now employed by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety as the state s LEL. Tim Roberts Tim Roberts is the Coordinator of the Florida LEL Program. Previously, Tim worked as the Coordinator of the Georgia Law Enforcement Services, and a deputy sheriff, starting in 1987. He graduated with honors from Liberty University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Tim is a second-generation peace officer. On his off days, Tim is a pilot in the highway in the sky, with the Walt Disney Company s Monorail system. Captain (Retired) Steven Rutzebeck Steven Rutzebeck is a retired Captain from Maryland State Police. During his 25-year career, he served in a number of management capacities, including Commander of Professional Development, Commander of Training, Associate Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Community Policing Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Commander of the Violent Crime Strike Force, Commander of the Crime Prevention Unit, and the Analytical and Tactical Sections within the Criminal Intelligence Division. Since 2016, Steve has served as an LEL for the Maryland Department of Transportation s Highway Safety Office. Prior to his present position, Steve was the Director of the 528-member team of the GEICO Insurance Claim Security & Special Investigation Unit for 16 years. Steve has a Bachelor of Arts in Pre Law from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters in Legal Studies from the University of Baltimore. Major (Retired) James Sanders James is a 36-year veteran of the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Division, retiring as a Major in June 2010. He has experience managing the law enforcement activities of more than 450 Troopers throughout South Texas. Throughout his career, James has managed and coordinated criminal and traffic enforcement operations. Since July 2010, he has served as the Regional LEL for NHTSA Region 6, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His years of experience and knowledge are a valuable asset to the law enforcement community. 4
Umesh Shankar Umesh Shankar is the Chief of the Data Reporting and Information Division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA). In his position, Umesh leads a team in the analysis and presentation of crash data that support NHTSA s research, safety assurance, traffic safety programs, planning and policy and government performance targets. He has been invited to speak at numerous traffic safety conferences, including SMSA, Lifesavers, CDC, GHSA, TRB, Traffic Records Forum, AAMVA and others, on several motor vehicle crash topic areas. Umesh has been with NHTSA for more than 15 years. Prior to joining NHTSA, he worked in private consulting for more than 20 years. Umesh holds a B.S. in Engineering from India and two M.S. degrees in Engineering from Texas and Maryland. Chief Daniel G. Sharp Daniel G. Sharp has served as Chief of Police for the Town of Oro Valley (AZ) since January 2000. Prior to his appointment as Chief, Chief Sharp spent more than 21 years with the Tucson Police Department, working in virtually every area of the department. Chief Sharp served as Oro Valley s Interim Town Manager from June 2016 to September 2017. He holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and is a graduate of the 190 th Session of the FBI National Academy. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and is Chairman of the Association s Highway Safety committee, as well as a member of the IACP Traffic Incident Management Project, the Police Executive Research Forum, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, the HIDTA Management Committee, Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, and the FBI National Academy Associates. In 2014, he was awarded the J. Stannard Baker Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to highway safety and was the 2013 Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award recipient. Captain (Retired) Bruce Sheetz Bruce Sheetz retired as captain from the Colorado State Patrol in 2010 after 30½ years of service. He spent the first 10 years of his career in Gunnison, holding multiple patrol assignments and serving eight years as a Troop Commander. In 2006, Captain Sheetz was selected as the first Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) LEL until his retirement from CSP in 2010. He returned as a LEL in 2011. He is a recipient of CSP s highest award, the Medal of Valor, for saving the life of four individuals whose boat had capsized in a storm. Bruce is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command. Captain (Retired) Dale Stockton Dale Stockton is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement, having worked in all areas of police operations and retiring as a police captain from Carlsbad, California. He is a graduate of the 201st FBI National Academy, the California Supervisory Leadership Institute, the FBI Southwest Command College, and holds a graduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, in Criminology, Law and Society. He has served as a Commissioner for California POST and has been recognized as the most widely published public safety writer and photographer in the country. He has taught criminal justice classes for more than 20 years and is the Editor-in-Chief of Law Officer magazine and LawOfficer.com. Stockton is the architect of Below 100, an officer-safety initiative designed to reduce police line-of-deaths, and has been involved in the presentation of the program across North America. Major (Retired) William Sullivan Bill Sullivan is a retired Major from the Olathe, KS Police Department. Bill had a number of assignments including Police Academy Instructor, Traffic Unit Commander, Public Information Officer, Operations Commander, and Administrative Services Bureau Commander. Since 2008, he has served as the LEL for NHTSA Region 7. He is a graduate of Ottawa University and the 203rd Session of the FBI National Academy. 5
Captain (Retired) Bob Thompson Bob Thompson served 29 years with the Puyallup PD in Washington State and retired as Captain of Operations in July 2016. He earned his Bachelor s Degree through Southern Illinois University in Workforce Education and Development in 2006. He was the local LEL in his county and worked extensively with HVE projects. Bob became the WTSC Statewide LEL shortly before retirement in April of 2016. In Washington, there are 24 local LELs in the state s 17 regions, and he is a liaison between WTSC and the local LELs. He works with program managers at WTSC, providing the law enforcement perspective and developing programs that move toward Washington s Target Zero goal. Colonel Kedrick Wills Colonel Kedrick Wills joined the Idaho State Police in 1996. Upon completion of the ISP Academy s Advanced Training Class #15, he served as an east end resident trooper in District 4 out of Jerome, Idaho. In 2002, he was promoted to patrol sergeant and served in District 2 for two years in Lewiston. In 2004, he was promoted to headquarters lieutenant and served in the Executive Protection Unit while overseeing background investigations for the department. In 2006, he was promoted to captain and served as the district commander in District 4. In 2010, he was promoted to the rank of major and served as the Police Services Commander at ISP Headquarters in Meridian. In 2013 he became ISP s deputy director and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 2017, Governor Otter appointed him as the ISP Director. He was promoted to Colonel and accepted command of the organization on July 2, 2017. He is a graduate of the Naval Post Graduate Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program and the 232nd Session of the FBI National Academy. He holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Training and Development degrees from Idaho State University. Corporal Kyle Wills Cpl. Wills is a motorcycle officer assigned to the Boise Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit. Kyle has been a police officer for 20 years, 18 of which have spent in the traffic safety and enforcement field. Kyle is an LEL for the Idaho Office of Highway Safety and works closely with over 30 other police and sheriff departments in southwest Idaho. He is currently serving as the Idaho Law Enforcement Liaison Chairman and additionally oversees a Strategic Highway Safety Plan Committee for the Highway Safety Office. He is also the Boise Police Department s Legislative Liaison when it comes to traffic safety issues facing the Idaho Legislature. Sheriff (Retired) John Whetsel Sheriff John Whetsel retired on March 1, 2017, in his 21st year and sixth term as Oklahoma County Sheriff. John began his law enforcement career in 1967 with the Midwest City Police. He went on to serve as the Jones Chief of Police before joining the Choctaw Police in 1973 where he was the Police Chief for 21 years before being elected Sheriff in 1997. John has an Associate degree in Police Science, a Bachelor degree in Government and Sociology, and a Master's in Criminal Justice. He is nationally recognized as a traffic safety advocate, and serves in a number of state and national organizations, including as past president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association. He is the current chair of the National Sheriffs Association Traffic Safety Committee. John is the recipient of many honors, including, the top national and state traffic safety awards the J. Stannard Baker Excellence in Traffic Safety National Award and the Michael J Garner Oklahoma Traffic Advocate Award. He is a two-time recipient of the Oklahoma Rifle Association Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, the National Sheriffs Association Victim Services Award and the Distinguished Service Award by the National Police Administration of the Republic of China. In 2006, Sheriff Whetsel was named the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association Sheriff of the Year and in 2011, and he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sheriffs Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. 6