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General Session 9:45am - 10:30am
Lieutenant Carli MessinaNavigating the Unimaginable: A Line of Duty Death
When tragedy strikes, PIO’s are often the first line of communication and the last to rest. In this powerful and deeply personal presentation, Lt. Carli Messina walks attendees through the unimaginable, navigating the line of duty death of Sgt. Grant Candies (EOW 03/23/25.) From the moment the initial call came in, to the final farewell, this session offers a step-by-step breakdown of the roles, responsibilities, and realities a PIO faces during a line of duty death. Managing the scene, controlling the narrative, working with the media, supporting your brothers and sisters in blue, coordinating a large-scale funeral, and taking care of yourself when the world doesn’t understand what you are carrying. It's raw, it’s real, and it’s a roadmap for the worst day of your career, focused on guiding you to be ready when the unthinkable becomes your reality.
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Breakout Session 9:45am - 10:30am
Sean Eldridge, Co-Founder & CEO of ARISEYou’re Not the Hero - You’re the Guide: Tactical Storytelling for Public Safety
In an era where public trust can shift with a single headline, today’s public safety professionals need more than policy knowledge, they need to master the story they’re telling. This session introduces a 7-part storytelling framework originally used by top communicators and brand strategists, and now transformed for law enforcement and public safety professionals. You’ll learn how to apply it in real-world scenarios, from press briefings to community conversations, helping you lead with clarity, build trust, and shift narratives. You'll walk away with: A storytelling structure for briefings, community meetings, and internal communication A new mindset: the public is the hero, but great leaders know when to step up as the hero, and when to step back as the guide Tactical strategies for building trust during crises, controversies, or everyday contact Relatable examples from pop culture to illustrate how powerful the guide role really is This isn’t about PR or spin. It’s about using narrative as a leadership tool, to clarify your mission, earn trust, and show up with purpose.
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General Session 11:00am - 11:45am
Vic MicolucciConnecting with the Community Through Video
How to start producing videos, create better content, and ensure it gets the engagement it deserves. We break down how our team produces high-energy, high-impact videos showcasing everything from child predator operations and murder arrests to traffic stops. We also share our successes—and lessons learned—in telling our own story and functioning as a news agency within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. This includes collaborations with major content creators from across the country and around the world.
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Breakout Session 11:00am - 11:45am
Matt DavisFrom Badge to Brand: Building Trust Through Digital Leadership
Three years ago, I started my LinkedIn journey with zero followers and a simple mission: to revolutionize leadership in law enforcement through authentic connection. Today, with over 11,000 followers and countless meaningful relationships built, I'm excited to share how I transformed my law enforcement experience into a platform for positive change. In this keynote, I'll take you through my personal journey of building trust in the digital space while maintaining the integrity of our profession. You'll learn how I leveraged storytelling and emotional intelligence to bridge the gap between law enforcement and our communities, creating content that resonates while respecting operational security. Whether you're a patrol officer or police chief, I'll show you how to amplify your leadership voice and create lasting impact through strategic social media presence. Join me as I share the exact strategies that helped me build a thriving professional community, and discover how you can use LinkedIn to foster understanding, share valuable insights, and lead with authenticity in our digital age.
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General Session 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Julie SinListeners & Leads: Creating an Engaging Podcast
Julie will discuss the creation and development process of our podcast series, best practices for advertising and the results garnered from the episodes. She will discuss the administration involvement and the use of outside organizations to make the best product.
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Breakout Session 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Nicole FerrisFirst Amendment Auditors
In today’s digital age, the rise of social media and independent journalism has led to a surge in First Amendment Auditors—people who record in public spaces to test their constitutional right to film and often provoke emotional responses from government employees, all while livestreaming or posting for large online audiences. This training initiative not only promotes legal awareness but also protects employee well-being and helps preserve public trust.
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General Session 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Alex FredorcioDigital Content Strategy: Reaching New Audiences
London's Metropolitan Police has transformed its social media strategy through leveraging compelling content, trends and creative techniques to reach beyond established audiences and deliver world-leading digital engagement. You'll hear about successful strategic and practical approaches to refreshing your strategy and see examples of the opportunities, risks and requirements involved.
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General Session 9:00am - 9:45am
Ashlee BradshawCreating messages that your audience will actually read and respond to
We can all agree that human attention spans have significantly decreased due to social media, immediate access to information, and various other factors. So, what can we, as law enforcement professionals, do to gain our audience's attention and interact with them in a way that encourages a response? In this inspiring session, you will walk away with actionable strategies that you can implement at your agency to elevate your messaging and strengthen your connection with your audience. With these initiatives, your communication perspectives will expand, and you will reshape how you engage with the community you serve.
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General Session 10:00am - 10:45am
Alex FredorcioRebuilding Local Trust and Confidence
Faced with an erosion of public confidence following a series of reputational crises, London's Metropolitan Police set out to engage communities at a hyperlocal level online. You'll hear how The Met reset relationships and made a measurable impact on the experiences and perception of policing through meaningful digital content and innovative social media strategies.
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General Session 11:15am - 12:00pm
Anthony RodriguezThe 100-Person Team You Didn’t Know You Had: AI Agents for Small Agencies
If you’ve ever wished you had 100 people on your team—this session is for you. Discover how artificial intelligence agents can act as digital coworkers to automate, streamline, and even anticipate your daily law enforcement communication and administrative tasks. From drafting press releases and scheduling social media to monitoring public sentiment and summarizing reports, AI agents are the ultimate force multipliers. This session breaks down real-world use cases, tools, and workflows to help small or solo PIOs and support staff get more done—without burning out. Work smarter, not harder… with help that doesn’t sleep.
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Breakout Session 11:15am - 12:00pm
Myrt PriceBehind the Badge: Social Media Strategies from the Orlando Police Department
Discover how the Orlando Police Department uses social media to strengthen community trust, deliver timely public safety information, and humanize the badge. This session will explore real-world examples, content planning strategies, crisis communication techniques, and tips for engaging with your audience while maintaining professionalism and transparency.
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General Session 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Sam SalzwedelFridays with Frank: Where the Siren Meets the Spotlight
What started as routine traffic stops turned into one of the most viral and talked-about law enforcement series on Instagram. In this session, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office pulls back the curtain on “Fridays with Frank”—a masterclass in turning everyday policing into compelling, community-building content. Learn how they blend authenticity, dry humor, and public safety messaging to drive engagement, build trust, and dominate the algorithm
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General Session 2:45pm - 3:30pm
Yvonne VarelaRecruitment by Design: Marketing Strategies That Drive Recruitment and Build a Brand
Recruitment starts long before the job application; it starts with how your agency shows up online. Your digital presence isn’t just communication; it’s positioning. The content you share helps define your agency’s identity and influences how future candidates align with your mission. Explore how law enforcement agencies can use social media as their most powerful marketing tool to recruit the next generation of officers.
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Breakout Session 2:45pm - 3:30pm
Serena RiddleProactive vs. Reactive: Planning Your Social Media Content
This session will show you how to plan ahead and stay flexible when managing social media. You'll learn how to build monthly content calendars to stay organized and consistent.
We’ll talk about how to balance urgent alerts, helpful community updates, and fun content like photos and videos. You’ll also see how to use data and insights to help your posts reach more people and get better results.
Whether you're running a page on your own or with a team, you'll leave with simple tools to help you plan smarter and react quicker.
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General Session 9:00am - 9:45am
Officer Taylor MerrissPolicing in the Ages of Likes, Shares & Trust
In today’s digital age, every encounter between law enforcement and the public has the potential to be broadcasted, shared, and judged within seconds. This class, led by EPD’s Special Projects Coordinator Taylor Merriss, explores the evolving relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve through the lens of social media, transparency, and public trust. This presentation will bring a unique perspective as both a law enforcement professional and a public information officer, offering practical tools for navigating public relations, crisis communication, and community outreach in a world where perception is often shaped by a single post. Whether you're a seasoned officer, a department leader, or an everyday citizen, this session will equip you with a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with policing in a hyper-connected society.
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Breakout Session 9:00am - 9:45
Serena RiddleProactive vs. reactive: planning your social media content
This session will show you how to plan ahead and stay flexible when managing social media. You'll learn how to build monthly content calendars to stay organized and consistent. We’ll talk about how to balance urgent alerts, helpful community updates, and fun content like photos and videos. You’ll also see how to use data and insights to help your posts reach more people and get better results. Whether you're running a page on your own or with a team, you'll leave with simple tools to help you plan smarter and react quicker.
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General Session 10:00am - 10:45am
Christopher JohnsonWe Aren’t That Show, But We Are New Boot Goofin’: Social Media Strategies From the Reno Police Department.
This session explores how the Reno Police Department has used social media creatively and effectively to strengthen community trust, drive engagement, and educate the public. From viral parody videos to meaningful community partnerships, this session will share the tools, strategies, and lessons learned that other agencies can immediately apply - regardless of their budget or team size.
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Breakout Speaker 10:00am - 10:45am
Jenny WeekesVirtual: Telling Stories that stick: leveraging storytelling in your agency’s messaging
In today’s communications world, effective storytelling is crucial for agencies to build trust, foster relationships and strengthen their brand. This presentation explores practical strategies to elevate your social media presence by harnessing the power of storytelling. Learn how to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience and reflect your agency’s core values, mission and commitment to public safety. Walk away with tips for incorporating consistent branding elements that reinforce your agency’s identity across platforms. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with tools to create impactful content that not only informs, but also connects with your community.
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General Session 11:15am - 12:00pm
Alex FredorcioCommunicating During Protests
As a global city, London’s communities are often impacted by events and incidents around the world. Effective online communication is a crucial part of how London’s Metropolitan Police inform and reassure residents, visitors and stakeholders during protest and large events in the UK’s capital. You’ll hear about a refreshed approach to identifying reputational issues in live-time, the importance of challenging misinformation quickly and see recent examples of impactful police communication online.
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General Session 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Katie WattsThe Reel Deal: How to Hack the Algorithm and Grow Your Following With Authenticity
Want to grow your law enforcement agency’s social media presence and get more eyes on your content? The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has cracked the code—boosting its Instagram following by 90% in 2024 by focusing exclusively on Reels. By leveraging body-worn camera footage, trending content, and Instagram’s algorithm, FCPD has reached a wider audience, with nearly 80% of views coming from non-followers. This session will break down how law enforcement can use short-form video to maximize reach while staying authentic. Learn actionable strategies to expand your audience, increase engagement, and build trust with your community—one reel at a time. This two-person presentation will feature members of FCPD’s Public Affairs Bureau, sharing real-world examples and data-informed insights on using Instagram Reels to grow engagement. Attendees will learn practical strategies for creating compelling short-form videos, leveraging trends, and optimizing posts for maximum reach. The session will include a PowerPoint, interactive elements like live polls, and a Q&A to address specific social media challenges faced by law enforcement agencies.
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Breakout Session 1:30am - 2:15pm
Deputy Lauren MontagueHolding the Line: Communication, Compassion, and Leadership After Loss
In April 2024, our mid-size agency experienced a tragic milestone: our first line-of-duty death of one of our own. This devastating experience tested our protocols, our people, and the adaptability of our admin and communication teams. While large agencies often have robust infrastructure and specialized units to manage such crises, smaller agencies face unique challenges—limited resources, overlapping roles, and an emotionally close-knit workforce. In this workshop, we will candidly share our agency’s experience navigating this tragedy. Participants will learn what strategies served us well, what we wish we had done differently, and how we adapted in real-time. A particular focus will be placed on the unexpected and evolving roles of our staff, who were called upon to serve as liaisons, memorial service planners, media managers, internal messengers, grief support coordinators, and more. The workshop will include: - A narrative walkthrough of the incident and response timeline. - Key takeaways and practical recommendations. - Interactive discussion prompts to reflect on attendees’ own preparedness.
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General Session 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Kyleigh BeaverFrom Tradition to Traction: Maryland state polices social media strategy
In this session, Kyleigh will discuss how MSP achieved this growth through a deliberate strategy centered on video content like the “Meet Maryland’s Finest” series, consistent branding, and responsive public engagement. The presentation will also explore how analytics guide the Department’s content decisions and how interactions with fellow agencies can further expand your reach. Finally, the session highlights MSP’s role in the digital response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Whether you're building a new social strategy or refining an existing one, this presentation offers actionable takeaways from an agency that went from “posting” to purposeful connection.