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Lieutenant Carli Messina

9:30am - 10:45am Lieutenant, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
A proud Mandeville, LA native, Lt. Carli Messina has served in law enforcement since 2008, and with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office since 2010. Over the course of her 17 year career, she dedicated 9 of those years to investigating crimes against children as a detective, work that shaped her commitment to justice and compassion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southeastern LA University. In 2021, she transitioned into her current role as Public Information Officer for the agency, where she found passion in bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community. Known for her creative and often humorous approach to public engagement, Lt. Messina uses social media to educate, inform and unite. When she’s not behind the badge (or behind the posts), she’s a full time mom to two small kids navigating motherhood mayhem and law enforcement with grit and grace.
General Session 9:45am - 10:30am

Monday September 8th

Navigating 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.