SCHEDULE DETAILS Event Schedules
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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 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 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.