Trainers

Attorney Marshall Segar is a 25-year law enforcement professional as well as a U.S. Army veteran with service in Europe and Operation Desert Storm. His legal practice is focused on litigating in the areas of labor and employment, commercial litigation, consumer debt and contract disputes. He is an expert witness in federal use of force cases as well as consulting and training on topics such as leadership, management, union administration and matters dealing with police officers and psychiatric commitment cases. He was a law enforcement officer in New London, CT for 21 years and retired in 2012 as Deputy Chief of Police.

Det. Michael J. Brasche, retired from Bristol Connecticut Police Department after serving his community for 29 years. Mike was a patrol officer from 1993-2005, and a Detective from 2005-2022. While a patrol officer, he was part of the Central Region S.W.A.T. and was a Squad Leader & Team Leader. He served as a Field Training Officer, and he worked in the Street Level Crime Suppression Unit and was also assigned to Public Housing Patrol during this period. In the Detective division he was a Narcotics K-9 Handler and on the Narcotics Enforcement Team, which comprised 16 years of his career. Mike served his country in the Connecticut Army National Guard from 1982-2012. He retired with an honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant E/6. While in the CTARNG. he was the Unit Training Sergeant and course manager of the Quick Reaction Force. In addition to other responsibilities, Mike was responsible for training support for 100 soldiers and staff members during weekend and annual training. Mike is the recipient of 16 awards/commendations from the military and law enforcement. Some of those include Bristol Police Officer of the Year Award (Bank Robbery), 1st Place in the 2005 S.W.A.T. Competition (Team Leader), the Army Achievement Medal, a Distinguished Service Medal, and the Battalion Top Gun Rifle Award. Mike developed a program entitled “The Game” which has been taught to middle-school and high-school aged youth. The program focuses on the dangers of drugs.

Kevin Geraci has been a police officer with the Town of South Windsor since 2008 and currently holds the rank of Corporal. For the past five years, Kevin has been assigned as a Detective for the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations (CDI) and a Connecticut Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce member. Kevin not only conducts investigations related to cyber and child exploitation crimes, but he also conducts the forensic analysis of digital evidence. As a result, Kevin has obtained certification through the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists as a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner. In addition to his assigned duties, Kevin is an International Association of Chiefs of Police Certified Drug Recognition Expert and Instructor, peer support team member, honor guard member, laser and radar instructor, SFST instructor, Drager instructor, and certified arson investigator. Kevin holds an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from SNHU.

James Held earned his college degree in Police Science from SUNY before starting a career in law enforcement in 1986 with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). While working for the NYPD, he had been assigned to the Vice Enforcement Division – Sexual Exploitation of Children Squad, which investigated cases of child pornography, the human trafficking of minors, and “traveler cases” involving minors. He has been directly involved in the investigation of several hundred cases resulting in the arrest and prosecution of suspects in multiple jurisdictions, both at the state and federal levels. He had received extensive training on the subject of the sexual exploitation of children including training from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He was the lead instructor for the NYPD VED and has lectured throughout the United States and Canada on the topic of the Sexual Exploitation of Children. He was instrumental in creating the procedure, policies and protocols used by the NYPD and the five district attorney’s offices in New York City to investigate internet and social media based traveler cases. After retiring from NYPD with the rank of detective second grade, James continued his career in law enforcement with the Enfield Police Department in Connecticut, where he served as an officer, a detective, a sergeant, and currently as a lieutenant. He is a POST certified instructor on the topics of human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children.

Kevin Roberto earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Southern Connecticut State University in 1992. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Sociology from that same institution in 2000.
Kevin served with the Department of Public Safety University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut from 1994 until 2014. He retired after 20 years of service as a police sergeant. While employed by UConn, he focused on crime investigation, community outreach, accreditation and policy development, with a heavy focus on comprehensive education and training of community and colleagues. As Commander of the Professional Standards Unit he was responsible for policy development and publication, accreditation by the State and two international accreditation agencies, CALEA and IACLEA, oversight of compliance with accreditation standards, and supervisory duties of the Parking Enforcement Unit.
Kevin did not end his police career after retiring from UConn in 2014. He became Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police in Coventry CT Police Department where he retired from fulltime employment in 2022. Kevin remains in a contractual part-time position with Coventry PD. As agency Accreditation Manager, he was responsible to prepare, compile and file proofs of compliance with CALEA and State of CT Accreditation standards. He conducted required audits and reviews to satisfy agency and accreditation requirements. He participated in onsite assessment activities and attended meetings and training regarding police accreditation. He has experience as an IACLEA and State of Connecticut Accreditation Assessor and was frequently called for compliance questions, MOCK Assessments, and other accreditation measures.
Today Kevin works as a Policy Analyst III in the Policy and Research Unit for the Colorado State Patrol. He researches, writes, and reviews and updates all policies as they pertain to the Colorado State Patrol. His unit works closely with training and accreditation to ensure that all policies accurately address CALEA Standards, best practice and current training practices.
Kevin is a current member of the Accreditation Working Subcommittee for CT POST, assigned to help set up new compliance standards and direct all CT police agencies to either Tier 3 State Accreditation or CALEA membership and accreditation.

Detective Joseph Lopa was hired by the New Britain Police Department in 2005. During his career he has been assigned to the Patrol Division, Gun Task Force, Special Services Unit, Youth Bureau, Polygraph Unit and has been Deputized with the DEA on two separate occasions and was promoted to the rank of Detective in 2014. During his time with the New Britain PD, Joe has received over 20 Department Awards and 2 United States Attorney’s Office Awards for cases he assisted in investigating.

Joe has been a Certified Polygraph Examiner since 2014. He is also P.O.S.T. authorized to conduct pre-employment screenings in Connecticut. He graduated the National Polygraph Academy in Columbus, OH in 2014. He received the Distinguished Student Award while at Polygraph School, as voted on by his peers. He is a member of the American Association of Police Polygraphists, the American Polygraph Association and currently holds the position of Treasurer with The Connecticut Polygraph Association.

Joe has received several continuing education hours through polygraph seminars and P.O.S.T. in the area of Interview and Interrogation as well as criminal investigations. These trainings have assisted him in convicting several criminals for homicides, sexual assaults, drug trafficking, and other crimes, as well as obtaining confessions in numerous felony investigations.

Joe is certified by CT POSTC in the areas of Interview and Interrogation, Juvenile Law, Child Abuse and Neglect, Rape Crisis, and he is an MOI instructor. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2004 from Western Connecticut State University and completed his thesis study on “The Importance of Non-Verbal Communication in the Field of Law Enforcement.”

Joe has been an advisor with the New Britain Police Explorers since 2013, assisting New Britain’s youth who have an interest in Law Enforcement. He also assists with the “New Britain Becoming PALS” program and teaches at New Britain High School.

Laura (Harrison) Naples recently retired after 33 years of service to her community employed with the Naugatuck Police Department for 20 years and Meriden Police Department for 10 years. Prior to serving those two communities, Laura was a Public Safety Officer for University of Hartford and a Police Officer for the State of Connecticut assigned to the Grater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center and the Fairfield Hills Hospital. While at Naugatuck P.D. Laura primarily served in the Detective Division and retired from that agency as a Detective Sergeant. While supervising all criminal investigations she also managed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program, the Police Explorer Program, was a member of the Child Abuse Interdisciplinary Team and the Statewide Narcotics Task Force and served on the Board of Directors for the Naugatuck Youth and Family Services. Laura received two Meritorious Service Awards, a Unit Citation for apprehending an armed & barricaded subject, was named the CT District Exchange Club’s “Officer of the Year” in 1997 and had “First Place Scholastic Standing” in the Fairfield Detective School in 2003. Her training experience includes seventeen courses related to investigations and five advanced trainings including FBI LEEDA. She received the 41st Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives Certificate of Achievement, and the Roger Williams University – Justice System Training & Research Institute Command Training Series – First Line Supervisor Certificate of Achievement. She has been a POST certified instructor since 2002, teaching recruits and in-service for various agencies / entities focusing on Human Trafficking, Family Violence, Sexual Assault / Rape Crisis, and Juvenile Law. Laura enjoyed her special assignment as a School Resource Officer while employed with the Meriden Police Department where she served that community as a patrol officer. Laura’s vast background enables her to give a real-world perspective on the subjects she teaches.

Earl B. Middleton, Jr., has been a law enforcement officer for 25 years. Earl served the community of Vernon, CT, from 1997 until 2020 and is now employed by the Resident State Trooper’s Office in Stafford, CT. He was a School Resource Officer in Vernon for four years. In that role he organized school workshops and events for the students and staff and developed presentations for students, staff, parents, and community members regarding safety issues. He mentored students from diverse backgrounds while developing close working relationships with the school administration and parents. During his time as SRO, he started a first of its kind rock band called “Books & Badges” with fellow officers and Rockville High School students, and they performed at live events and fundraisers.

In 2020, when Earl retired from Vernon Police Department, he assumed the role of School Resource Officer in the Town of Stafford where he continues his employment and has returned to the job, he has enjoyed the most in his career.

Earl graduated from Hartford Public Schools and earned his Bachelor of Science at Southern Connecticut State University in 1994. He attended the pilot program for the YAPA SRO Basic Training Course in 2008, and from 2008-2011 he attended various youth related trainings as well.

Since 2016 Earl has enjoyed educating youth and adults through his company, “EARLPresentations” (Education Adolescents for Responsible Living). He covers topics such as Teen Dating Violence, DUI for the Underage Driver, Dangers of Inhalants, Gangs, Sexting and Texting and Driving. To date his Teen Dating Violence presentation has been delivered to over 15,000 teenagers and their parents throughout Connecticut.

Earl presents in our School Resource Officer programs and will soon be part of our Creating Partnerships of Trust in Our Communities series.

Gerald “Jerry” Narowski recently retired as Chief of Police of the Derby Police Department (CT). Initially he was assigned to the Patrol Division and later to the Detective Division where he became the Commanding Officer. As a working supervisor he managed all death investigations and crime scenes. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2007 and to Chief of Police in 2010. During his tenure managing the Detective Division and as the Executive Officer of the agency he was also one of a handful of IAI Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst in the state. Throughout his career he has held numerous additional assignments including a tour with the State Computer Crime Unit, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a Senior Firearms Instructor, a Microsoft System Administrator, and the Commander of the SCUBA/URT. 

Jerry holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Science, an M.S. in Forensic Science, as well as an M.P.A. – Personnel Administration and Labor Relations from the University of New Haven. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Forensic Science Department at UNH Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences since 2001. After a 36-year law enforcement career he has joined the university as a full-time faculty member.

Jerry has trained and lectured at several police academies, universities, in-service training courses, and presented at a number of professional conferences. His specialty areas include: forensic photography, digital image processing/clarification, alternate light energy, crime scene processing, fingerprints, and criminalistics. 

Lt. Art Weisgerber joined the Norwalk Police Department in September of 1988 and is currently the Commanding Officer of the Crime Scene/Identification Unit since 2011. Early in his career, he was assigned to the Patrol Division and the Special Service Division which investigated narcotic and vice crimes. In 1998 he was promoted to Detective and conducted general investigations. In 2002, he was assigned to the Cold Case Unit and attended the first Cold Case Reconstruction class at the Henry Lee Institute. In 2005, he was promoted to Sergeant and remained in the Detective Bureau as a Detective Sergeant and conducted Cold Case Investigations as time permitted. In 2011, he was assigned as the Commander of the Identification Unit which was revamped and renamed as the Crime Scene / Identification Unit. In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and remained as the Commander of the Crime Scene / Identification Unit as a hands-on supervisor. In 2009, he became a Certified State of Connecticut Police Instructor and has been teaching in-house recertification courses along with Police Academy instruction in Bridgeport and Milford. In 2016, he joined the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Academy as an Adjunct Instructor teaching Law Enforcement Photography 1 & 2. Lt. Weisgerber has extensive training in photography, latent print development and identification and all facets of crime scene investigation. He has received numerous awards and citations for his investigative work, especially from the U.S. Office of the Inspector General and in 2019 was awarded the Norwalk Police Department Officer of the Year for his work for 17 years on the 1986 Homicide of 11 year old Kathleen Flynn.

Lou Luba has been a prosecutor with the Division of Criminal Justice since 1995, working out of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney Special Investigations Unit/Statewide Prosecution Bureau, New Britain – G.A. # 15, and Windham Judicial District – Part A, and was named 2019 Prosecutor of the Year. He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, a M.P.A. from the nation’s top ranked Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a Masters in Homeland Security with a concentration in Terrorism Studies from the American Military University, as well as graduate studies at the University of Connecticut, Naval War College, Naval Justice School and National Defense University. He holds professional certifications in Cyber Investigations through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is 3CI certified through the National White Collar Crime Center.

Lou is a POST certified instructor regularly teaching at the Law Enforcement Council in Norwich, and also serves as an Adjunct Professor at CCSU as part of their Advanced Detective Certificate program teaching 4th Amendment & Expectation of Privacy, and is the author of the Connecticut Law Enforcement Guide to the 4th Amendment & Expectation of Privacy. He is one of the state’s leading prosecutors in sexual assaults and computer crime related cases and has been a presenter at several national and international conferences on the issue of non-consensual pornography and computer facilitated sexual violence. Beyond his work as a prosecutor, Lou is a retired Commander from the U.S. Coast Guard, having served three overseas deployments, and is a recognized subject matter expert in coastal warfare and port security operations.

Christopher M. McKee recently joined the Spector Training Team after retiring from over twenty-eight years of law enforcement service, most recently as Captain and Executive Officer for the Town of Suffield, Connecticut Police Department. With a notable pending Master of Science in Administration of Justice (concentration in Leadership in Justice) from Salve Regina University, McKee also possesses a wide range of law enforcement experience, having commanded the majority of units of the Windsor, CT (mid-sized agency) and Suffield, CT (rural agency) Police Departments as well as having served in leadership capacities in multi-jurisdictional law enforcement and judicial federal, state, and local task forces and initiatives.
McKee has extensive background and passion for school-based policing, police-school-community partnerships, and police crisis intervention for both youths and adults in mental and behavioral health emergencies. Captain McKee provided command and administrative leadership of both agencies School Resource Officer (SRO) programs, Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), and community-based youth diversionary Juvenile Review Boards among other youth/school-based programs.
In addition to being a practitioner, Captain McKee (Ret.) serves as an instructor providing professional development to police officers, juvenile court officials, youth mobile crisis clinicians, school faculty and administrators, school clinicians, and child welfare staff throughout the country on youth crisis intervention and mental health, school resource officer and school based / juvenile policing topics.
Captain McKee (Ret.) has successfully developed and obtained numerous grant funding projects for public safety initiatives and enhancements in these same areas including the award of $2.9 Million Dollars to the Suffield Police Department for the Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), during 2018 and the award of a $200K Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grant award to the Windsor Police Department from the U.S. Department of Justice to enhance a collaborative police-mental health mobile crisis response and linkage to services to those experiencing mental health crises.
In 2016, Captain McKee was awarded the Chief Michael J. Fallon Memorial CIT Leadership Award for the State of Connecticut in recognition of his “…exemplary leadership and compassionate service to people with behavioral health conditions in the community”. Captain McKee is a recipient of the United States Department of Justice William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement (2009) awarded by then sitting Attorney General Eric Holder as well as the Town of Windsor Human Relations Commission 2015 Bridge Builder Award recognizing his contributions in the area of Human Relations to the citizens of Windsor.

Kelvan Kearse began his career with the Windsor CT Police Department after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps as a member for the 4^th Counterintelligence Team, 2^nd Marine Amphibious Force, 2^nd Marine Division, in 1989.  He retired in 2015 as a Captain, after 25 years of service.

Kelvan was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1993, and to Captain in 2000.  While serving as Captain, he was the Patrol Commander and later became Operations Commander responsible for the Patrol and Detective Divisions and is the only officer to ever hold that hybrid position. 

Kelvan became a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer in 1991 and continued in that role until 1994.  From 1991-1993 he was a Field Training Officer.  Kelvan completed various critical  trainings including FBI SWAT School (1992), FBI Advanced SWAT School (1993), Verbal Judo (1994), Cultural Diversity Instructor (1994), Less Lethal Instructor (1995), School Resource Officer (1996), FBI Defensive Tactics School (1997), Advanced SWAT with the National Association of Chiefs of Police (1998), Response to Active Shooter (2000), SWAT Commander School (2000), New York Gang Investigators Instructor (2001), Use of Force Instructor (2006), Crowd Control Instructor (2006), and is a 2004 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy. 

Kelvan (and Mark Francis) developed the first Cultural Diversity POST certified course that was presented at numerous in-service courses as well as to recruits at New Haven, Milford, and Hartford Police Academies from 1994-2000.  Kelvan was a founding member of the North Central Regional Emergency Response Team (NCRERT), a regional special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team covering nine towns in the greater Hartford area in 1992. In 1995 he was promoted to Team Leader, and in 1998 was promoted to Co-Team Commander. 

Taking his advanced training and years of practical experience, Kelvan was called upon to develop the Emergency Action plans for the following Windsor businesses and schools:  CIGNA, Travelers, ADVO, Emhart Glass, Bank of America, Swiss Rea, the Windsor Public School System, Loomis Chaffee, Trinity Methodist School and Medina Academy.

Since 2012 Kelvan has provided instruction / direction on how to successfully interact with police and has presented to various community organizations, including the youth groups at First Cathedral Worship Center in Bloomfield, CT, as well as presentations on bullying and personal safety to various police agencies, town organizations, clubs and church groups.  He also continues to provide Cultural Diversity training, a subject he has taught nationally.

“Coach Kelvan” has remained actively involved in the community that he served for many years.  He has been a High School Track & Field Coach for both boys and girls since 2010, and has headed School Security for the Windsor Public Schools since 2015.

Sergeant Russ Iger has served with the Coventry Police Department since December 2012. Currently, he is assigned as the evening patrol supervisor, and coordinator for the Officer Wellness Committee, Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), and U-Visa certification for non-immigrant crime victims. He has also taken on the role of drafting policies, and revising department directives to be compliant with current State and Federal law.

In addition to being a POSTC certified instructor in Constitutional Law, Connecticut Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure, Use of Less Lethal Force (EDW), Stress Management, Suicide Recognition, and Human Trafficking; he is a licensed attorney admitted to the State Bars of New York and Connecticut, and the Federal Bars of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and District of Connecticut.

Previously, his duties included acting as a Field Training Officer (FTO), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator, a member of a regional Critical Incident Stress Management team, and Vice President of the Police Union. As coordinator of the Officer Wellness Committee, he instituted the use of annual wellness checks for officers and dispatchers, provided access to mindfulness and yoga training for staff and their spouses, and developed the Department’s Peer Support Program. Sgt. Iger has presented statewide for the Governor’s Prevention Partnership and the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement, and is a recipient of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association “Serve Well, Be Well” Award.

Prior to joining law enforcement, he established a successful cafe and trekking business in the Tibetan foothills (igertrekking.webs.com / blackpotterycoffee.webs.com). In 2011, he received the “Mekong Responsible Tourism Award” for promoting sustainable tourism and local economic development while preserving cultural heritage. He also instituted the international law program at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics covering areas such as the World Trade Organization, Chinese and Foreign Contract Law, and International Criminal Law. In 2007, he received the “Yunnan Friendship Award” for significant contributions to the development of the People’s Republic of China, the highest award given to foreign experts by the Chinese Government.

As an associate attorney in New York City with Bernstein Liebhard LLP, he investigated white collar crime and securities compliance. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked as a Political Office intern for the United States Department of State at the American Embassy in Hanoi; an International Election Observer in Cambodia; and for the Japanese Ministry of Education.

He is a 2002 graduate of the St. Johns University School of Law, where he acted as the Executive Notes & Comments Editor of the New York International Law Review, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Philosophy and Asian Studies. Sergeant Iger is a certified instructor of Dog Brothers Martial Arts, and a fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker. He has a passion for teaching, and criminal justice policy and reform.

Suzanne Laiuppa started her career with the Bloomfield Police Department in 2004. In 2011 she was promoted to Detective and independently manages and investigates criminal cases. She has experience testifying in State, Federal and civil courts. Suzanne is the Bloomfield P.D.’s representative for Multiple Disciplinary Team, MDT-14, assisting victims of crime, working to ensure victims are offered the support they may need in areas such as medical, mental health, and victim’s advocacy. Suzanne is active with the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abuse Children (GTF) and sits on the State committee that designed and trained trainers to teach “Minimal Facts” to first responders and community members.

From 2017-2018 Suzanne worked as a Forensic Interviewer at Klingberg Family Centers in Hartford, Connecticut. There she provided assessments and recommendations for ongoing mental health services and worked with family advocates, law enforcement and social workers from the Department of Children and Families to coordinate efforts. This collaboration reduced the number of victim interviews thereby reducing trauma.

Currently Suzanne is certified by CT POSTC to teach Domesticv Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse and Citizens with Special Needs. Suzanne is certified by both CT POSTC and CT DCF to teach Area 514A including: Intro to Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking of Boys and LGBT/GNCT Youth, and Labor Trafficking.

Suzanne received her Bachelor of Science in Justice and Law Administration from Western Connecticut State University and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of New Haven where she graduated with a 3.95 GPA.

Sergeant Baron Dyer offers a unique combination of law enforcement experience, strong academic preparation and leadership within the law enforcement profession and proven leadership ability. He brings Spector Criminal Justice Training Network a broad range of experience in the strategic, tactical, operational, and supervisory aspects of law enforcement management.

Sergeant Dyer has nine years of experience in law enforcement. Over the past seven years he has served in three visible, increasingly responsible roles with the New Britain Police Department. Since July 2020, as a Directed Patrol Unit Supervisor, he leads a uniformed unit in the Patrol Division with emphasis on addressing various community complaints throughout the City of New Britain as well as conducting law enforcement and crime prevention work.

Baron served as a Patrol Sergeant from 2019-2020 on the midnight shift. He is a member of the New Britain Police Department’s Honor Guard, the Crisis Negotiation Team and Recruitment Selection Committee. Baron was a patrol officer from 2014-2019. Prior to his work in New Britain he was a Police Officer with Enfield Police Department from 2012-2014.

Sergeant Dyer has exceptional academic credentials. He currently is studying towards a Doctor of Education in the Organizational Leadership Studies program at Northeastern University. He earned a Master of Public Affairs at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2019, as well as a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from American Military University in 2017.

Baron honorably served our nation in the United States Marine Corps for four years as both a Marine Security Guard and Corporal. He was honorably discharged in 2011.

As an Instructor he teaches in-service recertification classes at Spector Criminal Justice Training Network to officers from the Hartford County area. These include Motor Vehicle Stops 616A and 616B; Gangs in Service Updates 624; and Conflict Management 411. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Post University.

William “Bill” Vieweg was employed by the Enfield Police Department for 28 years. Bill started his career in 1986 and was assigned to the Traffic Division in 1990. In that assignment he flourished and through the years assumed the roles of Team Leader of the Metro Traffic Regional Collision Reconstruction Team, Truck Safety and Regional Traffic Enforcement Squad consisting of 9 municipalities, and became certified in Pedestrian, Bicycle, Motorcycle, Train and Commercial Vehicle accident Reconstruction. Bill conducted over 40 fatal motor vehicle collision investigations, and serves as an Expert Witness in the area of Accident Reconstruction and Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement with over 40 hours of courtroom and deposition experience. Bill is certified in Federal Motor Carrier Enforcement, is a certified Draeger instructor and is Collision Photography trained. In 2004, Bill attended “Collision Reconstruction” at the University of North Florida, IPTM. While at Enfield P.D. he also served as a Field Training Officer and a Police Explorer Advisor.
Bill is currently employed by Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, CVSD, and is a Motor Vehicle Inspector. He enforces Commercial Motor Vehicle of Federal Motor Carrier Laws and CT Motor Vehicle Laws. He has been with CTDMV since 2014. He is also employed part time by the Stafford Police Department (2018-present), where he is involved in community policing and employs general police officer responsibilities.
Bill has received the Police Meritorious Service Award and Police Medal of Valor from the Town of Enfield, CT, and the Police Medal of Valor, Life Saving Award and Hartford Distributors Medal from the Town of Manchester, CT.
Bill is certified by POSTC in Motor Vehicle Laws, Accident Investigation, DUI, Hazardous Materials, and Blood Borne Pathogens, Radar/Laser, Traffic Control and Draeger Operation. He presents to various groups in reference to the Federal Motor Carrier Regulations. Bill has been teaching in Spector Training’s Comparative Certification Programs covering Motor Vehicle Law, DUI, Accident Investigation and Hazmat/BB since 2001.

Chief Alaric J. Fox was sworn in as the 15th Chief of the Enfield Police Department on March 12, 2018. Chief Fox entered into service with the Enfield Police Department after a 24-year career with the Connecticut State Police. During that time has worked as a Patrol Trooper, a Resident Trooper, a Training Academy Staff Instructor, a Patrol Sergeant, a Resident Trooper Sergeant, and as a Sergeant in the Legal Affairs Unit on the Commissioner’s Staff. In 2004, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, thereafter serving as the Commanding Officer of Troop “C” Tolland, and later as the Commandant of the State Police Training Academy. In 2010, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Captain where he served as the Commanding Officer of the Bureau of Selections and Training and later as the Commanding Officer of the Professional Standards Unit. In 2011, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Major where he served as the Chief of Staff to two State Police Colonels. On April 1, 2016, Chief Fox was promoted to the position as Colonel of the Connecticut State Police and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, a position that he held until his retirement from state service.

Chief Fox began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Willimantic Police Department, serving in this capacity for seven years, and as an FBI Agent, serving in this capacity for two years. Additionally, Chief Fox was employed for a two-year period as an attorney in private practice, specializing in a variety of labor and employment law matters. Chief Fox has lectured across the country, over the past twenty-three years, to a wide array of law enforcement and collegiate audiences, in subject areas including Criminal Law, Careers in Criminal Justice, Police Civil Liability, Labor and Employment Law, and Police Criminal Procedure.

Chief Fox holds a Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration from the University of New Haven, and a Juris Doctor Degree, magna cum laude, from Western New England University School of Law, having additionally studied for one semester at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Virginia, as well as the FBI National Executive Institute. In his spare time Chief Fox has completed twenty (and counting!) marathons, twice breaking the elusive three-hour barrier.

Brian C. Shea began is his police career in 2003 at the Georgetown Texas Police Department and has been employed with the Wethersfield and New Britain Police Departments since his relocation to Connecticut in 2008. He is currently employed with the New Britain Police Department; as part of his job duties at the NBPD he is a Basic Recruit Academy Instructor and Field Training Officer. Brian is a POSTC certified trainer (#3302) in the areas of Gangs, Narcotics, Motor Vehicle (High / Low Risk Stops) and Crimes in Progress. He is a statewide instructor for the Basic Instructor Development Course (MOI) and an Armed Security Schools Gangs Instructor (annual course). He was also employed as a teacher in the Columbia County School and Hartford Public School Systems from 2006 to 2011. Brian served our country in the United States Navy from 1997 to 2001, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. During his period of service he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in Support of Operation Southern Watch. Brian is a Distinguished Military Graduate from Northeastern University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in June of 1997. He attended Northeastern on an ROTC scholarship. He received his Master of Education, PK‐6 in August of 2002 from Marymount University. Brian has attended the DEA Basic Narcotics Investigator Course and has received two “Excellence in Police Duty” awards as well as a Distinguished Service Award.

Lieutenant Kevin F. Dillon (Retired), is a twenty-five year veteran law enforcement officer, retired from the Wethersfield, CT Police Department which is a suburb of the state’s capital, Hartford, CT. Lieutenant Dillon has served as Detective Commander, Patrol Commander and training supervisor. A SWAT team member since 1993, he served for six years as a Team Leader and his last 3 years as Commander of the regional thirty-five member SWAT team (Capitol Region Emergency Services Team). 

Lieutenant Dillon is a National Academy graduate of the F.B.I. session 223, (Fall 2005) and is certified by the Force Science Institute for  Analysis of Use of Force Incidents and certified by the Institute of  Prevention of In Custody Deaths for Use of Force and Excited Delirium.

Lieutenant Dillon has develop two Internationally recognized programs actively instructed throughout the country. One is the L.O.C.K.U.P. ® Arrest and Control System. L.O.C.K.U.P. ® is a comprehensive approach, based on gross motor skill concepts, that actually reduces injuries to citizens and police officers.  Lieutenant Dillon educates officers about the instinctual physiological and physical responses of the human nervous system during combat.

The second is L.E.A.D.S. – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Plus Tactical Options – which is a communication program designed for law enforcement.  De-escalation strategies are instructed  along with patrol tactics and relocation strategies when the option is available.  This program has been reviewed and approved by the United States Department of Justice.

The systems are evidence-based, court-defendable, consistent with and based upon the legal guidelines governing police use-of-force, and is appropriate as a system for officers, regardless of physical attributes.  The system can be retained and deployed with minimal continuation training. Lieutenant Dillon also focuses on the tracking and trending all use  of force deployments.  To effectively manage use of force you need to effectively measure use of force.

Lieutenant Dillon has appeared on CNN, NPR, and other radio talk shows. He is an expert contributor and columnists to PoliceOne.com, PoliceMagazine.com, and LineOfDuty.com.

Lieutenant Dillon, a highly sought after speaker and trainer, has trained and consulted law enforcement on use of force issues / programs throughout North America and Europe. He has presented at numerous conferences such as the  International Association of Chief of Police (IACP), FBI NA Chapters / LEEDA, and FBI Command College, the Commission of Accreditation for Law  Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®), Wyoming, New Mexico Sheriffs, St Louis MO and many more. Lieutenant Dillon is also founder and president of KFD Training &Consultation LLC, www.policecombat.com, and www.diffusionstrategies.com. His company seeks to provide the highest level of professional police, security training, and use of force consultation for the past 18 years.

From 1986 until 2005, David Yale served on the Waterbury, Connecticut Police Department. Most of his career he worked in the Patrol Division and was the most senior patrol sergeant when he retired. He also worked two years as a sworn police dispatcher, and several years as a communications supervisor in the dispatch center. During his time in communications he developed a training curriculum for civilian 911 call takers and established disaster procedures for the dispatch center should it have to physically relocate.

David obtained a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in Criminal Justice in 1983. In 1997 he became licensed as an attorney, having attended the University of Connecticut Law School evenings and working in his police position on the third shift. Shortly after he was licensed, David became a POST certified police instructor. He eventually taught 14 hours of the 80-hour re-certification program for the northwest region and served as an instructor when the Waterbury Police Department opened its own recruit academy. Subjects he taught included Police Liability, Search and Seizure and Use of Force.

In 2005, when he retired, David joined the litigation department of the firm of Willinger, Willinger and Bucci in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 2007 he moved to the firm of Noble, Spector, Young and O’Connor in Hartford, Connecticut, and merged into Hassett & George in Glastonbury in 2014 where he continues to practice.

His legal responsibilities include defending police officers and municipalities in federal and state court against accusations of civil rights violations, having argued successfully in the United States District Court and Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also assisted police officers that were charged with criminal offenses, faced disciplinary action, or became involved in family law situations. His practice also includes non-police related matters, including personal injury, commercial litigation and real estate.

Dave is a former business owner and operated a company that consulted on, sold, and serviced computer hardware. He is also involved in 3D design and production using emerging 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology. 

Phyllis DiGioia is the Founder, Owner and Executive Director of Honor Wellness Center, an outpatient mental health, addictions and trauma treatment center for first responders, veterans, and their families.

Phyllis has been a Social Worker for 28 years and earned her licensure to practice Clinical Social Work in the state of Connecticut in 2005. She has specialized in public safety first responder case management and clinical mental health, addictions and trauma counseling treatment for 18 years. Phyllis is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Parts 1 and 2, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for individuals, couples and families.

Phyllis is a certified POST instructor and earned her CISM certification in 2003. Phyllis is also a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and has served as the Contract Manager for the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and multiple municipal police department Employee Assistance Program contracts since 2010.

Phyllis also currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement and provides psycho-educational trainings nationally.

After receiving his B.A. in Urban/Government Studies from the University of Connecticut in 1969, Mr. Spector researched his options for service to the community. Among his choices were service in the Peace Corps, the military, and/or law enforcement. Although he had a medical disqualification from the draft board (bad knees), in 1970 during the Vietnam era he volunteered to serve in the Air Force. He simultaneously applied to the Hartford Police Department. He was accepted for a position with the Hartford Police Department but soon after was accepted into the Air Force. He was granted a leave of absence from the Police Department and became a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force School of Military Science, and was trained as a pilot. With the war winding down Mr. Spector made the career choice to return to policing and continue with the Air Force on reserve status where he served for four more years until he was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in 1975. To enhance his ability to serve the community he began taking Spanish courses resulting in a second B.A. in Foreign Language Studies from the University of Hartford (1975).

Mr. Spector’s positions at the police department included patrol officer, civil litigation officer, and acting general counsel. He also served on the accident and firearms review boards. These legally related positions concerning police liability and misconduct influenced his decision to continue his education, earning a Juris Doctorate at the University of Connecticut School of Law (1981). He developed the first police liability training program in Connecticut, which is now mandated by POST.

In 1980 Mr. Spector, while clerking for Superior Court Judge Milton Fishman, (President of the Connecticut Criminal Law Foundation, Inc., a non-profit police training entity established under a Federal Grant), was asked to teach a class on police and the law. The appreciation of officers in class and the realization of his ability to positively influence officers soon made teaching a passion. In 1986 he succeeded Judge Fishman and has been President of Spector Criminal Justice Training Network, Inc., formerly known as Connecticut Criminal Law Foundation, Inc., ever since. Spector Training provides quality training to thousands of CT’s law enforcement officers from Patrol Officers to Chiefs of Police.

Since 1981 Mr. Spector has been in private practice representing police officers in various capacities. He has litigated numerous cases including 25 appellate arguments before our State Appellate Court and the Second Circuit, as well as, several briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is presently with the general practice firm of Hassett & George, serving the needs of officers and their families.

During his thirty-seven years of representing the law enforcement community, he has seen a steady decline in the number of meritorious lawsuits brought against police officers related to alleged civil rights violations. He attributes this to the quality of training being offered to Connecticut police officers by qualified subject matter professionals, as well as, the pre-action advice and policy review to departments he serves.

Improving the quality of policing improves relationships with members of the community, reduces crime and enhances the ability of police to serve and protect the community. There is a direct correlation between the quality of police training and job performance. Reducing the incidence of misconduct and negligence saves lives, reduces injuries and lawsuits and the attendant related costs. As an attorney, Mr. Spector may spend months or years working on a lawsuit. As a teacher, he can prevent a future suit in one class day. The cost of the single class pales in comparison to the human and financial losses related to a single incident resulting in a civil rights violation and/or physical harm leading to litigation.

Mr. Spector has served on advisory committees for the NIJ, FBI, DEA, IACP, Connecticut Legislature and law enforcement committees. He has provided legal advice and/or worked on policies for the majority of Connecticut’s municipal police agencies.

Scott Driscoll has been employed in the field of law enforcement since 1989. Scott has served in many capacities but the majority of his career was spent as a youth officer and computer investigator. In 1992, Scott began teaching drug education in the local school system and this started his journey into teaching. In 2000 Scott began teaching students about Internet Safety. Since then, Scott has developed lesson plans on Internet and technology safety that cover from 4th grade through adult.

In 2003, Scott became a member of the FBI Innocent Images Task Force in New Haven, Connecticut. During his tenure with this task force, Scott led and assisted in numerous operations involving computer crimes against children. These investigations included undercover online investigations, possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and other crimes involving child victims. In 2005, the Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with the Secret Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs, awarded Scott the Computer Investigative Specialist 2000 training. This training provided Scott an opportunity to become a computer forensic examiner which allowed him to assist law enforcement agencies all over the state of Connecticut with computer related investigations.

Over the past decade, and continues to do so on a regular basis, Scott has taught thousands of people on the dangers of today’s technology and how to be safe while using it. On a regular basis Scott gives presentations about Internet safety to parents, civic groups, school administrators, teachers and children through his company Internet Safety Concepts.

Scott has co-authored two books. “www.R U In Danger.net” is a guide for families and educators on what dangers lurk on the Internet. “You Can Trust Me” is a fictional suspense novel about predators on the internet.

Christopher Bartolotta was employed by the State of Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of State Police, for thirty-two years of service, retiring in April of 2022 with the rank of Captain. He continues his public service as the Deputy Chief of the Avon (MA) Police Department.

Mr. Bartolotta is a Nationally Certified Law Enforcement Instructor by IADLEST, as well as, a certified Law Enforcement Instructor by several state POST organizations, on a wide variety of subjects to include policy and procedure development and implementation, interpersonal communications, unique enforcement techniques, patrol function challenges, interview and interrogation, drug and alcohol issues, stress and crisis management, de-escalation techniques, suicide intervention, fraudulent documents, fire investigations, motor vehicle theft and fraud, report writing and documentation, criminal investigations, courtroom testimony and procedures, leadership, and instructor development, as well as, numerous other topics.

Mr. Bartolotta was the first officer in the State of Connecticut to be certified as a Drug Recognition Expert and a DRE instructor. Several state courts have recognized him as an expert in matters involving Impaired Driving Enforcement, the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus and Drug Recognition. Mr. Bartolotta has been a featured speaker and panelist at numerous national conferences on underage drinking issues, impaired driving enforcement, fraudulent document recognition, crisis/hostage negotiations and major crime investigations. He has assisted in the publication of two manuals used for law enforcement training. Mr. Bartolotta has regularly lectured at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation’s National Leadership Conference during its tenure. He continues to consult and teach for several different local, state, and federal contractors and is the Principal Consultant for Orion Public Safety Solutions. Mr. Bartolotta instructs extensively within the civilian, corporate, and law enforcement worlds.

In addition to his vast experience in the field of law enforcement and numerous civic contributions, Mr. Bartolotta has been recognized and has received numerous awards for his accomplishments, which include a DARE Outstanding Student Leadership Award, several MADD high activity/appreciation/ education awards, a Texas Alcohol Beverage Commissioners Appreciation award, a CSP Troop “L” High DWI activity award, three Commissioner Top 20 marksmanship awards, an Outstanding Leadership award for efforts regarding Underage Drinking and CSP Department awards for Bravery, Meritorious Service, Life Saving, Outstanding Service and several Unit Citations, as well as the Sandy Hook Service Ribbon. He has been recognized by the CT Exchange Club as its “Police Officer of the Year” recipient. Mr. Bartolotta was a finalist for the MADD National President’s Award, the highest form of praise from this national organization. Lastly, he served as the head chair of the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking.

Mr. Bartolotta earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from Dowling College. He is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, Session #281, and received a master’s certificate in Organizational Leadership and Management. He is currently in the process of completing his Master of Public Safety at the University of Virginia.

Karen O’Connor is has worked in the field of criminal investigations for over 25 years. She began as a Public Defender Investigator for the State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch in 1990 and became a Connecticut State Trooper in 1994. After retiring as a Sergeant in February of 2020, she became the Executive Director of The Network Against Domestic Abuse located in Enfield, CT. The Network is a non-profit advocacy agency which provides free domestic violence advocacy, counseling and shelter services to the North Central Connecticut region. She is currently a POSTC certified polygraph examiner and continues to teach in the areas of Criminal Investigations, Interview and Interrogation and Domestic Violence to law enforcement officers. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, from Central Connecticut State University. She also attained a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science Advanced Investigation from the University of New Haven. She graduated from the National Polygraph Academy in Columbus, Ohio in 2014.

Karen spent several years working as a Detective before being assigned to the State Police Public Information Office. In 2008, Karen was selected to become an Instructor for her agency and was tasked with training over 1,000 officers annually in the areas of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Eyewitness ID, and Missing Persons. In 2008, Karen was assigned as a Legislative Liaison, representing her agency at the State Capitol during legislative sessions. She also served as Chief of Staff for the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Karen currently sits on the Legislative Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council, which sets the minimum standard for policies directly related to law enforcement response to incidents of family violence. In the past, she has also served on the CCDAV Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, the 2015 Legislative Task Force Studying Family Violence and its impact on Children and the CCADV Law Enforcement Advisory Board.

Heather LaRock graduated with honors from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science in 2000.

Heather is currently employed by the South Windsor Police Department as a patrol officer after serving 21 years in law enforcement with Orange Police Department retiring as a Lieutenant.  She began her law enforcement career in 1999.  Her roles at Orange P.D. included Patrol Officer, Youth & Community Policing Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, and she completed her time there as an Administrative Lieutenant.

Heather was responsible for policy creation and review, grant writing, oversight of the Accreditation Manager and the accreditation process, as well as oversight of the Records Division and Evidence and Property.  She was the Field Training Program Coordinator, Domestic Violence Response Liaison and Honor Guard Commander.  During her three years as Youth & Community Policing Officer she taught the D.A.R.E. program to 6^th grade and Kindergarten students. 

Heather was the 2006 “CT Woman Officer of the Year” awarded by the CT Association of Women Police.  She served as Lethality Assessment Program Coordinator for Orange Police Department and she is Crisis Intervention Team and Peer Support trained by CABLE.  She is certified to teach Juvenile Laws/Handling Juveniles, Domestic Violence and Police & the Public by CT POSTC.

Heather has enjoyed her role as a Group Fitness Instructor since 2007.

Michael J. Kowal has over 20 years of military service and is currently a credentialed Federal Agent for the Department of the Air Force, Office of Special Investigations. He has focused much of his work in defensive counterintelligence and is currently assigned as the operations superintendent at a critical counterintelligence location in the US. He has had assignments around the world and throughout the United States where he is tasked with working closely with sensitive government research and development programs to mitigate and neutralize the collection efforts of foreign actors.

Michael has also deployed three times. His most recent deployed assignment was to Afghanistan where he served on a unique task force which conducted counter threat operations throughout Kandahar Province by leveraging overt and covert human source operations to neutralize high level insurgents, Taliban members, insider threats, and other threat actors operating in the region.

Michael also retired as a Sergeant from the Connecticut State Police where he has worked within counter terrorism and intelligence programs for most of his career. Michael was an instrumental designer of the fusion center and its successful growth can be seen today. Michael retired as the intelligence fusion center senior intelligence officer and operations supervisor. He was also the strategic intelligence advisor to the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection and Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor.

Michael also spent two years on a governor initiated multi-agency task force which targeted violent offenders in the City of New Haven. During his tenure, the unit made dozens of arrests, seized a significant number of drugs and guns through the use of covert and overt human sources, which dramatically reduced violent crime in New Haven during that time period.

Michael has a passion for teaching. In addition to providing law enforcement professional development opportunities he is also an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven National Security School. He has developed courses which have been taught throughout the United States and around the world. 

Bernard “Bernie” Hallums served his community for over 32 years as a police officer in the Town of Manchester.  In addition to his role as a Patrol Officer, he served as a Field Training Officer for 20 years, a Team Leader of the Capital Region Emergency Service Team (CREST) for 30 years, a School Resource Officer for 7 years, and a DARE Instructor for 3 years.  Bernie was a member of the Department Employee Assistance Program from 2000-2018, the Founder and Coordinator of the Manchester Police Youth Basketball 3 on 3 Summer Youth League from 2002-2018, and the Founder and Director of the Manchester Citizens Police Academy from 1998-2018.  In addition to his various roles within the Manchester Police Department, in 2001 he founded the Blue Angels Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides an annual holiday party and gifts for 300 low-income Manchester children and Christmas Day gift delivery to an additional 100 children with assistance from the Manchester Police Department.  Bernie continues to act as its Chief Executive Officer and chairs the organization’s Board of Directors. He is the cohost of Law Enforcement Today under Let Unity. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Xavier High School, Middletown, CT and serves on its Education Committee.

Bernie has received various awards and recognition including: Manchester’s Recognition for Service Post-911 in 2001; Manchester Rotary Officer of the Year 2002; State of CT Elks Club recipient of Enrique Camerana Award and National Runner-up, 2007; the Officer Paul Buchanan Memorial Peer Support Award, 2017;  as well as eleven Manchester Police Department Meritorious Service Awards including three for Distinguished Service, two for Life Saving, two for Exceptional Service, and various Chief’s Citations.  Bernie was the “Hometown Hero” featured in The Hartford Courant in November of 2017, and served as Honorary Marshal for the Manchester Irish American Society in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade that same year. 

A practical approach speaker, Bernie trains in the area of Fair and Impartial Policing and Cultural Diversity.  His lectures are brought to life using his 32 years of life and police experience and knowledge.  Upon retirement from the Manchester Police Department a spokesperson from the agency said “he closed out his career…officially retiring after over 32 years of service. Through those years, Officer Bernie Hallums consistently showed the residents of the Town of Manchester what community policing was all about.”

Mark Sticca retired as a Captain Connecticut State Police after nearly 27 years. Mark served as a patrol trooper and Academy Instructor; and both as a patrol and administrative sergeant. He held several commands as a lieutenant to include commands at several Troops, Major Crime Squad, Internal Affairs, Criminal Justice Information Systems, Traffic Services, State Police Academy and was an area commander for SNTF 2013-2016. Upon promotion to captain, Captain Sticca was assigned as the Deputy Commander of Central District; the Bureau Commander of Selections, Training and Investigative Support Services; the Commanding Officer of Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) and was the Acting District Commander of the Western District before his retirement in August 2019. 

He continues to provide contemporary training and consultation services to police departments throughout Connecticut and New England. He has served on several panels regarding contemporary issues facing law enforcement relative to drug use and abuse. This includes ongoing collaboration with the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies (NASDEA), where he is a Member Emeritus, and has presented at their national conference on Police Reform. He has provided expert testimony relative to use of force and internal affairs. He is a POSTC Certified Instructor in several disciplines to include Use of Force, Police Ethics, Narcotics Identification, Gang Identification and Organized Crime. He recognized as a subject matter expert (SME) for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), as well as the IACP’s Elevate Blue Project, specifically in the areas of Use of Force and Managing Mass Demonstrations. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Westfield State College; a graduate Certificate in Law Enforcement Education from the University of Virginia; and a Master’s Degree from Columbia College, SC. He earned several department awards and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 260. Mark Currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport.