Lindsey Alli, MBA, CLEE Sergeant, Cadet Program Coordinator, Recruiting Unit

Columbus Division of Police

Sergeant Lindsey Alli has been a dedicated and accomplished member of the Columbus Police Department for the past 13 years, serving the citizens of Franklin County, while striving to create unity between the community and the police.  Currently, she is a Recruiting Sergeant in charge of the Cadet Program, and Public Safety Corps (PSC) Youth Program. Prior to implementing the Cadet Program, a paid internship for young adults with a desire to be law enforcement professionals, Lindsey served 7 years as a Patrol Sergeant tasked with special assignments in the Crime Scene Search Unit and Recruiting. Throughout her career, she has been able to familiarize herself in various areas, taking on roles such as a Field Training Officer, Peer Assistance Team member, Crisis Intervention Team member, Employee Action Review System (EARS) committee member, Awards Committee member, an FOP Grievance Representative, and acquired a seat on the Columbus Civil Service Oral Board Grading Committee. Lindsey is an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) Basic and Defensive Tactics instructor and assists as a guest instructor for The Columbus Division of Police Training Academy.

Furthering her experience as a protective force in the community, Lindsey became a member and instructor of the Teens and Police Service Academy (TAPS) in 2015 and began serving as President of The Ohio Women’s Law Enforcement Network (OWLEN), a seat she still holds in 2020. In addition to ensuring all local citizens benefit from her contributions, Lindsey has devoted time to issues that may not directly be in the forefront. She was the Vice Chair of Drug Safe Worthington (DSW) from 2017-2019, and in 2018, she was appointed to the Commission on Black Girls. This commission enables Lindsey to act as liaison between the law and young black females in need of government officials to shed light on inequities for the community. She is currently an active member of the African American and African Studies Advisory Council (AAASAC) for The Ohio State University and hopes to continue to have a positive impact with her guidance.

Lindsey obtained her Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE) certification through the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) in 2020. She competed an Expert Witness Program at Capital University Law School in 2018 and earned her master’s degree in Business Management, with a concentration in Human Resources from Franklin University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from The Ohio State University. Go Bucks!

Gregory Amos Sr. D.U.I. Unit, Patrol Support Services

Shelby County Sheriff's Office

Item 23 Director of Digital Strategy & Marketing

Epic Recruiting

Davis is a digital marketing and social media strategist. She graduated from The University of Arizona and began working in the field of content marketing with a technology support company for their digital advertising department. Now, as the Director of Marketing and Digital Strategy, her goal is to help clients develop strong connections with their customers via social media and digital marketing channels while crafting unique online marketing strategies to increase ROI internally.

Jennifer Beskid Director of Grants and Special Projects

Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions

Jennifer Beskid is the Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Government and Legislative Affairs for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Previously, Jennifer held administrative positions with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions, supporting two independent commissions that establish standards and training for law enforcement and correctional professionals. Ms. Beskid has recently completed research for a Doctorate in Education that is expected to be conveyed in May 2021. The focus of her research was gaining insight into the motivations of minority police recruits to complete the entrance-level police academy. Jennifer Beskid is the Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Government and Legislative Affairs for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Previously, Jennifer held administrative positions with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions, supporting two independent commissions that establish standards and training for law enforcement and correctional professionals. Ms. Beskid has recently completed research for a Doctorate in Education that is expected to be conveyed in May 2021. The focus of her research was gaining insight into the motivations of minority police recruits to complete the entrance-level police academy. 

Sam Blonder CEO

Epic Recruiting

Sam Blonder received a BFA in film production at the Savannah College of Art and Design.  In 2004 he co-founded Epic. Always keeping an eye out for new services and opportunities to expand and improve Epic’s portfolio, Sam has spent the last 15 years leveraging Epic's amazing team of creative and recruiting professionals to benefit their many law enforcement clients.

Mike Boward Sergeant

Fort Collins Police

Mike Boward has 25 years of law enforcement experience, including over 20 years at his current agency in Fort Collins, Colorado.   He is assigned as a Training Officer in the Fort Collins Police Personnel and Training Unit, and coordinates recruiting, police officer hiring, background investigations and is an Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) examiner.  Boward served as a Criminal Investigations Detective for over six years prior to his current assignment, and is a Field Training Officer.   Boward has taught numerous courses locally and around the nation, including Recruiting and Hiring Strategies, Robbery Investigations, Auto Theft, and Criminal Interdiction.  He is a Lead Skills instructor in police driving and a firearms instructor.  Boward earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Andrews University.

Candace Brown Captain/Paramedic, Shift Fire Investigator, EMS Supervisor

Lynchburg Fire Department

Titus E. Burgess Jr. Sergeant – Personnel and Recruiting Unit

Lynchburg Police Department

Brandi Burque-DeCarlo, Ph.D. Psychologist, Owner, PRO Wellness Services PLLC

Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Marvin "Ben" Haiman Executive Director, Professional Development Bureau

Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department

Mr. Marvin Haiman serves as the Executive Director for the Professional Development Bureau. In this capacity, Mr. Haiman oversees the Metropolitan Police Department's Recruiting Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Human Resource Management Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Testing and Assessment Division, and the Office of Volunteer Coordination.

Prior to being named Executive Director, Mr. Haiman served as the Director for the Office of Volunteer Coordination, Patrol Services, leading a team of 250 volunteers, including 90 part-time ‘reserve’ police officers. His team is responsible for a wide variety of engagement initiatives both within the Department and the broader community. Mr. Haiman previously served as the Chief of Staff for Technical Service Division, overseeing IT operations, following his time as Chief of Staff for the Strategic Services Bureau. In that capacity, he supported and led the administration of police recruitment, training, policy, and volunteer service matters for the Department.

Prior to returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Mr. Haiman served as Director for the Homeland Security Advisory Council for the United States Department of Homeland Security, establishing several key task forces for the Secretary. Prior to his Federal service, Mr. Haiman served as the Deputy Director of the Recruiting Division and Volunteer Services Coordinator for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington DC among various other positions. As Deputy Director of Recruiting, Mr. Haiman was responsible for restructuring the sworn hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it took to process candidates while increasing the quality of those officers hired.

Haiman graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a Master’s Degree in Management through the Police Executive Leadership Program and has his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received designation as a Certified Public Management Program through George Washington University, as well as certification in Strategic Project Management. Mr. Haiman is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leadership Program. Mr. Haiman also graduated from the Metropolitan Police Academy and served as a reserve police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Haiman resides with his family in Washington, DC, in the Michigan Park neighborhood.

Nikki Heuer Captain, Support Services Bureau

Westminster Police Department

Nikki Heuer is a Captain with the Westminster Police Department where she worked for 23 years. She was certified as an instructor through the Maryland Police and Correction Training Commission in 1999. During her tenure in law enforcement, she has worked in patrol, narcotics and currently works as the Commander of the Support Services Bureau. In this role she oversees the Downtown Outreach Unit, the Property and Evidence Unit, training, certification and recruitment to name a few. Nikki is a co-coordinator of the Carroll County Critical Incident Stress Management Team and utilizes this training to help first responders and others cope with the emotional and/or physical effects of critical incidents. She is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session #269.

Nikki received her bachelor's degree in management from the University of Phoenix and will graduate in May 2021 with her Masters of Public Administration from Liberty University.

Maria Keen Sergeant, Outreach Recruitment

Ottawa Police Service

Maria Keen graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa (Capital City of Canada) with a degree in Law/Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. In the summer of 1992, she was hired by the Ottawa and was the first Visible Minority Female police officer. Maria was also the FIRST Filipino female officer in Canada to be hired.

Maria spent 5 years on patrol and for almost two years worked undercover in the “guns/gangs/drugs” squad. After a year of working undercover, she was transferred to work as a School Resource Officer for the next four years. Sgt. Keen then spent a total of 7 years as a Community Police Officer in a marginalized neighborhood.  This earned her a “Public Hero’s Award”. This award was given to her by citizens of Ottawa for her long-standing commitment to the community. Later she became a recruiting officer in the Human Resources Section of the Ottawa Police, hiring over 175 recruits. In 2007, she was an Academic Instructor for new recruits. She was promoted to the rank of Sgt. in 2012 and worked as a supervisor for frontline patrol until 2018 where she currently heads the Outreach Recruiting Section.

Over the last 28 years, Maria has served the City of Ottawa’s residents with pride.

Shelley Knight Captain

Dallas County Sheriff's Department

Natalie Lokey Deputy Chief

Metro Nashville Police Department

Deputy Chief Kay Lokey began her career with the Metropolitan Police Department in 1996, as a patrol officer. Later she would serve as a School Resource officer, certified to teach both DARE and GREAT programs. After her promotion to Sergeant in 2004, she was assigned to the Training Division.

With a promotion to Lieutenant in 2006, she would serve the evening shift at the Hermitage Precinct where she supervised five sergeants and oversaw the daily duties of thirty-five patrol officers. In 2008, Deputy Chief Lokey assumed duties in the Background and Recruitment Division.

Deputy Chief Lokey was promoted to Captain in 2010 and would serve in the Central Records Division until her appointment to the Domestic Violence Division in 2012, where she developed and implemented new procedures related to victim intervention and outreach.

In 2014, Deputy Chief Lokey was promoted to Commander of the Midtown Hills Precinct where she developed strong community ties between officers and the diverse neighborhoods they serve, evaluated crime data, and provided direction and resources to address important public safety issues.

In 2020, Deputy Chief Lokey was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police and assigned to the Administrative Services Bureau, where she currently serves.

Deputy Chief Lokey holds a Bachelor of Arts Management from Trevecca Nazarene University and a Master’s of Science in Public Service Management from Cumberland University.

In 2004, she completed the Police Supervision and Leadership program. In 2009, she attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Police Organizations training program.

In 2011, Deputy Chief Lokey attended the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at Boston University and staffed by instructors from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She also attended the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy.

Deputy Chief Lokey is a member of the National Association of Women in Law Enforcement Executives.

John Mbakulo Staff Sergeant- Recruiting Division

Ottawa Police Department

A member of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), S/Sgt. John Mbakulo’s policing career spans 24 years.  During that time he has worked in various units and assignments including: Patrol, Domestic Violence Investigations, Court Security, Adult Missing Persons, Mental Health Unit, Diversity and Race Relations, Youth Investigations and Diversion, and currently the Outreach Recruitment & Resourcing Section. Within the Recruitment Section he has developed and led  initiatives that have positively impacted the recruitment efforts of OPS.

 In addition to policing, since 2013, S/Sgt Mbakulo has worked  with Algonquin College in Ottawa. His work has involved; instructing courses in the Police Foundations Program, evaluating courses of students transferring from other colleges and universities, providing Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) analysis,  and curriculum review. Further, S/Sgt. Mbakulo has extensively lectured, provided seminars and workshops to policing, public and academic institutions.

In the community, S/Sgt. Mbakulo has a 20 plus year history of engagement  with a wide variety of organizations and groups, volunteering primarily in the areas of race relations and community services. Currently, he is starting his fourth year on the Board of Directors of Family Services Ottawa, having previously served six years on the Board of Directors of the Crossroads Children’s Centre.

S/Sgt. Mbakulo holds a Doctor of Education – Professional Studies from Western University, a Master of Education – Organizational Studies from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Arts – Law from Carleton University.

Merrell G. Merricks Sergeant

New Orleans Police Department

Sgt. Merrell Merricks is a 23 year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department. He currently serves as the Community Engagement Supervisor in the Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau within the New Orleans Police Department.

Sgt. Merricks focuses on social and community issues. He is tasked with spearheading the NOPD’s  “One Community, One City” initiative. The mission is to develop a relationship within the community, to solve problems through collaboration with residents and organizations geared toward the betterment of New Orleans.

Sgt. Merricks has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern University at New Orleans.

Karen Mory Senior Special Agent (Retired)

California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation

Senior Special Agent Karen Mory retired in 2020 after 27 years of law enforcement experience with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Office of Correctional Safety (OCS). She began as a correctional counselor in the custody setting then promoted to field work as a parole agent (PA) and a PA II Specialist on a Fugitive Apprehension and Gang Intelligence team(cross-sworn with the US Marshalls).  Karen culminated her career with twelve years as a special agent in the CDCR Special Service Unit (SSU) while cross-sworn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), working high-profile prison gang, firearms and narcotics, and drug cartel investigations. Ultimately, she promoted to senior special agent over the San Diego SSU field office during the last few years of her career. She was a Tactical Firearms and Entry Operations Instructor, Master Taser and Confidential Informant (CI) Management trainer, an OCS Academy instructor, a certified Crisis Negotiator, and developed departmental policies for CI Management, Naloxone Use, and Case Management, among others. Retired SSA Mory recruited and mentored women and men in law enforcement careers and continues to do so today.

Mandy Nice Tactical Program Manager

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Mandy Nice has over 15 years of experience developing and implementing physical fitness and wellness programs that measurably improve the strength and resilience of tactical athletes and civilians.  Her science-based, results-focused approach has consistently produced positive results that have earned national-level awards for measurably improving employee health, fitness, and quality-of-life.  Mandy actively serves as a guest speaker at state, national and international law enforcement conferences to help share scalable best practices for sustainable success.  To further support agencies, Mandy also serves as the Tactical Program Manager of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  She is responsible for fully equipping members of law enforcement and fire/rescue with the essential research, training, tools, and resources to establish safe tactical athletic programs that optimize job readiness while reducing injury risk.  Mandy’s greatest motivator is helping members of law enforcement and fire/rescue optimize their fitness and health so that they can enjoy strong, rewarding careers and long, healthy retirements.

Sabrina Richardson, B.S. Captain

New Orleans Police Department

Annie Salinas Tactics Instructor

San Antonio Police Department

Melanie A. Talia, J.D. President & CEO

New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation

Joseph Tucker Police Detective

Lynchburg Police Department

Antoinette Tull Chief Executive Officer

Hurtle, LLC

Antoinette Tull is the former Human Resources Division Chief for the Richmond City (VA) Police Department. In this role for more than 13 years, Antoinette passionately led the charge for more diversity, inclusion and belonging in law enforcement, both locally and nationally. With more than 20 years as a certified human resources professional, she has created multiple strategies to address the complex workforce challenges faced by law enforcement, fire personnel and emergency communications agencies. Several of which have been replicated nationwide.

January 2021 marks the re-launch of her boutique HR consulting firm, HURTLE, LLC, created in 2017 to focus specifically on the training and development of forward-thinking public safety agencies and executives.

HURTLE, LLC ensures Antoinette remains focused on her areas of expertise, which include, Recruitment & Staffing; Employee Relations; Risk Management and Organizational Development & Training.

Antoinette’s HR-centric presentations combine storytelling, audio-visual aids, up to date statistics and proven methodologies designed to identify, address and dismantle systemic structures that impede collaborative progress.

Her most popular engagements include; Promising Practices in Police Retention, powered by (IACP) The International Association of Chiefs of Police-Chicago, IL; Presenter - Inclusive & Diverse Talent Acquisition for 21st Century Public Safety, sponsored by the City of Fayetteville, NC; Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Budget Restricted Agencies @ The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference sponsored by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, NC; Social Media Madness and Backgrounds sponsored by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs; Is Bias Hiding in Your Hiring Process @ The Bending the Arc towards Inclusion Conference, sponsored by the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.