OFFICER SAFETY & WELLNESS TRACK

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER

Self-Care and Mental Health for the Code Enforcement Officer Part 1 of 2 (Morning and Afternoon Session)

Code enforcement professionals are the unsung heroes who safeguard the well-being and integrity of our communities. Your work is often unrecognized, creates the foundation for safe, thriving neighborhoods and ensures that standards are upheld for all.

Award-winning public sector advocate Ian Hill will delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote at last year's summit, and this year's training is designed to remind you of the profound impact you make every day. Drawing on his deep belief in human potential and decades of leadership experience, Ian will share actionable strategies to build resilience, lead with confidence, and navigate the ever-changing challenges of municipal governance in these unprecedented times.

Self-Care and Mental Health for the Code Enforcement Officer Part 2 of 2 (Morning and Afternoon Session)

Part 2 continues with a compelling message, one that goes beyond resilience and dives deeper into the art of sustainable leadership. Building on the momentum of last year's transformative session, he will challenge you to examine not just how you lead, but why you lead, and how that purpose can become your most powerful tool in the field.

In a landscape where code enforcement professionals are increasingly asked to do more with less,  balancing community relations, legal complexities, and the weight of difficult decisions.

Ian will introduce a framework for leading from the inside out. Expect candid conversation, real-world case studies drawn from municipalities across the country, and practical tools you can put to work the moment you return to your jurisdiction. Whether you are a seasoned director managing a department through rapid growth, or a front-line officer still finding your footing.. Ian's message is clear: the work you do is not just procedural,  it is profoundly human. And when professionals like you are equipped, empowered, and inspired, entire communities rise with them.

Effective Field Communication Techniques & Using Emotional Intelligence

Officer safety begins long before a situation becomes physical. Effective Communication Techniques and Emotional Intelligence is designed to give code enforcement professionals practical tools to better manage public interactions, reduce conflict, and improve outcomes in the field.

Presented by Chief Leadership, a consulting firm made up of high-ranking law enforcement professionals, including chiefs of police and command staff, this course brings years of real-world experience in public contact, conflict management, and field communication. Using proven law enforcement techniques adapted specifically for code enforcement staff, attendees will learn how communication style, situational awareness, tone, empathy, and emotional control can influence safety, cooperation, and compliance.

This training is important because the way an officer communicates can often set the tone for the entire encounter.

Conflict Management and Resolution

Conflict is a routine part of code enforcement, and knowing how to manage it effectively is essential to officer safety, professionalism, and successful outcomes.

Presented by Chief Leadership, a consulting firm made up of high-ranking law enforcement professionals, including chiefs of police and command leaders, this course brings years of real-world experience in conflict management and public interactions. Using proven law enforcement techniques adapted specifically for code enforcement staff, attendees will learn how to recognize escalating behavior, respond strategically, communicate under pressure, and work toward resolution without losing control of the encounter.

This training is important because the ability to manage conflict can reduce risk, build cooperation, and help officers handle difficult situations with confidence, consistency, and professionalism.

Empowerment through Empathy

Empowerment through Empathy helps code enforcement professionals strengthen their ability to connect with the public, build trust, and improve outcomes during difficult interactions.

Presented by Chief Leadership, a consulting firm composed of high-ranking law enforcement professionals, including chiefs of police and command leaders, this course draws from years of real-world experience engaging diverse communities in high-stress situations. Attendees will learn how empathy, active listening, professionalism, and emotional awareness can be used as practical field tools to reduce resistance, improve communication, and support safer, more productive contacts.

This training is important because empathy is not weakness, it is a strategy that can increase cooperation, strengthen officer presence, reduce conflict, and help staff serve the community with confidence and credibility.

 Techniques of De-escalationTechniques of De-escalation gives code enforcement professionals practical, field-ready strategies for recognizing risk, slowing escalation, and maintaining control during tense public contacts.

Presented by Chief Leadership, a consulting firm composed of high-ranking law enforcement professionals, including chiefs of police and command leaders, this course draws from years of real-world experience managing volatile encounters and applies proven law enforcement techniques to the unique challenges of code enforcement.

Attendees will learn how to read verbal and nonverbal cues, control tone and presence, create time and distance, defuse emotional reactions, and guide interactions toward safer outcomes. This training is critical because effective de-escalation strengthens officer safety, improves professionalism, reduces liability, and increases the likelihood of voluntary compliance.

Recovering From a Critical Incident

When a catastrophic incident shakes a division, the impact reaches far beyond the person directly harmed. Violence, threats, and traumatic events can affect an entire team, weaken morale, disrupt operations, and leave lasting effects on the broader community.

This course focuses on understanding the ripple effects of critical incidents and why leaders must be prepared to respond with compassion, clarity, and purpose. Attendees will explore how trauma can show up in staff, how to support recovery within a division, and how to rebuild trust, stability, and team confidence after a major event. This session is designed to help code enforcement professionals recognize that recovery is not just about one victim, it is about helping the whole team and community heal and move forward.

Intro to 1st Amendment Auditors and Sovereign Citizens

Intro to First Amendment Auditors and Sovereign Citizens introduces code enforcement professionals to two encounters that can create serious operational, legal, and safety challenges.As public recording of government officials in public spaces can be protected activity, staff must understand how to respond lawfully and professionally to so-called First Amendment auditors.

At the same time, sovereign citizen encounters can involve anti-government beliefs, refusal to recognize authority, and heightened risk if handled poorly. This course explains who these individuals are, what behaviors staff may encounter, and why these situations can threaten not only officer safety, but also careers, credibility, liability exposure, and public trust. Attendees will leave with a practical foundation for recognizing risk, protecting rights, and responding with professionalism and control.

Intro to Addressing Homeless Encampments

Code enforcement is often on the front line of encampment response, balancing public health, safety, compassion, and legal process. This course focuses on how code enforcement officers use their field skills to support encampment outreach, cleanups, and removals while protecting themselves and their teams.

Attendees will learn how to assess biological and physical hazards, use the right PPE, and recognize common safety threats such as drugs, needles/sharps, human waste, pathogens, aggressive animals, fire hazards, and potential weapons. The class also covers working with outreach and public health partners, locating resources and services, documenting conditions, and making safer decisions in the field. Practical, safety-forward, and built for real-world encampment work.

Keeping Promises & The Ever-Evolving Threat

In today’s ever-changing world, the reality of overwhelming emotions, frustration and the appearance of there being no relief in sight, cause many “logical thinking people” to make illogical decisions.  Many times, those illogical decisions are coupled with mental illness, prescription drug mis-use or abuse, street-drug use and/or alcohol abuse.  These factors become the perfect storm for extreme violence. This course provides training for the ever-changing demands of situational awareness, recognition of pre-violent indicators, escape-route planning and if need be - Reasonable & Prudent self-defense that is justifiable, to include the mental preparation required to - “KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO COME HOME TO FAMILY”.  This course is based on the theory of:  “Keeping Promises.  Knowing when a Good Run, is better than a Bad Stand.”