The Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference, taking place this year on November 10, 2020, is the preeminent bi-annual gathering of law enforcement officials who are dedicated to improving the safety and wellness of their employees.
Sponsored by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and produced by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) as a component of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) VALOR Initiative and in partnership with Verizon, this symposium will feature prominent keynote speakers, two live panel discussions, the 2020 National Officer Safety and Wellness awards ceremony, and sessions featuring past Destination Zero national award winners and finalists.
These virtual officer safety and wellness workshops are designed to assist agencies beginning or enhancing their local initiatives to keep officers safe, mentally and physically healthy, and emotionally resilient.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum is pleased to announce former Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) President Chief Tom Manger will serve as a keynote speaker at this year’s Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference.
With a law enforcement career that spans more than 40 years, Chief Tom Manger recently spent four years as MCCA President. He also served as Police Chief of both the Fairfax County (VA) and Montgomery County (MD) Police Departments.
Additionally, he is a past recipient of the Silver Medal of Valor and was recognized as a 2018 Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine.
Other distinguished participants in this year’s national Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference include:
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Kendel Ehrlich, Acting Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
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Katharine (Katie) Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs
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Chief Jeffrey Smythe, Burlington (NC) Police Department
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Chief John Carli, Vacaville (CA) Police Department
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Sheriff Brian Gardner, Linn County (IA) Sheriff’s Department
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Chief Will Balling, Sidney (OH) Police Department
The conference will feature a session on the importance of wellness programs, including elements such as resiliency, mental health, physical well-being, as well as family and financial health for officers and their families.
(Learn More about the 2020 Destination Zero Conference, courtesy of the NLEOMF and Vimeo. Posted Oct 2020.)
Presenters in this session include medical, mental health and wellness professionals, and law enforcement agency executives. Topics will include fitness tests, cognitive re-framing, and stress reduction.
A highlight of the conference will be the 2020 Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony.
Sponsored by Verizon, this year’s awards will be presented by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs and the Department of Justice.
Conference attendance is free.
2020 Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony
The Destination Zero conference will feature a virtual broadcast of the 2020 Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Verizon.
Awards will be presented to law enforcement agencies for General Officer Safety, Traffic Safety, Officer Wellness and Comprehensive Officer Safety and Wellness.
Impactful Sessions and Critical Takeaways
Session 1: Improving General Officer Safety
The first session of the day will highlight general officer safety, including the use of new ballistic equipment, active shooter training, firearms proficiency, and even the use of drones for foot chases and search and rescue efforts.
Session 2: Improving Officer Traffic Safety
This session will focus on traffic safety. Presenters discuss various safe driving tips, traffic safety policies, crash reduction programs, and mandatory safe driving training. Law enforcement leaders and community traffic safety activists will be featured in this session.
Session 3: Improving Wellness and Resiliency
This session will feature officer/agency wellness. Topics such as fitness tests, cognitive re-framing, and stress reduction will be discussed by a cardiologist, a mental health professional, a wellness expert, and agency executives.
Session 4: Live Panel Discussion on Policing During These Unprecedented Times
Pandemic, Protests and Policing in 2020: Strategies for Mental and Physical Well-being is a live panel discussion featuring experts from the medical and mental health communities as well as officer safety and wellness proponents to discuss how agencies can increase the resiliency of officers in this turbulent time.
Session 5: Live Panel Discussion on DZ, How to Submit, and Keys to Success
Members of the Destination Zero team and past winners will present valuable information during this live panel discussion on applying for the National Officer Safety and Wellness awards and accessing the Destination Zero Safety Resources Center.
More details will be made available to all registrants, so be sure to save your spot!
Awards will be presented to law enforcement agencies from across the country in the categories of General Officer Safety, Traffic Safety, Officer Wellness, and Comprehensive Officer Safety and Wellness.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-VI-BX-K002 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office.
Verizon has served as the Destination Zero program’s lead sponsor since July of 2020. “Verizon is committed to supporting the public safety community across the United States,” said Cheryl McKey, Manager of Events and Sponsorships for Verizon’s Public Safety Outreach Program.
“We put our extensive, reliable networks and our powerful suite of collaboration, networking, and security services to work every day to meet your communication needs.”
“We are a proud partner and sponsor of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, in addition to being the lead sponsor for Destination Zero.”
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company serves as the 2020 Destination Zero Conference sponsor.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities,” said Rich Kramer, chairman, chief executive officer and president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
“Goodyear is proud to support a conference that helps provide the tools law enforcement agencies need to keep their officers healthy and safe.”
Agencies submitting information on safety and wellness programs for consideration for the 2021 National Officer Safety and Officer Wellness Award must provide their information and material no later than December 31, 2020.
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