The ESPIOC Board of Directors and the Conference Committee are excited to announce the 2025 ESPIOC conference registration is open!
Dates – April 29 to May 2, 2025
2025 ESPIOC Conference Schedule:
Tuesday- April 29, 2025
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Registration Check-In
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. PIO 101 Basic Training– This high-level introductory course is designed to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge required to serve as a Public Information Officer (PIO). It covers the role of a PIO in crisis communication, media relations, public engagement, and strategic messaging.
Wednesday- April 30, 2025
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration Check-In
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Highland Park Shooting Lessons Learned- Deputy Chris Covelli– On July 4, 2022, in Highland Park, Illinois, a shooter opened fire from an elevated position on a crowd of people, killing seven and injuring dozens of others. As the PIO for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Chris Covelli played a crucial role in delivering information to the public about the status of the investigation and the search for the suspect. This will be an in-depth presentation of what happened that day and in the following days, as Chris Covelli shares his role as a PIO during this crisis event and the lessons learned.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. Highway 50 Closure- Nicole Stone & Anne Reid- From April through November of 2024, the US Highway 50 Middle Bridge was abruptly shut down after failing a routine inspection by CDOT. The closure disrupted local and national transportation, forcing travelers onto detour routes that added over six hours of travel time. Commuters, businesses, and emergency services felt the brunt of the impact as the region struggled to adapt. Anne Reid and Nicole Stone will address the incident, focusing on key aspects: an overall timeline and review, management and communication strategies, and critical lessons learned from this prolonged event.
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch on Your Own (Or ideally with friends, but the point is that ESPIOC will not be providing lunch, so ask for a per diem)
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Social Media Strategies for Everyone– Kelli and Dirk Clingman- Discover how the social media practices of police and fire departments can inspire effective engagement for any organization. This presentation explores how police and fire departments can effectively use social media to foster community engagement, build trust, and share critical information. Attendees will learn strategies for creating impactful content and navigate challenges and highlight successful collaborations in showcasing the human side of first responders. Whether you’re in or outside of public safety, this presentation will provide actionable insights to elevate any organization’s online presence.
3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. First Responder Resilience and Comedy Show- Vinnie Montez- Vinnie Montez is an internationally recognized stand-up comedian known for his high-energy
performances and unique perspectives. Based in Colorado, Vinnie seamlessly combines his career in law enforcement with his passion for comedy, creating a one-of-a-kind voice that resonates with audiences across the globe. Whether performing at intimate community events or headlining major venues, Vinnie’s mission is the same: to bring joy, connection, and laughter to every stage
he steps on. If you have not yet had a chance to meet Vinnie, you are in for a treat!
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Social Hour (Details to come)
Thursday- May 1, 2025
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Olde Town Arvada Shooting- Detective Dave Snelling- On June 21st, 2021, Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley was stalked and assassinated in the Olde Town area of Arvada, Colorado. The suspect fired multiple shots at police cars parked behind a PD office housing the Community Outreach team. A good samaritan entered the area and shot the suspect. The good samaritan proceeded to pick up the suspect’s rifle and move into view of an officer who then shot and killed the good samaritan, believing that he was the suspect. The hours, days, months, and years following this incident brought unpredicted twists and turns. Detective Dave Snelling shares the challenges faced and the lessons learned while navigating this incredibly difficult incident. Snelling says, “Allow me to share everything I did not know and everything that went wrong to help everyone become better prepared.”
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Canva Tips & Tricks- Anndrea Harris- As a branding expert and Canva consultant, Anndera specializes in helping government entities strengthen their online presence through effective branding and social media strategies. Andera has had the privilege of working with local and state governments to create cohesive, engaging, and impactful social media campaigns that align with their branding, using Canva as a tool to streamline the design process. Given the importance of brand consistency and effective communication in the public sector, Andera provides valuable insights for government professionals looking to enhance their digital presence, boost engagement with their communities, and improve branding strategies.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on Your Own (Or ideally with friends, but the point is that ESPIOC will not be providing lunch, so ask for a per diem)
1:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Communicating in Crisis: A holistic approach to critical incident response– Judy Pal– In this fast-paced session, Judy Pal takes attendees through a five-point holistic approach to crisis communication, including explaining academic concepts that play a role in crisis communication; keys to successfully communicating with various stakeholders and audiences; what to do before, during and after a crisis; things that are important to know; and the overall goal of best-practice crisis communication. With more than 40 years’ experience, Judy Pal has served police executives in both Canada and the U.S. Prior to consulting full-time, she was as an Assistant Commissioner with the NYPD, Director of Operations for FBI-LEEDA, Chief of Staff with the Baltimore and Milwaukee Police Departments, and served as a member of the command staff overseeing public information with the Atlanta, Savannah, and Halifax Regional police departments. She’s conducted media and crisis communications training for thousands of law enforcement professionals, including FBI Regional Command Colleges across the country, the command staff of the NYPD, Dallas and Philadelphia Police Departments, and the Major Cities Chiefs and National Sheriffs Association conferences.
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Social Hour (Details to come)
Friday- May 2, 2025
7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Hands-On Table Top Crisis Drill- Katie Coakley- Break out into groups as we navigate a hands-on crisis drill. Participants will walk away with tangible crisis communication plan drafts, as well as other materials. More information on this exercise to come.
Thank you.
Location – The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa, Avon
We look forward to welcoming you to the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa. We have a special block of rooms for ESPIOC 2025 from April 29 – May 1, 2025 at the rate of $159. ESPIOC has also secured this rate for 3 days before and after the conference for those interested. This rate is available until April 1, 2025, subject to availability.
Your resort fee is $10 per day, and parking is $10 per day. Seven (7) days prior to arrival, a one-night room and tax will be charged and are nonrefundable. If you have any issues reserving your room, please get in touch with the Westin In-house Reservations Department at (970) 790-2000.
Registration (ends April 12)
You can register using the form below. It is one form per registration. If you need to register three people, then you need to complete this form three times. After March 18, no refunds are available. Registration for the conference will close on Saturday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m.
Registration – through April 12, 2025
Member Registration $450.00
Non-Member Registration $500.00
Following Registration, keep an eye out for an email about downloading our conference app.
Get our official event app,
For Blackberry or Windows Phone,Click here
For feature details, visit Whova