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October 18, 2025 Join us for tomorrow’s Town Hall Meeting in Denver
PERF members, Greetings from Denver, where I’m preparing for tomorrow’s PERF Town Hall Meeting at the IACP Conference. It’s one of my favorite events of the year, and I hope many of you will be in attendance and join the conversation. Over the years, I have heard from PERF members that this is an event they look forward to—a fast-paced discussion of the issues where members debate, discuss, and challenge one another.
PERF’s 2023 Town Hall Meeting at the IACP Conference in San Diego. We have a full agenda planned, including the following: Working with the National Guard As National Guard troops are being deployed to multiple U.S. cities, police leaders are experiencing new challenges. National Guard troops have been stationed in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, with deployments in Chicago and Portland being temporarily blocked by orders from two federal judges. President Trump has also suggested sending troops to New Orleans, San Francisco, St. Louis, Baltimore, and New York. As I wrote in last week’s Trending column, local police in these communities find themselves working alongside not only National Guard troops but also a surge of agents from various federal law enforcement agencies. These troops and federal officers are being sent to communities they may be unfamiliar with, and they are being placed in uncharacteristically close contact with residents. Plus, their rules of engagement are undoubtedly different from those of local police. We’ll hear from agencies with experience working with the National Guard and those who have operated with troops stationed throughout their jurisdictions to combat crime. Together we’ll try to answer the question, “How should police departments be thinking about this new relationship?” Debate on the reliability of the Force Science Institute’s findings A recent Police Quarterly study questioned the reliability of the Force Science Institute’s (FSI) findings. The study’s authors wrote, “Contrary to FSI’s assertions, our findings show its published materials fail to meet the scientific rigor demanded by the Daubert standard, which governs the admissibility of scientific evidence in U.S. courts. These results highlight the need for caution and critical scrutiny of such evidence and suggest that reliance on Force Science in legal proceedings, training programs, and policing policies risks introducing unverified concepts into high-stakes decision-making contexts.” FSI representative Lewis Von Kliem wrote a detailed response stating, “While the article presents itself as a scientific critique, it includes errors that warrant correction.” During PERF’s Town Hall, we’ll hear from University of South Carolina Professor Ian Adams, who co-authored the Police Quarterly study, and a response from Von Kliem as well as from FSI Founding Partner and Co-Owner William Lewinski. Both sides will be given equal time to speak before opening the floor for discussion. This should be a lively and insightful debate. Immigration Enforcement Immigration has become a hot button issue in policing as local agencies figure out how they fit into new federal enforcement efforts. Chiefs from police departments in some of the most diverse communities in the country will describe the challenges they are facing and how they are balancing community trust with ongoing immigration enforcement efforts. Using Drones and Addressing the Threat They Pose From the innovative implementation of new technology to the threat posed by malicious attacks, drones are an important topic in public safety. The Chula Vista (CA) Police Department has been leading the way in the use of drones in policing, and we’ll hear from Chief Roxana Kennedy to learn the latest about how her agency is using this technology. We will also hear from other chiefs from around the country to learn more about their drone programs. PERF will present the findings of a new survey on how agencies across the country are using drones and the potential threats they face from drone activity. And police officials from Ukraine will also be on hand to describe how drones have factored into their war effort and the hybrid attacks they face from Russian forces. Given the proliferation of drones in combat zones in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere, are American police prepared to respond to similar threats? Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence has made its way into all parts of modern life, and policing is no exception. At Town Hall, we’ll hear how agencies across the country are implementing this cutting-edge technology to apprehend suspects and solve crimes more efficiently. 2026 World Cup Next year’s World Cup games will take place in 16 cities across three countries, bringing international athletes and fans from all over the world to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We’ll hear from police leaders in several host cities to learn how they’re preparing for such a high-profile event and the efforts their cities are taking to ensure safety. Traffic Enforcement A representative from PERF will discuss the findings of an upcoming report on the current state of traffic enforcement following the COVID pandemic. The latest publication in the Critical Issues in Policing series, supported by the Motorola Solutions Foundation, this new report will offer 10 recommendations for agencies to help improve traffic safety. Protecting Elected Officials Elected officials in local, state, and federal offices have faced increased threats and violent attacks in recent years. Veteran members of law enforcement will discuss these threats and what local agencies should know to better protect office holders in their communities. Mass Demonstrations PERF’s Research team will detail the results of a national survey they conducted to determine what strategies agencies have in place to manage large-scale protests. While much attention has been paid to balancing public safety with the freedom to demonstrate, this survey’s new findings are intended to identify the gaps that may exist in the way many agencies plan for a protest. Open Discussion The hallmark of any PERF Town Hall is the opportunity for an open discussion on the issues affecting agencies all across the country. This sets PERF’s Town Hall apart from the usual meetings you may attend, so please come ready to participate in a lively conversation on a wide range of topics. While you’re in Denver, stop by to see us at booth #3901 in the Colorado Convention Center’s Exhibition Hall. We look forward to connecting with PERF members and others to discuss what we’ve been up to and what’s happening in your jurisdictions.
PERF’s booth at the 2024 IACP Conference in Boston. I hope to see you tomorrow! Best, Chuck |
