By Corey Ray, FirstNet Director of Communications
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of public safety leadership held each year. Thousands of police chiefs from small, mid-sized and metropolitan police departments attend the event to discuss the key issues and leading innovations impacting law enforcement. This year, FirstNet was pleased to take a more prominent role at the IACP conference to advance our message and promote the work underway to develop the nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN).
FirstNet Senior Law Enforcement Advisor Josh Ederheimer met with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) early in the conference and presented an update on FirstNet’s activities to police chiefs from some of the country’s largest police departments. He was joined by Salt Lake City Police Chief and FirstNet board member Chris Burbank, who helped lead the discussion about FirstNet. He and Josh reiterated the importance of FirstNet to the public safety agencies in the major metropolitan areas.
In addition, law enforcement officials from the Miami Dade Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security discussed how ongoing preparedness and interoperable initiatives tie in with FirstNet’s mission and vision and provided suggestions for how chiefs can better plan for FirstNet development.
Also at the IACP annual meeting, Acting General Manager TJ Kennedy met with the Division of State Associations of Chiefs of Police (SACOP) and discussed the FirstNet mission, including our history, our current work, and what is expected over the next year. SACOP represents all 50 state associations of chiefs of police and serves as a primary point of contact and information exchange. The members of SACOP provided excellent feedback on FirstNet’s state consultation and planning efforts and expressed continued support for helping FirstNet progress on the statewide level.
TJ also met with chiefs, law enforcement analysts, and practitioners attending the Police Executive Research Committee (PERF). PERF is a known leader in the production of sound research and guidance on top public safety issues and endeavors. TJ had the opportunity to meet with several chiefs one-on-one to discuss FirstNet initiatives.
TJ continued that discussion with the members of IACP’s State Public Safety Directors and the Criminal Justice Information Services Committees. He was joined by Harlin McEwen, who is the Chairman of FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Committee and also serves as Chairman of IACP’s Communications Committee. FirstNet presentations were also made to the Campus Law Enforcement Committee, the Indian Affairs Committee, and the Community Policing Committee.
Additionally, FirstNet Association Manager Vicki Lee spoke before the iCERT (Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies) Executive Committee during which she addressed FirstNet’s Request for Information (RFI), draft Statement of Objectives, and Public Notice. iCert expressed a strong interest in the progress of FirstNet and the role the network will play in connection with future 9-1-1 systems and products.
On behalf of FirstNet, I would like to thank IACP for inviting us to participate in this year’s annual meeting. We look forward to continue working with the association and its members as we plan for and deploy the NPSBN.
Thanks,
-Corey
View photos of the conference below:
