The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, in collaboration with the University of Ottawa, Rutgers University Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, and the Transatlantic Center for Security and Cooperation are pleased to convene Police and Public Safety Leaders from around the world for a discussion on issues concerning Covid-19 on a first of its kind Global Police Executive Virtual Forum, a continuation of the virtual forum previously hosted by Brookings Institution. 

To speak to these issues, we have gathered together an impressive array of police executives from around the world, including: Chief Steven Casstevens – President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Chief Constable Adam Palmer, President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Commissioner Brenda Lucki – Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Colonel Patrick Callahan – Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, Chief Raymond Spinella – New York City Police Department, and other senior police leaders from state, municipal, and international policing services.  

The myriad challenges facing the world’s policing and security services during the pandemic have stretched resources, shifted priorities, and forced leaders to rethink how they engage civil society. Police worldwide are adept at rapid emergency response and triaging critical incidents, however the persistent nature of the pandemic is causing greater strain on police who have fallen ill, require quarantine and are enforcing rules for people’s health. This global public health emergency has senior police executives rethinking how to maintain the security of their jurisdictions and the safety of their staff over prolonged periods of time. In some nations protests and domestic violent extremist activities has grown as a consequence of the growing discontent in many constituencies over perceived governmental overreach and personal sequestration. These factors, and others, have forced a reallocation of resources from investigations, intelligence, and routine administration in order to fulfill patrol response missions. 

In parallel to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we’re facing what the World Health Organization referred to in February as an infodemic, an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some inaccurate – that makes it more difficult for the public to seek or receive reliable and trusted sources of information. Misinformation, disinformation, and misleading information is a catalytic vulnerability that makes fulfilling the mission of public safety organizations harder.

Now that many places are emerging from imposed isolation policies, what are the outcomes from sudden unemployment, continued social distancing and stress-related mental disorders?  How will current economic shutdowns affect future police budgeting and staffing? These are compelling issues that will drive the profession of policing in unprecedented directions and require insightful approaches and strategies.  

Agenda

Moderator

• Vincent Hawkes – Director, Global Policing, International Association of Chiefs of Police

1000-1010 – Welcome 

• Chief Steven Casstevens – President, International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Chief Constable Adam Palmer – President, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
• Serge Blais – Executive Director, Professional Development Institute, University of Ottawa

1010-1015 – U.S. Speaker Introductions

• Rick Fuentes – Fellow, Rutgers University Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience; Chair – Homeland Security Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police 

1015-1035 – Policing from the Epicenter

• Colonel Patrick Callahan – Superintendent, New Jersey State Police
• Chief Raymond Spinella – New York Police Department Support Services / Covid-19 Task Force

1035-1040 – International Speaker Introductions 

• Vincent Hawkes – Director, Global Policing, International Association of Chiefs of Police

1040-1140 – International Speakers

• Chief Steven Casstevens – President, International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Chief Constable Adam Palmer – Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
• Commissioner Brenda Lucki – Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 
• Chief Mark Saunders – Police Chief, Toronto Police Department
• Chief Nishan Duraiappah – Peel Regional Police
• Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers – New Zealand Police 
• Superintendent Amir Rostami – Stockholm Police 

1140-1150 – Disinformation and the Rise of Extremist Networks

• Paul Goldenberg – Senior Fellow, Rutgers University Miller Center; Member, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC)
• Jack Donohue – Chief of Strategic Initiatives (ret.), New York City Police Department; Senior Advisor, Cardinal Point Strategies

1150-1200 – Questions and Wrap-up

• Vincent Hawkes – Director, Global Policing, International Association of Chiefs of Police