CPOA 2026 Spring Virtual Training Conference

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CPOA Virtual Training Conference

Course Description

CPOA’s 2026 Spring Virtual Training Conference offers a series of robust sessions for your entire agency.

 
**Up to 16 POST credits**

2-hour sessions twice a week for 4 weeks on a range of topics that will serve your entire agency!

Can’t attend live? Sessions will be recorded for viewing on demand!

Fees & Registration

Members & Non-Members:
SM - MED | 5-100 staff ---- MED+ - XL | 101-3000+ staff
[SM - MED] AGENCY | Full Conference
[MED+ - XL] AGENCY | Full Conference
Individual | Full Conference
Individual | Per Session

Sessions

Week 1

April 28
10:00am to 12:00pm

From Silence to Strength: Building Culture of Resilience

Presenter:

Carryn Barker, Detective, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office 

Carryn’s talk is for anyone committed to building stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive cultures in law enforcement and beyond. It’s especially valuable for women in male-dominated fields, leaders shaping organizational culture, and allies who want to support meaningful change. The insights apply to frontline staff, supervisors, and anyone seeking to lead with courage and purpose.

Carryn Barker is a detective, former SWAT operator, Medal of Honor recipient, and doctoral candidate who speaks on resilience, leadership, and allyship. Drawing from powerful lived experiences, she inspires individuals and organizations to push past barriers and build supportive cultures. Her journey—culminating in a landmark legal settlement—highlights the strength of standing up and standing together. Today, she helps others navigate challenges, cultivate trust, and lead with courage.
April 30
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Resilience Without Burnout: Leadership Practices That Protect Officers, Agencies, and Communities

Presenter:

Felice Upton, Founder/Consultant
Just Us Consulting

California law enforcement agencies are facing unprecedented workforce strain: staffing shortages, elevated trauma exposure, public scrutiny, and increasing liability. Too often, resilience is framed as an individual responsibility when in reality, it is a leadership and organizational design issue. Drawing on more than 20 years of leadership inside correctional and justice systems, this session focuses on what leaders can actually control: culture, communication, accountability, and systems that either compound stress or reduce it.
Felice Upton is a former justice-system executive with over 20 years of experience leading high-risk correctional and youth justice environments. She has overseen complex investigations, culture transformation initiatives, and workforce resilience efforts in some of the most challenging systems in the country. Her work bridges operational reality, officer safety, and leadership accountability.

Week 2

May 5
10:00am to 12:00pm

Professional Skills Development & Training for non-sworn Staff

Presenters:

Henry Hsu, Fountain Valley Police Department

Lorie Velarde, Crime Analyst

Students will learn the importance and practicality of 8 core skills that can tangibly improve how efficient and effective they are in handling their daily work and personal tasks in addition to building positive relationships with coworkers. Students will learn to be guided by a greater sense of purpose adding meaning and significance to their work that will help them positively influence and inspire others.

Students will know how to apply the 8 core skills to prioritize and accomplish important goals consistent with one’s values and mission statement, resulting in a more fulfilling and productive life at work and at home.

Henry started his law enforcement career in 2003 in Orange County, CA. Henry has served as a Patrol Sergeant, Financial Crimes Investigator, and Field Training Officer. He is currently a Personnel and Training Sergeant, responsible for the recruitment process of sworn and non-sworn positions while also overseeing professional training standards. Henry has certifications in Fair and Impartial Policing, Critical Incident Command, Officer Health and Safety, Promotions and Leadership, and Procedural Justice. Henry is a CA POST-certified instructor in Arrest and Control, Use of Force, and Strategic Communications as well as an AICC-certified Academy Instructor. Henry has been a member with the California Peace Officers Association for over 10 years serving on the Region 9 Board. Henry has a Juris Doctorate, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, and Bachelor’s degrees in Social Ecology and Political Science.
Lorie Velarde has more than 37 years of law enforcement experience including 25 working in crime analysis. Over the course of her career, Lorie has accomplished a variety of achievements including designing and implementing a department-wide geographic information system, performing analysis on several types of law enforcement cases for many agencies, creating actionable reports and maps that have resulted in offender identification, and presenting at national and international conferences on the topics of crime analysis, mapping, the use of GIS for analysis, and pattern identification. Lorie has also published several articles and book chapters in the field of crime analysis and geographic profiling, and she has received several awards for her work including the International Association of Chiefs of Police/ChoicePoint Award for Criminal Investigative Excellence, the Southern California Crime and Intelligence Analyst Association’s Analyst of the Year Award, and the Steven Gottlieb/Alpha Group Award for Creativity and Excellence in Crime Analysis.
May 7
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Leading Yourself Well, Taking a Tactical Approach to Personal Development & Team Building

Presenter:

John Kelly, (Ret.) Sergeant
Law Enforcement Life Coach, LLC

The “Sometimes Heroes Need Help – A Tactical Approach to Personal Development and Team Building” is a program like no other. Taking ownership of how we live our lives and the decisions we make, the individual is empowered to become the solution they need to overcome the life challenges they face. By taking a holistic approach to wellness, our personal (relationships), professional (culture at work), financial, physical, and mental health are addressed. Traditionally uncomfortable topics of conversation are explored and normalized. We have real, raw, unfiltered, vulnerable interaction that is sure to leave a lasting impact. You will walk away with the skill-sets and tools necessary to not only survive this thing of ours, but more importantly to thrive in all areas of your life.
National keynote presenter and law enforcement life coach, Retired Sgt. John Kelly faced several attempts on his life from suspects over his 30 year career in law enforcement. None of these attempts came as close to killing him, as he did to killing himself. Author of “Surviving Self-Inflicted Wounds, A Deputy’s Life of Redemption” chronicles his life journey. An alcoholic, addict, and adulterer, confronting PTS, and suicidal ideation, John tears open his life, to provide a roadmap to personal accountability and growth. His “Sometimes Heroes Need Help” Program takes a tactical approach to personal development and team building. The program addresses the personal, professional, financial, physical, and mental health of the first responder. By having real, raw, and unfiltered, conversations about the things we never talk about, the individual is empowered to be their own wellness advocate. John’s vulnerability in discussing his failures gives the audience permission to forgive themselves and more importantly the courage and strength to keep getting up, striving to be better today than yesterday. Join John Kelly as he takes you on a journey of discovery into how you apply your tactics to survive “Self Inflicted Wounds”.

Week 3

May 12
10:00am to 12:00pm

Succession Planning Essentials

Presenter:

Charles Celano, Chief (Ret.) Tustin Police Department
Founder & CEO, Chief Leadership

Succession planning in public safety is a “buzz word” that gets thrown around quite a bit, but the reality is very few organizations actually take the time to put together a successful Succession Plan.

The audience will get a step-by-step blueprint on how to create their own professional development plan within their own agencies. This plan includes how to conduct a thorough leadership gap analysis, build a training matrix and leadership training program internally, create a coaching and mentoring culture, job shadowing program and much more.

Retired Chief Charles F Celano Jr is a 27-year veteran of the Tustin Police Department. He worked his way up through the ranks to the position of Chief of Police.

Chief Celano possesses a Bachelor’s Degree from CSU, Long Beach and a Master’s Degree from the University of Redlands. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class #258.

May 14
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Walking on Eggshells: Addressing Wellness at Home Through Effective Family Communication

Presenters:

Stephanie Kiesow, Founder, Kiesow & Co Consulting

Erin Craw, Elementary School Teacher

In the high-stress environment of the law enforcement industry, maintaining healthy communication within the family unit is essential for overall wellness. Many police families struggle with the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, often leading to a culture of “walking on eggshells.” While agencies strive to promote wellness, there remains a significant gap in providing practical strategies for fostering open dialogue and family well-being.

This presentation, presented by two daughters of law enforcement officers, delves into the intricacies of family communication specific to law enforcement, highlighting the vital role of strong family relationships in enhancing resilience. By equipping participants with actionable techniques to improve both individual and family well-being, we can help create an environment that supports the unique needs of both individuals and their loved ones.

Stephanie Kiesow is a former law enforcement officer, the wife of a law enforcement officer, and the daughter of two retired law enforcement. In 2022, Stephanie left her sworn job to focus on her Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and spends some of her time researching and mitigating work-related contributing factors to suicide within first responder industries. In addition to her educational roles, she works for First Responder Wellness/The Counseling Team International, teaches for the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Standard and Training for Corrections (STC) with her certified therapy dog “Zeena”, is a contributing writer and speaker for several publications, creates and implements personalized wellness strategy programs through her consulting firm, and is the published Best-Selling author of her book titled, “Workicide.” Stephanie has been featured on Law Enforcement Today, The Police Tribune, and Blue Lives Matter. In her spare time, Stephanie spends her time with her husband, young children, and beloved pets.

Erin Craw bio: As the daughter of a police officer and an elementary school teacher, Erin has a true passion for research that informs mental health-related interventions, enhances mental health communication, and improves access to support for those working in the public sector. After experiencing the challenges of being a first responder’s child firsthand and the struggles her father endured before he passed away at the age of 57, she became passionate about hearing and sharing first responders’ stories and perspectives to inform needed changes that enhance their well-being on and off the job. This led her to pursue a doctorate, enabling her to conduct research with individuals in first responder professions, illuminating their realities and allowing their voices to shape the necessary change. She has conducted research and consulted with numerous agencies across the US to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve their mental health-related communication. Craw’s research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.

Week 4

May 19
10:00am to 12:00pm
Assessing Training: How do we improve Teaching and Learning?

Presenter:

Kelly Enos, Vice Chair
Los Angeles Mission College

The assessment of teaching and learning is critical if instructors want to improve instruction. Instructors are obligated to determine if they are meeting the learning needs of those students, getting into the habit of receiving feedback, making changes, and re-assessing to improve teaching and learning in the classroom.
Mr. Kelly William Enos is the Vice Chair of the Administration of Justice Program at Los Angeles Mission College and former Acting Dean of Academic Affairs. Prior to entering academia, Mr. Enos served as a police officer with the Culver City Police Department and later a deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
May 21
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Supervisory Decisions That Make-or-Break Litigation

Presenter:

Kayla Watson, Senior of Counsel Attorney
Serviam by Wright LLP

Supervisors are a critical line of defense in preventing and mitigating liability, yet they often receive limited training through the lens of real-world litigation. This session explains how supervisory decisions—minutes, hours, or even days after an incident—become central evidence in Section 1983 claims, negligence actions, and failure-to-supervise allegations.

Participants gain insight into what plaintiffs’ attorneys look for, what courts weigh most heavily, and how even small oversight actions can shift the trajectory of a case.

Attendees will leave with practical, immediately applicable tools for scene management, report review, corrective guidance, and consistent policy application. By understanding how their decisions shape the agency’s litigation posture and public transparency, supervisors can reinforce constitutional policing, safeguard their teams, and reduce long-term liability for the agency.

Kayla Watson is Senior Of Counsel at Serviam by Wright LLP and brings over 13 years of experience defending public entities in high-stakes civil litigation. She has litigated complex, politically sensitive matters in state and federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Her expertise spans civil rights, police practices, and public safety. Kayla is known for her sound judgment and her ability to navigate evolving constitutional and operational challenges.

Location

Virtual Event

CA United States

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Quick Info

Date/Time

April 28 @ 10:00 am - May 21 @ 4:00 pm
  • Format: Virtual (via Zoom)

FAQ's

  • If your agency is registered, you do not need to register individually. Check with your training supervisor.
  • If you need assistance with registering your entire agency, please contact us at:

PRICING

  • Agency | Member (Sm/Med)
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $800
  • After March 1: $950
  • Agency | Non-Member (Sm/Med)
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $1200
  • After March 1: $1400
  • Agency | Member (Med+/ExLrg)
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $1100
  • After March 1: $1150
  • Agency | Non-Member (Med+/ExLrg)
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $1500
  • After March 1: $1700
  • Individual FULL Conference | Member
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $250
  • After March 1: $275
  • Individual FULL Conference | Non-Member
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $375
  • After March 1: $425
  • Single Sessions | Member
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $50
  • After March 1: $60
  • Single Sessions | Non-Member
  • Jan 19-Feb 28: $75
  • After March 1: $90

Cancellation Policy
Effective 8/1/18

All cancellations and substitutions MUST be in writing and directed to the CPOA Training Coordinator cpoa@cpoa.org. All refunds will be processed within 30 days from the written date of the cancellation request.

Cancellations made 30 calendar days or more from the first day of your registered course will be refunded minus a $30 cancellation fee.

Cancellations made 29 calendar days to 10 calendar days from the first day of your registered course will receive a 50% refund.

Cancellations made 9 calendar days or less from the first day of your registered course are NOT eligible to receive a refund.

*Registrants who cannot attend a course are strongly encouraged to find a substitution.


Substitution Policy

CPOA encourages you to make a substitution if a student cannot attend the course; substitutions will be accepted prior to the course in writing and on-site.


*Registration Policy

CPOA will not register anyone for a class unless payment has been received in full. If you are not able to provide payment with registration you may provide a credit card to hold the seat. However, all students must be paid in full 10 days prior to the class. If payment is not received and a card has been given to hold the seat, it will be charged.