2024 Conference Speakers

Monday February 26th, 2024:

Conference Key Note Speaker:

SAFTAC Presents

Seconds 4 Survival: Survive the Ambush

Presented by: Major Travis Yates

“Seconds 4 Survival” is a dynamic, media intensive course designed to reduce the reactionary gap that can lead to deadly consequences in law enforcement interactions with suspects. Real life scenarios combined with tactical considerations are discussed throughout the training that will give the student the knowledge to survive attacks. Here are just some of the important topics taught in “Seconds 4 Survival: Win The Ambush:”

Characteristics of Cop Killers
Pre-Attack Indicators
Body Language Clues For Danger
Successful Performance Under Stress
How To Prevent The Ambush
The Dangers of ‘Action vs Reaction’
Verbal & Non-Verbal Clues To The Attack
Command Presence For Survival
What Does Suspect Deception Mean
Weapon Indicators
Fight or Flight: The Key To Survival
Case Law That Enables You To Survive

Major Travis Yates began his career in 1993 with the Tulsa (OK) Police Department. He has served 18 years of his career in a patrol function with other assignments in Gangs, Media Relations, Training and Planning. Travis has been recognized throughout the world in regards to law enforcement training and received the International Police Trainer of the Year Award in 2008 by ILEETA. He is an Editor with Law Officer Magazine and is one of the most prolific writers in law enforcement, authoring hundreds of articles for various publications including The Daily Caller. Travis is often interviewed by major media outlets in regards to law enforcement with past interviews with CNN, USA Today, ABC News, Nightline and the Associated Press. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State University and is a graduate of the 227th Session of the FBI National Academy. Travis is the author of the best seller, “The Courageous Police Leader. “

Tuesday, February 27th, 2024:

Morning Presentation:

Wisconsin Department of Justice: OWI/Legal Update

Presented by: Tara Jenswold & Emily Thompson

TARA JENSWOLD has served as Wisconsin's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor since 2003. In 2009, she joined the Wisconsin Department of Justice as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Litigation Unit. Prior to becoming an Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Jenswold served as the Assistant Director/Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor at the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Resource Center on Impaired Driving from 2001-2009. Prior to joining the Resource Center, Ms. Jenswold worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Walworth County; where she specialized in the prosecution of traffic offenses.

As Wisconsin’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Ms. Jenswold provides training and technical assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement officers. She gives numerous presentations on the impaired driving laws and vehicular crimes on the state and national level. Ms. Jenswold also serves as coordinator of various seminars and trainings in Wisconsin. In addition to her training responsibilities, Ms. Jenswold acts as a special prosecutor, specializing in complex vehicular homicide cases. She has served as a contributing author of the Wisconsin Prosecutor’s Manual for OWI Cases and the Wisconsin State Patrol’s OWI Enforcement Manual and serves on various traffic safety related committees and task forces.

EMILY THOMPSON is an Assistant Attorney General and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) in the Criminal Litigation Unit at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. She joined the DOJ in April of 2016. Before that, she worked as a prosecutor in the Dane County District Attorney’s Office for nine years. As TSRP, Emily assists prosecutors and police with traffic-law-related issues and questions. She also prosecutes serious vehicular crimes throughout the State of Wisconsin. The two TSRPs travel the state providing trainings for police and prosecutors. They also host several stand-alone trainings each year for police and prosecutors, including an annual Prosecutors’ Seminar on OWI and a biannual Vehicular Homicide Training, among others. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, Boston University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.

Luncheon Presentation:

Melowski & Singh LLC Defense Attorneys: Officers Mistakes in OWI Cases

Presented by: Attorney Dennis Melowski

Since graduating from Marquette University Law School in 1993, Dennis Melowski has earned the reputation as Wisconsin's top DUI defense attorney due to his unmatched record of success in the field. In his career, Dennis' clients have had their drunk driving charges reduced or dismissed more than 600 times, including more than 100 complete acquittals in jury trials. No other attorney in the state can match this remarkable record.

Known as an extremely skilled trial attorney, Dennis has been involved in several landmark DUI cases, including four argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. His argument in one of those cases convinced the court to completely change the law with respect to an issue involving repeat drunk driving offenders. In 2017, Dennis achieved another landmark Supreme Court victory in State v. Blackman.

In 2013, Dennis became a nationally published author when he was selected by Aspatore Publishing as a co-author of a book in its prestigious Inside the Minds series, which provides readers with proven legal and business intelligence from the nation's most respected businesses and law firms.

Dennis’ Honors and Awards

-- Named, Wisconsin SuperLawyer, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine, 2005-present

-- Named, Top 100 Trial Lawyer, The National Trial Lawyers (formerly The American Trial Lawyers Association), 2007-present

-- Named, One of the Country's Eight Leaders in Criminal Defense, Newsweek Magazine

When not practicing law, Dennis enjoys spending time with his wife, Maggie, and their two children, Molly and Luke. An accomplished endurance athlete, Dennis is a four-time USA Triathlon All-American. He has also qualified for and competed in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii six times, with a personal best time of 9:46:51.

Afternoon Breakout Presentations:

ROUTE 961 TRAINING AND CONSULTANTS: Current Drug Trends

Presented by: Nick Place

As society’s stance toward drugs of abuse has changed, so has the landscape of Wisconsin and Midwest communities. The class will cover marijuana, common illicit drugs, novel psychedelic substances, fentanyl and synthetic opiates, GHB, CBD/THC testing, stimulants, and other emerging drug trends.

This class mixes "the book" with "the street". We break this class up with a classroom portion on current drug trends and a practical exercise in the afternoon with scenarios based on real-life examples of drug-impaired driving and drug interdiction. Our attendees told us they wish they "had that stop back" after they took Route 961's Drug Trends!

Nick Place has spent 22 years in law enforcement in Northeast Wisconsin. He has been a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) since 2004 and is an SFST, DRE, and DITEP instructor and a Regional Coordinator for the Wisconsin DRE program. He has testified as an expert in impaired driving cases, mentored and trained new instructors, and has won statewide awards as a “Top 10 DRE”, Outstanding Performance as a DRE, and DRE of the Year. He has worked various assignments throughout his career ranging from routine patrol to drug investigations, interdiction, SWAT, and K9 handler. He started Route 961 Training and Consultants to deliver drug training to law enforcement and the public.

Wisconsin State Patrol: CMV OWI Investigations

Presented by: Sergeant Dan Diedrich

Sergeant Dan Diedrich has been employed with the Wisconsin State Patrol since 2006. During his 17 years in law enforcement he has served as both a State Patrol Trooper and a State Patrol Inspector. In 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant within the motor carrier enforcement section. As a Trooper, Sergeant Diedrich was passionate about OWI enforcement and this carried over into his commercial driver inspections. During his State Patrol Inspector assignment, Sergeant Diedrich worked with the National Training Center as a driver inspection instructor. Throughout his career he has focused his inspection efforts to specializing in driver fitness and qualifications.

Critical Impact Group: Principles and Tactics of Solo Officer Response to Active Shooter Incidents

Presented by: Adrian Alan

Most law enforcement trainings on active shooter response are focused on specific tactics and techniques such as team formations, hallway movement and room entries. This approach provides solutions to specific technical problems, but comes short of preparing officers for the dynamic, adaptive challenges that active shooter situations present. While this approach is often “good enough” to get officers by in most situations they face, it can also contribute to catastrophic failures like the police response to the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

This presentation focuses on teaching the principles behind the relevant tactics and active shooter response “mission” as a whole. This approach is designed to ensure officers not only attain technical proficiency, but possess the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to employ appropriate tactics and make good use of force decisions when faced with these complex and dynamic problems.

This discussion will examine real-world data on active shooter incidents in the United States, discuss how officers are shot during their response, and debrief aspects of several specific active shooter incidents. Finally, recommendations will be given on how officers can apply this knowledge during a solo officer response to improve their safety and promote mission success.

Adrian Alan is owner of Critical Impact Group LLC, specializing in firearms training and safety consulting for government agencies, commercial enterprises, and private citizens. He is an 18-year law enforcement veteran who has served in patrol, on a crime suppression team, community policing team, as a field training officer, SWAT officer and police sniper. During his career he has received awards for lifesaving, valor, the WPPA Meritorious Award and the National Patrol Rifle Conference - Jeff Chudwin Award for Patrol Rifle Excellence.

Adrian has been teaching for 15 years, holding a variety of state and national firearms, tactical, and sniper instructor certifications. He has served on curriculum development committees with the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board, most recently on the subcommittee for Pistol Mounted Optics, and has been the foremost instructor in the State of Wisconsin on this topic. Prior to founding Critical Impact Group, Adrian served as the Director of Range Operations at Vortex Optics, launching the Vortex Edge shooting school and overseeing the design and construction of the 55,000 sq ft indoor range and training facility.

Adrian’s teaching philosophy is centered on the concept of principle-based learning. His passion is not simply to help students reach high-levels of technical proficiency, but to ensure they have the knowledge and critical-thinking skills to succeed when facing real-world, adaptive challenges. Adrian enjoys competitive shooting and is an avid outdoorsman. He has a bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison and lives in Southwest Wisconsin with his family.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024:

Closing Presentation

Drinking + Huffing + Driving = A Disturbing Public Health Trend

Presented by: Lt. Joe Tenor and Kimberle Glowacki

Lt. Joe Tenor was the 2022 recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Karen Tarney-Bookstaff DRE-of-the-Year award. He received this award for his work on 1,1-Difluorethane impaired driving cases.

Lt. Tenor has served with the Calumet County, WI Sheriff's Office since 2003. He previously worked fulltime for the Menominee Tribal Police Department, and part-time for Menominee County Sheriff's Office, and Bonduel Police Department. In addition to his patrol duties, Lt. Tenor served on the Calumet County Drug Task force for about 12 years. He now oversees the patrol division, K9 Unit, and field training program.

Lt. Tenor has been a Drug Recognition Expert since 2010, and a D.R.E. instructor since 2015. He has taught Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (A.R.I.D.E.) and Drug Impairment Training for the Education Professional (D.I.T.E.P.) He is also an adjunct instructor in the police academy at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI.

Kimberle Glowacki is a forensic scientist in the Forensic Toxicology Section at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. Since her first introduction to the DEC program, Kimberle has been enthusiastic and passionate supporter. She audited DRE training in 2014 and serves as the laboratory liaison to the Wisconsin DEC Program. Kimberle is an active member of the Wisconsin DRE Oversight Committee. She has given numerous presentations on drugs for Wisconsin’s DEC program. Kimberle is a national speaker, she has presented to state traffic safety groups and DRE’s. She presented on designer drugs and drug trends at the 2016, 2017, and 2019 IACP Drugs, Alcohol, and Impaired Driving Conference. Kimberle is very pleased to be back co-presenting at this year’s Wisconsin Traffic Safety Officers Conference.

Chippewa County Huffing OWI Homicide Case

Presented by: District Attorney Wade Newell

Wade Newell is the District Attorney for Chippewa County. DA Newell has been a prosecutor for the last 25+ years. DA Newell has experience handling numerous criminal traffic cases involving the use of alcohol, restricted controlled substances, and other intoxicants to include difluoroethane (i.e., huffing), prescription medication, and psilocybin (i.e., mushrooms). DA Newell has prosecuted numerous vehicular homicide cases involving both intoxicated drivers and distracted drivers. Prior to college, DA Newell served as a Military Police Officer for three years, stationed at Fort Knox Kentucky. DA Newell has Criminal Justice degree from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville and received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison Law School.

Follow us on Facebook!