Saint Leo University To Host Public Safety Webinar On May 13

ST. LEO, FL – Saint Leo’s Center for Alternative Pathway Programs (CAPPs) in partnership with Pasco County Sheriff’s Office F1RST (Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics), will present an exclusive webinar panel discussion, “Opportunities for Collaboration and Partnerships among Public Safety Agencies," at 7 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 13.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for all levels of government to work together to coordinate an effective response. This collaborative effort includes the private sector, non-governmental organizations, various countries, international agencies, and many others.

The panelists for this online event include:

• Dr. Ernest Vendrell, associate director of Saint Leo’s Department of Public Safety Administration;

• Dr. Wendy Nesheim, commander of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a Saint Leo instructor;

• Dr. Jesse Spearo, senior emergency manager for the Broward County Aviation Department;

• Dr. Robert Stephens Jr., Northeast regional commander for the Florida Division of Investigative and Forensic Services for the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosive Investigations;

• Dr. John Sullivan Jr., retired federal agent and former executive liaison for homeland security for the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; and,

• Chief Deputy Jeffrey Harrington, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Topics to be discussed are:

• The importance of collaboration and partnerships among public safety agencies for emergency and disaster management;

• The impact of collaborative strategies on various organizations and on each panelist’s career;

• Emerging trends likely to affect the emergency management field in the future; and,

• Strategies public safety leaders can use to be proactive rather than reactive.

Register at https://www.saintleo.edu/cj-events for this event.

For more information, contact Nikki Heister, programs manager for the Department of Public Safety Administration at brenda.heister@saintleo.edu or (352) 588-8487.

About FIRST

Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics embodies a collaborative approach between academia and practitioners, together under one institute in pursuit of a common goal—shaping the future of public safety. FIRST will revolutionize training and invoke change in our communities through innovation in the fields of applied forensic science, forensic anthropology, public/private sector security, and tactics.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs to more than 19,500 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 32 education centers in seven states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 95,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.