Dr. Stephanie Dawson (Johnston) is the Founder of, and Principal researcher at Dawson Analytics, Inc. Dr. Dawson earned her Ph.D. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Dawson has engaged with policing-related research as both an academic and independent research consultant. She has contributed to multiple reports and articles related to policing and public safety, and has presented her work to academics, local government officials, and agency executives. Her earliest works focused on police perceptions of crowd disorder and crowd management techniques. Her work has since expanded to focus on various elements of police-citizen interactions, including trends in police use of different force options, police engagement in street checks, and police perceptions of crisis intervention and de-escalation. Currently, Dr. Dawson works with municipal police services to ensure their policies and practices are evidence- and best practice-informed.
Dr. Simon Baldwin is the manager of the research unit of one of the largest law enforcement agencies in North America and has worked in the areas of police use of force and evidence-based policing for the last 17 years. He is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Psychology Department at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Carleton University’s Police Research Lab. His research focuses on the areas of police training, stress physiology and performance, crisis intervention and de-escalation, body-worn cameras, and the prevention of arrest-related deaths. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work on police use of force reporting and improving oversight, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. He was also awarded the International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP) 40 Under 40 award for exemplifying leadership, dedication, and service to the law enforcement profession.
Elder Caroline Buckshot, whose traditional name is KaNigan a Pit meaning “Woman who teaches”, is an Elder and community member from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation of the Algonquin Nation in Maniwaki, Quebec.
Elder Buckshot’s career led to Provincial Corrections as an addiction counsellor and Native Liaison for ten years, four years in the community as an addiction counsellor and since 2007, has provided elder services in Federal Corrections. In addition, Elder Buckshot is a Gladue writer since 2011 for Legal Services Society (LSS) and presently for British Columbia First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC). She has written over 3,000 Elder Review Initials, which captures the social history of the individual and develops healing plans and makes recommendations.
Most important, she is an Elder to young women in the community, providing spiritual guidance, and she is a proud mother of her son Andrew and grandmother to Brandon.
Robb represents companies, public-sector organizations, and individuals in employment, commercial, and regulatory disputes. He thoughtfully guides his clients through judicial dispute resolution, private mediation, and arbitration.
His extensive litigation practice ranges from complex commercial litigation, including defending class-action lawsuits and significant oil and gas disputes, to representing members of the RCMP. He also represents police facing Police Act, RCMP disciplinary and criminal proceedings.
After practising for almost four decades, Robb definitely knows his way around a courtroom. He puts his clients at ease with his significant track record of courtroom success and experience.
He conducted the two longest jury trials in Alberta history and has appeared before all Alberta courts, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been counsel to the Federal Department of Justice and various administrative tribunals, royal commissions, and public inquiries.
Robb is a true people person, a great listener, and an excellent communicator. He feels the best part of his job is the variety, where every file is unique and every day is a different experience. Robb truly cares about his clients and doesn’t lose sight that there is a person at the end of every case.
Active in litigation and advocacy education, Robb has lectured for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association, the Federal Department of Justice, and various police agencies. In addition, he keeps his clients informed and up to date on issues by conducting seminars and training programs to help them avoid and resolve litigation.
He leads the Community Initiative Committee at McLennan Ross which is involved in numerous community activities, including working with the Mustard Seed Drop-In Centre, a non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984.
Robb was also on the board of the Special Olympics for many years and has been involved in the ski community for most of his life. He was the president of the Banff Alpine Racers, on the Board and served as Chair of Alberta Alpine, and is actively involved in the community as a race director for the Banff Winterstart Run, which has raised more than $500,000 for amateur athletics in the Bow Valley.
Jessica Berglund was appointed Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office of BC on September 20, 2024.
Prior to her appointment with IIO, Berglund was the director of occupational health and safety investigations at WorkSafeBC, overseeing the investigation of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in BC. She joined WorkSafeBC in 2003 and held legal and senior-management roles over a 21-year career.
Berglund was president of the board of directors of Pathways Clubhouse, a mental-health organization in Richmond, from 2016 until 2022. She was also a member of the board of the Lawyers Assistance Program from 2006 until 2012.
Berglund was born in Merritt, growing up first on her family’s cattle ranch in the Nicola Valley followed by her family’s move to the Okanagan, where she graduated from Penticton Secondary School in 1986. She obtained her bachelor of arts in French and Asian studies from the University of Victoria, including studying at Beijing Normal University, before returning to Victoria to attend law school. Berglund was called to the bar in 1998 and practiced civil litigation in Vancouver until 2002. She lives in Richmond with her husband and son.
As the Head of Insights and Assurance within the Directorate of Security for His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Dr. Bosworth led a team responsible for monitoring and assuring all Use of Force within Adult Men’s and Women’s Prisons and within the Youth Custody Service in England and Wales.
With a background in behavioural psychology PhD, research methods MSc, economics BSc, and cross-government expertise regarding incarceration (e.g. Senior Research for the Home Office in Immigration Removal Centres), Dr. Bosworth has a unique skillset to understand the individual and societal impacts of using force. As Head of Evidence, Data and Assurance teams, Dr. Bosworth promotes evidence-based decision-making, ensuring public sector resources are prioritised towards tackling issues of greatest risk. Dr. Bosworth has pursued the highest professional standards to ensure improved outcomes for both prisoners and staff, that using force is justified and proportionate and that the organisation promotes the values of accountability, equality, and transparency when reviewing and scrutinising force. Key achievements since taking this role include authoring a framework for increasing professional standards in Use of Force (see page 68 of the Prison Service Journal: PSJ 252 January 2021) and leading a comprehensive evaluation of the state of force in adult prisons (2018-2023) including quantitative analysis of over 160,000 incidents of force and interviews with both staff and prisoners (in publication).
Presentation Topic: A Review of Use of Force in English Prisons: How Insights and Assurance can Improve Professional Standards
The vision for His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is a Use of Force (UoF) culture characterised by the highest professional standards and rigorous scrutiny that balances the responsibility of safeguarding prisoners with those of empowering and protecting staff. To better understand this, a review of all force from 2018-2023 was conducted to ascertain the current state of UoF across prisons in England and Wales. The aim of the research was to highlight areas of best practice and identify areas requiring improvement.
This presentation will outline the findings from this research including, but not limited to, disparities regarding the age, gender, and ethnicity of those experiencing force and the large variation in the quality of data, assurance, and support provided to both those experiencing force and officers who use it. The presentation acknowledges how organisational factors (e.g. low staffing levels, inconsistent regime delivery), unsafe supervision (e.g. inconsistent local assurance and use of body-worn video cameras), pre-conditions (e.g. new and / or inexperienced staff) and discretionary decision-making (e.g. relying on ‘gut instinct’ rather than training) may lead to force.
This presentation will deliver practical steps that have been taken by HMPPS to tackle some of these issues, including investing in data, partnership working with psychology and neuro-diversity services, and the introduction of a new professional standard and training package.
David Butcher began his career as a prosecutor with the Federal Department of Justice in 1986. After 14 years in a mid-sized Vancouver firm, he joined Peter Wilson, Q.C. in 2003 and founded the firm Wilson Butcher. He has prosecuted and defended a wide variety of criminal cases at every level of court. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010. Today, most of his practice involves the defence of police officers charged with on-duty offences, and serious violent, sexual, and white-collar crimes. He also acts as a Special Prosecutor, and as counsel at professional Discipline Hearings and Commissions of Inquiry.
Rob is a 25 year veteran of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and has worked at all security levels at federal penitentiaries in Alberta and British Columbia. Rob became a CSC Firearms and Use of Force Instructor in 2002, and later added instructor certifications in chemical agents/inflammatory sprays; Correctional Training Program (the CSC Recruit program); and, Foundations for Indigenous Corrections. Rob qualified as a Crisis/Hostage Negotiator in 2007. In 2014 Rob wrote a learning needs assessment for Correctional Managers in CSC which lead to an overhaul of the training for these managers.
In 2008 Rob deployed as a Trainer/Mentor with the CSC contingent attached to the Canadian Armed Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, Afghanistan. During this one year posting Rob was responsible for training Afghan prison staff in all areas of Correctional Operations, with a focus on use of force and tactics due to the nature of the environment. Rob responded as a member of the CAF QRF to an attack on Kandahar’s Central Prison in June of 2009 in which over 900 inmates escaped and 13 Afghan Prison Staff were killed. This attack shifted CSC’s relationship with the Afghan Prison Service who now saw a purpose to training, and more time was dedicated to training staff and redesigning security infrastructure.
Rob has held his current position at CSC Regional Headquarters, Pacific, since November of 2022. Rob’s department is responsible for supporting federal penitentiaries across British Columbia in all areas of Security Operations including staffing; training; equipment; technological innovation; policy development. A major piece of Rob’s current position is reviewing use of force incidents and working with senior managers in improving incident responses.
Dr. Garth Davies is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is the Associate Director of the Institute of Violence, Terrorism, and Security at SFU. Dr. Davies has been involved with numerous policing-based research projects, and is the author or co-author of dozens of reports and articles related to policing and public safety. His previous work has focused on policing disorderly crowds and riots. At present, he is working on a multi-year analysis of police use of force. He has also presented at briefings for the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (“E” Division), the Canadian Security Intelligence Services, and Public Safety Canada, and has testified on national security issues in front of both the Canadian Parliament, as well as the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defense.
Brad Fawcett retired as the Sgt. i/c of Research and Special Projects for the VPD Force Options Training Unit. He is a 31-year police veteran and has worked in patrol, jail, crowd control, and training. He was a staff member at the BC Police Academy for over seven years where he instructed use of force, physical fitness, drill, and tactical courses involving high-risk vehicle stops, building containment and searching, active shooter, and mental preparedness. Brad is also a master hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist working with athletes to improve their performances. He is a court-qualified use-of- force and non-firearms prohibited weapons expert. He has provided opinion evidence in Coroners’ Inquests, civil trials, criminal trials up to and including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, labour relations hearings, public hearings, and a commission of inquiry. Brad has been a faculty member of three Law of Policing Conferences (Canada) and The International Law Enforcement Forum in Northern Ireland. He was a faculty member at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Chicago where he presented with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and has been a staff instructor at several international use of force conferences.
Brad has an extensive resume related to use of force. He has developed manuals and courses from conception through provincial approval. He has been a sessional instructor at a post-secondary institution where has instructed Ethics for a Law Enforcement Environment and Professional Communications and was the Canadian director of the International Association of Ethics Trainers (IAET) for ten years.
Brad is the current BC Police Academy Use of Force Coordinator.
Cait attended law school at the University of British Columbia and received her J.D. in 2018. She first joined Wilson Butcher as a summer student in 2017, then completed her articles with the firm and was called to the BC bar in 2019. Cait completed her undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus and received a B.A. in Spanish and Political Science. Prior to law school Cait spent five years living and working in South America, and she is fluent in Spanish.
Since coming to Wilson Butcher, Cait has conducted a number of use of force trials alongside David Butcher, K.C. She frequently consults use of force experts, retains reports, and works with experts to provide testimony in court. In addition, Cait has experience working on a broad range of criminal, civil, and administrative matters, including defence of Criminal Code charges, police and professional discipline, and civil litigation involving police agencies.
Len Goerke has been appointed JIBC’s 6th President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 15, 2024.
Goerke has more than 10 years post-secondary governance experience, having served both on the Board of Governors for the University of the Fraser Valley and JIBC. As the former Chief Constable of the West Vancouver Police Department, he is skilled in leading strategic and operational planning, budgeting, human resources, and information technology.
He holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University and has completed the Ivey School of Business Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario.
In his new role, Goerke will lead the development and implementation of strategies in service of student success, academic excellence and a safer and more just society. He will also ensure that JIBC continues to foster a culture of inclusion and uphold JIBC’s commitment to decolonization, Indigenization and Truth and Reconciliation.
Throughout his career, Goerke has worked to advance Truth and Reconciliation. As Chief Constable of the West Vancouver Police, he brought the 10-day Pulling Together Canoe Journey to West Vancouver as an opportunity for police, community leaders and high school students to come together with the members of the Squamish Nation to learn about Squamish history, culture, protocols and world views. In this role, he also reported to the Squamish Nation Council, as the West Vancouver Police Department provided policing and public safety services to the Xwmélch’stn Úxwumixw (Capilano Reserve 5).
He has a keen interest in restorative justice and served on the Restorative Justice Association of BC Board of Directors for three years. He currently serves on the Klahanee Park Housing Society Board of Directors and has also served on the Capilano Senior Citizens Housing Society Board of Directors.
Alex has been with the BC Prosecution Service since May 2005 and has had many different roles as Crown Counsel over that time. He has prosecuted files in Provincial and Supreme Court, was a prosecutor at Downtown Community Court and a member of the Intimate Partner Violence Team. Prior to becoming the Professional Development Crown Alex gained extensive experience both conducting trials and front-end work in courthouses in the lower mainland and was seconded to the Surrey Six trial team for 3 years. Alex has been the Professional Development Crown for the BCPS since March 2021.
Ravi Hira K.C., is a partner at Hira Rowan LLP. Prior to founding Hira Rowan LLP in April 2016, Ravi was a partner at another boutique litigation firm in downtown Vancouver.
Ravi was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 1998. He was Crown Counsel from 1982 to 1988 and a Commissioner with the British Columbia Securities Commission from 1992 to 1994. Ravi was a Director of the British Columbia Law Institute from 1997 to 2004 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Criminal Law and Reform and Criminal Justice Policy as well as an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association National and Provincial Council. He was appointed by the Attorney General of British Columbia and the Law Society of British Columbia to the List of Special Prosecutors from 2007 to 2015.
Ravi’s practice consists exclusively of counsel work. It includes complex commercial litigation cases, criminal defence cases, prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney General of British Columbia, and administrative law cases relating to professional discipline, political ethics, public inquiries, and other regulatory matters. Ravi has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ryan is an associate at Hira Rowan LLP. Prior to being called to the British Columbia bar in 2018, Ryan completed his articles at the firm.
Ryan maintains a broad litigation practice including civil litigation, commercial litigation and criminal law. He has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and has also appeared in the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories.
Ryan is a graduate from the Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba, where he was the director and founding member of the Robson Hall Racquets Club. Prior to law school, Ryan attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in history.
Outside of work, Ryan is an avid tennis player and has also been known to test his luck at golf and soccer.
Joel is a retired 28-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department with a background in Patrol, Foot Patrol, Crowd Control and Traffic Enforcement. He spent 20 years specializing in Force-related training & program development, and Emergency Response (ERT). He served 9 years as Use of Force Coordinator, 5 years as operational Squad Leader of one of four full time ERT (SWAT) squads and 2 years as the Training Coordinator for ERT. He was seconded to the BC Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General as Provincial Use of Force and Municipal Emergency Response Teams (SWAT) Coordinator from 2005 – 2011. He has been retained in more than 120 use-of-force cases, including numerous high-profile cases across Canada, and given testimony across Canada to all levels of Courts, Hearings, Inquests and Inquiries.
Superintendent Jennifer Keyes was appointed Director of the Police Academy in October 2022, joining JIBC on secondment from the Vancouver Police Department where she has served since 1999. Prior to her policing career, Supt. Keyes was a lawyer, working both in private practice and as Crown with the Public Prosecution Service of British Columbia. She is a former graduate of the Police Academy, as well as a former instructor in JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma program.
Her service with the VPD has allowed her to excel in the delivery of training as well as financial and administrative competencies. She has served the VPD as its legal training officer and later was its project manager for the implementation of the Ecomm-911 $60-million public-safety communications technology initiative.
Supt. Keyes has held positions in the VPD’s Operations Division and prior to her role with JIBC, was a Discipline Authority with the VPD Professional Standards Section where she was responsible for the disposition of Police Act conduct complaints. Her policing background includes a career focused on VPD members’ professional development, and in joining the JIBC Police Academy she aims to bring that wealth of knowledge and experience to the provincial level.
Glen has been serving in this role since December 2022. Including his previous role of Associate Director of Policing in British Columbia, he has over 30 years of criminal justice experience, including serving as the first civilian director of policing in Manitoba and Executive Director of Policing and Public Safety. Glen has extensive experience working with Indigenous, Municipal, Provincial and Federal policing leaders, elected officials and senior justice officials on law enforcement, justice, and Criminal Code reforms. He has held statutory appointments as the Director of Policing, Director of Witness Security, Director of Victim Services, and other statutory appointments related to organized crime and public safety threats. Glen has served on the executive of integrated investigative units targeting organized crime and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and initiatives designed to address opioid use. He also served as the co-chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Senior Officials Working Group on law and policy reform on organized crime. He brings years of experience leading the design and implementation of legislation, including major Police Act reforms, civil forfeiture, and civil-based models to address crime and public safety.
Prior to moving to British Columbia, Glen served as Senior Advisor to the Clerk of Executive Council in Manitoba where he worked with senior executives on public safety and initiatives crossing multiple departments.
Kenny Lott is the lead use of force control and defensive tactics instructor for the Northwest region of the Washington State Criminal ustice Training Commission. Previously, he served as a patrol officer, patrol supervisor and in the U.S. Army Reserve. Lott has a bachelor's in communication from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master's in adult education from Colorado State University.
Topic: Washington State Control and Defensive Tactics Curriculum
C/DT 6240 is Washington state’s basic law enforcement academy control and defensive tactics curriculum. It was designed as a resource for law enforcement officers, trainers, and policymakers alike. The information contained within the program was compiled using the Washington State Attorney General’s use of force policy model, the Washington Administrative Code, and the revised Code of Washington. C/DT 6240 is not only the most comprehensive, legally defensible, and most current guide, but is also understood to be a living document that can, and will be evaluated and adjusted in accordance with evolving case law, state legislation, and best practice standards.
Heather is the Acting/Administrative Crown Counsel for the BCPS Police Prosecution Group since September 2024. Heather has been Crown Counsel for 15 years. She began her prosecutorial career with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada where she worked on the Organized Crime Team. In September 2018, Heather joined the Commercial Crime, Regulatory and Police Prosecution Group at BCPS. Since joining this group Heather has done extensive work on police prosecution files including trial and appellate work.
Topic: How Expert Evidence in Police Use of Force Actually Plays Out in Court
Brock Martland, KC is a senior criminal lawyer handling trials and appeals, mainly for the defence but also, in the barrister tradition, for the Crown. A graduate of Queen’s University and the University of Victoria, he clerked for the Honourable Mr. Justice John Major at the Supreme Court of Canada, then completed articles with the Vancouver Crown Counsel office, before joining the firm of Smart & Williams in 2001. The present firm of Martland & Saulnier is the successor to that firm.
Brock has acted as defence counsel in high-profile cases such as the Jake Virtanen sexual assault trial, the Surrey Six murder trial (and appeals), the Yaletown bike-store shooting, and the Air India terrorist bombing. He occasionally conducts trials and appeals for the Crown. Brock was senior commission counsel for the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia. He also served as associate commission counsel for two public inquiries: the Frank Paul Inquiry, and the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River. He has extensive experience with extradition and youth justice cases. He has been involved in numerous Police Act disciplinary matters.
Brock is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2018. He has presented at dozens of conferences for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, police officers, students, academics, financial professionals, and the public. Brock speaks English and French.
A recently retired Police Training Commander and Director of a mid-sized Regional Police Academy in upstate NY, Sergeant Mike Musengo has studied and implemented non-traditional and empirically supported methods of training which optimizes long term learning, retention and skill transfer into the LEO training experience. These methods coupled with his experience as an instructor in human performance factors has helped him develop training curriculum for not only the officer on the street but the trainers who are responsible for them.
His background includes NY State DCJS Certifications as a General Topics Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Reality based Training Instructor and Academy Director. He has specialized in tactical operations for over 26 years and the Director of the NYS DCJS Accredited Basic SWAT Operator Course and has experience as the commanding officer for all firearms and tactics related training for the Syracuse Police Department and SPD SWAT team. He spent 19 years as a narcotics detective working as an undercover operative and was a sworn DEA Task force agent working larger multi-jurisdictional narcotics cases.
Mike has also successfully completed the Certification in Force Analysis course and is a graduate of the Advanced Force Science Specialist Course. Mike is also known for his work with Force Science in many capacities, including Instructor in these highly esteemed courses across the US. Mike is also a nationally recognized IADLEST Certified Instructor and considered an expert in several domains within the Law Enforcement profession.
Cpl Frankie Penney has been a member of the RCMP for 17 years. He started his career in Richmond, BC, working in General Duty, Bike Section, and the Organized Crime Unit. He became a Use of Force Instructor for the RCMP in 2013 and began instructing CEW, IARD, Firearms and Less Lethal. In 2015, he transferred to the full-time Lower Mainland District – Emergency Response Team (ERT). In 2017, Frankie entered into the RCMP’s Use of Force SME Program. He served five (5) years on LMD-ERT when he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and transferred to Ottawa to the National Tactical Training Section for the ERT Program in 2020. Frankie taught all facets of the ERT Program including leading Close Quarter Clearing Block and the ERT Combatives Program. In 2023, Frankie lateralled to the full-time Ottawa ERT where he is still currently posted.
Frankie is a court recognized subject matter expert in use of force and is heavily involved in the RCMP’s UoF SME Program. He was the lead instructor on the last course and has mentored several candidates during their Mentorship Program.
Richard Peterson is a program manager for the Washington Criminal Justice Training Center, where he created the control/defensive tactics training program for Washington's Basic Law Enforcement Academy and Advanced Training Division. Previously, he was a Seattle police officer and a U.S. Army infantry officer. Peterson earned a bachelor's in workforce education from Southern llinois University.
Topic: Washington State Control and Defensive Tactics Curriculum
C/DT 6240 is Washington state’s basic law enforcement academy control and defensive tactics curriculum. It was designed as a resource for law enforcement officers, trainers, and policymakers alike. The information contained within the program was compiled using the Washington State Attorney General’s use of force policy model, the Washington Administrative Code, and the revised Code of Washington. C/DT 6240 is not only the most comprehensive, legally defensible, and most current guide, but is also understood to be a living document that can, and will be evaluated and adjusted in accordance with evolving case law, state legislation, and best practice standards.
Bridget is a former UK Solicitor and Barrister who requalified in Canada in 2018. She has spent her career since then with the Commercial Crime and Police Prosecution Group at BCPS dealing with multiple IIO files including a number of fatalities. In her 20-year UK career, Bridget acted for both the prosecution and defence and defended a number of police officers in criminal and internal disciplinary proceedings.
Topic: How Expert Evidence in Police Use of Force Actually Plays Out in Court
Prabhu Rajan was sworn in as British Columbia’s fifth Police Complaint Commissioner on February 21, 2024. Prior to his appointment, he has been recognized as a seasoned lawyer and executive leader with over 25 years of experience in the Ontario public service. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to fairness, accountability, and human rights.
Most recently, Mr. Rajan was Chief Counsel to Ontario’s Chief Coroner and Chief Forensic Pathologist, and co-led the province’s inquest system, which provides statutory oversight for police-involved and in-custody deaths. He was responsible for reviewing and transforming the inquest system with the objectives of enhancing the focus on systemic factors, streamlining inquest investigation and hearing processes, and strengthening engagement with inquest participants.
As part of this role, Mr. Rajan was lead counsel on several high-profile and contentious inquests, which included cases centred on use of force, domestic violence, and mental health in the justice system. In addition, he served as Chair of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee.
Mr. Rajan developed a broad spectrum of legal and executive expertise through senior legal management roles with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities, and the Ministry of Labour. As Deputy Legal Director at the Ministry of the Solicitor General, he provided legal and strategic advice to senior police service members in the Ontario Provincial Police on sensitive matters, including large-scale inquiries and the prosecution of police misconduct.
Previously, Mr. Rajan was counsel for the Ontario Human Rights Commission, litigating cases at all levels including the Supreme Court of Canada. He holds a B.A. in Criminology from the University of Manitoba and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.
Romolo is in his 26th year of policing. In 1999, he joined the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) after graduating from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a Master of Science Degree. He spent the first eight years in patrol and was an original member of the Beat Enforcement Team (BET) policing the notorious Downtown Eastside. In 2007, he transferred to the Firearms Training Team (FTT) where he held virtually every portfolio specializing in pistol, shotgun and carbine. In 2009, Romolo led the FTT transition to the Tactical Training Centre (TTC). Promoted to Sergeant in 2012; he was transferred to the VanJail as the OIC. He returned to the FTT in 2014 as the Sergeant i/c developing over a dozen use of force (UOF) programs from conception to implementation. As a member of the Provincial Firearms Working Group (PFWG), he played a key role in establishing new pistol training and qualification standards. In 2021, Romolo became the Rangemaster for the TTC. In 2022, Romolo was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to Training Services where he was responsible for all education and training in the VPD. In 2024, Romolo was promoted to Inspector and assigned a new position (Force Options Training Services) responsible for all use of force training in the VPD. Romolo is also the current manager of the Tactical Training Centre. Romolo is the lead instructor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Pistol Instructor Course and regularly instructs recruits in pistol at the Provincial Police Academy. Romolo holds over 20 course certifications as it relates to UOF. Romolo has trained police officers and armoured car guards in firearms and related tactics at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international level. Inspector Ranallo has authored a half dozen articles in police publications and is the only Canadian police officer in history to have presented at the annual conferences of the “Big Four” police associations: International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), and International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Romolo has presented internationally on 11 occasions and continues to do so based largely on his one-of-a-kind knowledge, passion, unique teaching-presentation style and his unmatched dedication to learning and training. Romolo enjoys watching professional sports, reading, and travelling in his spare time.
Top 10 Hot Button Issues in Police Use of Force Training
Police use of force remains one of the most misunderstood topics in today’s society. Inspector Romolo Ranallo will shed light on 10 hot-button issues that are shaping public discourse, policy reforms, police use of force training, and police-community relations. The presentation will cover controversial topics such a Crisis Intervention De-escalation, Less Lethal Weapons, Physical Control Tactics to name just a few. Whether you’re a police officer, policymaker, investigator, prosecutor, lawyer, or use of force “expert”, this presentation offers indisputable perspectives to inform your understanding of topical and crucial issues impacting police-public relations as it relates to use of force. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s most influential police use of force trainers who has not only dedicated his career to reshaping police use of force training, but remains one of the few to “tell it like it is”.
With over 20 years of experience in criminal and penal law, disciplinary law, and Indigenous law, Nadine Touma distinguishes herself through her adept management of complex high-stakes cases and her rigorous approach to trials involving multifaceted issues. Her practice encompasses the negotiation of contentious matters within criminal, penal, and disciplinary procedures, often involving professionals, corporations, and unions.
With her unparalleled pragmatic approach and the trust of her peers, she frequently is called to closely collaborate with various law firms seeking her expertise in crafting effective legal strategies.
An accomplished advocate and renowned negotiator, Nadine Touma is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. This prestigious North American legal association comprises less than 1% of attorneys from each province and state who have maintained the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and collegiality throughout their careers. Comfortable in both out-of-court negotiations and courtroom proceedings, Nadine Touma is unwavering in her commitment to defending the interests and rights of her clients.
Presentation Topic: The Case Of Sergeant Éric Deslaurier
Marc Verillotte was born in Haute-Marne, France, in 1965. He is a lecturer in the field of stress adaptation and mental skills optimization. He works with companies to share his experience and provide concrete procedures that can be immediately applied in people's daily lives. Marc’s expertise focuses on the question: "How can we maintain our skills under pressure?" He also participates, through several associations, in training young job seekers in crisis management, communication, team cohesion, and security.
Marc served as a police officer for 31 years, 20 of which were with the RAID, from 1998 to 2018, in the intervention unit. He joined the RAID as a peace officer and left with the rank of Senior Major. While in the assault team, he specialized in several areas: combat, shooting, tactics, parachuting, forced entry, intervention team leader, head of the opening solutions unit, handling explosives, and neutralizing explosive traps. He was shot twice during interventions.
Marc is a 6th dan judoka. His active competition years were between 1984 and 1996. He won the Paris Grand Slam in 1990 and placed first six consecutive years from 1987 to 1992 in the French Police Championships. He also placed first in 1988 and second in 1992 at the European Police Championships.
He holds numerous national and international decorations and is a full member of the association of Legion of Honour members who were decorated at the risk of their lives.
David Volpato is a recognized subject matter expert and executive overseeing Axon’s TASER and Virtual Reality operations across Canada. In his current role, David drives innovative advancements in public safety technologies, leveraging cutting-edge solutions to enhance officer training and operational effectiveness.
Before joining Axon, David served as a police officer in the Province of Ontario for 14 years, where he earned a reputation for forward-thinking leadership and technological innovation. He played a pivotal role in modernizing his police agency, spearheading initiatives that brought contemporary practices and tools to the forefront. Notably, David was instrumental in establishing the first Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) program for a police service in Ontario, setting a benchmark for law enforcement agencies across the region.
With a deep commitment to advancing public safety through technology, David combines hands-on law enforcement experience with executive expertise to deliver impactful solutions tailored to the evolving needs of Canadian police agencies.
Presentation Topic: Modernizing Police Training and Use of Force: TASER, Virtual Reality, and RPAS Integration
This session will explore cutting-edge advancements in law enforcement technology, focusing on the pivotal role of TASER energy devices, Virtual Reality (VR) training systems, and the integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) equipped with TASER capabilities. As policing evolves to address complex challenges, these innovations provide attendees with enhanced tools to improve decision-making, operational precision, and safety outcomes. The presentation will delve into real-world applications, emerging trends, and the transformative impact of technology on use-of-force training and deployment. Attendees will gain insights into how these advancements can support public safety objectives while fostering community trust and accountability.
Kevin Woodall is a recently retired (January 2024) lawyer. He was called to the bar in 1991, practicing civil, criminal, and administrative litigation at all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as diverse tribunals, coroners inquests and public inquiries. In the police law field he began “prosecuting” police officers before police boards under a earlier iteration of the Police Act. Since then he has acted for and advised discipline authorities, chairs of police boards, the Commissioner of the RCMP. In the past several years his practice has focused on police unions and associations, and members of the RCMP, in British Columbia and Calgary.
