RON SHREVES, LT., LASD RET. – Ron retired in 2003 as a Detective Bureau Commander after 33 yrs. with the L.A. Co. Sheriff’s Dept. He currently teaches Administration of Justice Courses in the California State College system. Ron has participated in and managed many covert operations from the very simple to the extremely complex and has shared that knowledge with law enforcement professionals from around the country.

PAUL E. MYRON, UNDERSHERIFF, LASD RET – Undersheriff Myron enjoyed a highly successful and diverse career with the L.A. Co. Sheriff’s Dept., retiring in 2000. He demonstrated strong leadership and executive level courage as Chief of the Sheriff’s Field Operations, Region I. He authorized, counseled and provided the resources necessary for a sustained target oriented approach to law enforcement. His understanding of the need for a comprehensive team effort, including an aggressive covert operations segment, played a major role in the success of Lancaster’s approach to Target Oriented Policing. His insight into executive level concerns for such an approach will be a highlight of this seminar.

MICHAEL ARANDA, DIVISION CHIEF, LASD – Chief Aranda is a thirty-seven year veteran of the L.A. Co. Sheriff’s Dept and currently heads the Sheriff’s Technical Services Division. As commander of one of the Sheriff’s busiest stations, then Captain Aranda administered a highly successful “Target Oriented Policing Program.” Chief Aranda recognized the comprehensive approach needed to create a truly successful and sustained effort. The result was a demonstrable improvement in the jurisdictions crime rate. Details of that approach will be a highlight of this seminar.

JAMES C. GILLEY, FORMER CITY MANAGER, CITY OF LANCASTER, CA – President, The Gilley Group, Municipal Consultancy. Jim worked twenty highly successful years as the City Manager for Lancaster California. He came to Lancaster with administrative police experience from the Simi Valley Police Department. Under his leadership, public safety was a true priority. His openness to special operations targeting recognized problems was critical to Lancaster’s leading edge approach to the improvement of quality of life issues for its residents.

DR. DONALD RANISH, Ph.D. – Dr. Ranish is a Professor of Political Science and Law and a Fulbright Scholar. He has taught college courses for over thirty years in the area of American Government, Local Politics, Criminal Behavior and the Judicial Process. He has presented professional papers, lectured and published articles on legal issues and procedures, victimology and public opinion. His lectures include sessions at Kyung Hee’s College of Law and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Seoul, Korea.

ROD BERNSEN, SGT., LAPD RET. – Talk show host for KFI AM 640 Radio, Los Angeles, CA. Former Correspondent, FOX News Service. During the course of 12 yrs with FOX News, Rod was honored with an Emmy in the category of Crime and Social Issues and a Golden Mike Award for live riot coverage in Los Angeles. Rod is a former Adjunct Professor at the School of Journalism, Public Relations in the Government Sector at the University of Southern California. He has also instructed at Calif. P.O.S.T. and the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, VA.

TSgt. DORA “Dee” JENNINGS, AIR NATIONAL GUARD – Dora is a sixteen year veteran with the Air National Guard and has deployed three times to the Middle East in support of the War on Terrorism. She is assigned to Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (AHIDTA) and provides analytical support to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

DEP. BRIAN SHREVES: Brian is a ten year veteran with the L.A. Co. Sheriff's Department and is assigned to a special projects team responsible for a wide variety of imaginative special ops. He was recently certified by the United States Department of Homeland Security as an Awareness Level Trainer for "Weapons of Mass Destruction, Incident Response to Terrorists Bombings." He also teaches Administration of Justice Courses in the California State College System.

TOMMY CARTER, SGT. LASD – Tommy is a 25 year law enforcement veteran and has extensive experience with long term covert operations and other innovative police operations. He is valued for his knowledge and technical experience with electronic surveillance.

AVRUM HARRIS Esq., DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, COUNTY Of LOS ANGELES – Avrum is an accomplished and highly regarded attorney with over twenty-five years experience. He has been in private practice and served as both prosecutor and defense attorney. He has taught Administration of Justice courses in the Calif. State College system. He is past president of the local Criminal Defense Bar Association and is the current Vice President of the Antelope Valley Bar Association. Avrum serves on the advisory boards for local high school and college Law and Government committees.

SGT. JOHN RUSH - is a twenty year veteran of the L.A. Co Sheriff’s Department. He possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in communications and a Master’s in Public Administration. He has a broad experience base within law enforcement, including a Team Leader position with the Department’s School Liaison Program to the 25,000
student, Antelope Valley High School District. John was responsible for the coordination and training of that comprehensive and highly effective program, including a 14 deputy Active Shooter Team.

MR. LARRY GROOMS - Mr. Grooms is a career communicator, with more than 30 years experience with newspapers, the electronic media and in public relations. He was the editor in chief of the Antelope Valley Press in Southern California for over a decade, hosted news and opinion shows on cable television and was co-owner of a public relations and advertising agency.

Mr. Grooms earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior from the University of San Francisco and then began his career as a beat reporter on the Gulf Coast. He has covered public safety and criminal justice issues throughout his career. He currently serves as a staff member for a California State legislator.

WENDY R. HARN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, LASD – Ms. Harn is a twenty year veteran of the LASD, serving as that agency’s chief crime analyst since 1985. She is a nationally recognized expert in her field and has lectured at the F.B.I. Academy and many other venues.

ELIZABETH BRUBAKER - is Director of Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization, to include the City Code Enforcement Unit for the City of Lancaster California. Ms. Brubaker has over sixteen years experience in the public sector. She executes a diverse range and multitude of responsibilities. Projects she directs focus on the urban revitalization of neighborhoods to strengthen all dimensions of the community by partnering with existing and potential stakeholders. Ms. Brubaker’s department is a model for the melding of diverse efforts in the fight for improved Quality of Life Issues.

SGT. STEVE SYLVIES - is a veteran of over 18 years experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is a recognized expert in the fields of narcotics, gangs, property crimes, crimes against persons, abatement/forfeitures and narcotics sales. He has worked multiple long term Clandestine Storefront assignments, which resulted in the arrest and convictions of over 200 career criminals and the recovery of over a million dollars in stolen property. He has worked as an undercover operative, team leader, and lead investigator. He has trained or assisted agencies all over the Nation in his areas of expertise.

LT. RICK KO - is an accomplished veteran with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Lt Ko’s is a recognized expert in vice related crimes and is past President of The Western States Vice Investigator’s Assoc.