Thomas Lemmer has been invited to return to the Breaching the Barricade Conference (BTB) for an unprecedented fifth year. Each year, this premiere conference is uniquely focused on building resilience in meeting the challenges of the policing profession. This year, Lemmer will be presenting four sessions on gratitude, adversity, truth, and the importance of being proactive in policing. The full-day conference will be held on Friday, 3 October 2025 at the Farmstead Inn and Conference Center in Shipshewana, Indiana. [Click the link below to read more.]
Category: Police Operations
Resistance and Collaboration with Evil
Each of us is commanded to do good. Everyone. The obligation to do good is always present, and it is particularly intense in the presence of evil. In our modern times, evil is not discussed much, and the notion of “good versus evil” leaves many people uncomfortable. That is unfortunate. Without contemplation about the timeless struggle in defense of good, we are all at risk of being unprepared. The need to be prepared for challenges, while seeking to advance good, is particularly important for all who hold positions of authority. It is here that a 2023 film set during the Nazi occupation of Belgium is a recommended resource. Not as a look back, but as preparation for what may await any, or all of us. It is an essential consideration for all working within the policing profession. [Click the link below to read more.]
Believe in Redemption
In this life there is suffering and evil is real. We live in a world that struggles with peace. Our communities have peace officers, police officers, because of this reality. Yet, more than any other reason, those who pursue a policing career seek to help others. And, given that children are among the world’s most vulnerable, their safety is deeply held within the policing mission. At their best, our police officers protect the innocent, and they seek to bring peace. They can also help guide those who have wandered from peace back toward the path. On Christmas, we remember a child and the path to redemption He provides. [Click the link below to read more.]
Sound of Freedom, Over the Trafficking Target
Last week, on the Fourth of July, the film Sound of Freedom was released in theaters. The release had been delayed for years. The criticism the film has received since its release has also been unusual. There is a key connection between the delayed release and the post release criticism. The film is based on a true story, and that story is beyond ugly. The film builds from the efforts of former Homeland Security Special Agent Tim Ballard and his efforts to confront the scourge of child trafficking. Sound of Freedom is compelling, must see viewing about the international child sex trade. The film spares the audience from the actual abuse images, but captures the horror of the reality that exists. We urge you to see this moving film. [Click the link below to read more.]
NPR, AP, THE Pandemic and Traffic Deaths
Going back to the height of THE pandemic, polling by Gallup showed public confidence in key institutions was low. Even as the news media has pushed narratives focusing on other institutions, the public held the media in very low regard. Like trust in Congress low. There are many reasons to hold the media in low regard. A leading choice since 2020, THE pandemic excuse. That excuse was a favorite for the Associated Press (AP) and others in the media. While ridiculous, the beyond simplistic cover story was used to explain away huge problems caused by horrible public policies. Issues like a crushed economy. Well sure. But also rising violence and even reckless driving. But, this week National Public Radio (NPR) read from a new script. Rising traffic deaths just may have more to do with the consequences from lessened traffic enforcement by the police than Covid. Shocking. Well not really. [Click the link below to read more.]
ILETSB-EI Again Taps Lemmer for Its Police Executive Program
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Executive Institute (ILETSB-EI) hosts a comprehensive police executive development program multiple times a year. The 100-hour course, Police Executive Role in the 21st Century, consists of three weeks of classroom modules. Secure 1776 founder Thomas Lemmer is again among the leaders tapped to provide instruction. Lemmer will be presenting all day on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 at the Peoria Police Department. Lemmer will be covering the core issues of accountability, supervisory engagement, leadership, and police policy. [Click the link below to read more.]
Lemmer Presenting at the 2023 ILEETA Conference
The International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (ILEETA) is holding its 20th annual conference in St. Louis. This year the conference will be held from 20 thru 25 March 2023. Our founder, Thomas Lemmer, will be presenting two sessions of his newest course offering, Police Policy Principles and Training. Without question, highly-effective police organizations establish and adhere to sound policies. When they do so, those agencies can more readily and simultaneously ensure constitutional policing, enhance public safety, and foster officer wellness. To be sound, their policies must meet the essential police policy principles identified in the model. Highly-effective police agencies then also ensure that their policy implementation and training program efforts are coordinated efforts. [Click the link below to read more.]
The Pandemic Excuse and Bigger Problems
The news cycle last week was dominated by coverage relating to the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols died three days after he was stopped by, fled from, and was stopped again by police in Memphis on 7 January 2023. An extended struggle with police left Nichols severely injured. Two fire department EMTs and a fire lieutenant have been terminated for not providing adequate medical attention. Police body camera and other video footage of these interactions were released last Friday. Condemnation surrounding the actions of five Memphis police officers involved in that incident has been swift and widespread. Those officers were quickly terminated and now face criminal charges. But, a lesser news item from last week should not be ignored. Police in Washington, DC repeated the pandemic excuse for continuing carjacking issues in that city. The lesser incident highlights a larger and related problem relative to public safety. [Click the link below to read more.]
ILETSB Executive Institute Hosting Live Lemmer Webinar on Tragedy and Policing
On 15 February 2023, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Executive Institute will again be hosting training developed by Thomas Lemmer. The upcoming event is part of the institute’s 2023 Live Webinar Series. Lemmer will be providing a special presentation of his course Countering a Tragedy-Free Policing, Or Else Standard. The two-hour webinar will also draw from his courses Leadership is an All-Levels Responsibility and So You Ask Yourself Why Me? Why Now? The cost of this webinar is being covered by the state training board for Illinois law enforcement personnel. The course is certified by the ILETSB for 2 hours of credit under the Procedural Justice law enforcement training mandate. [Click the link below to read more.]
New Years, Not Public Safety Magic
At Secure 1776 we waited a week to issue our New Year’s post to make a point. There is no special magic at the stroke of midnight ending the last day of any December. Not with the dropping of a ball in Times Square, nor with the dropping of a musical note in Nashville. Not with the flipping of the calendar to any January 1st. As far as holidays go, New Years commemorates little more than Ground Hog Day does. Time passes. It is true that most of us seek more time. Time to get things right. Many hope to achieve significant accomplishments, and have more time for enjoyment. Yet, individually and as a society we tend to waste a lot of time. We tend not to spend enough of it seeking truth. Such is the case with the public safety crisis that continues in far too many communities. [Click the link below to read more.]
Crime Control Lessons From New York City
The Manhattan Institute and its City Journal are premier resources relative to understanding crime and social issues impacting the nation. This is particularly true relative to the struggles of urban life in New York City. On 21 December 2022, City Journal posted an insightful discussion about crime and crime control. What works and what does not work. The exchange is from the 2022 George L. Kelling Lecture hosted by the Manhattan Institute. The lecture featured Raymond Kelly, an impressive leader in the police profession. Kelly served twice as the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He was among the NYPD leaders that helped to bring about the turnaround in crime in New York City during the 1990s. The lecture should be required learning for all politicians, before they are allowed to tinker with the laws and procedures that are essential to public safety. [Click the link below to read more.]
A Chicago Crime Microcosm Story
Single, easily observed and understood examples can be extremely valuable. Such microcosm events help to provide clarity. They are useful in addressing public policy issues that have been deliberately obscured by political motivations. Politics have complicated the public policy discussion relative to crime. In cities across the nation, Americans have experienced declining public safety and rising lawlessness. Yesterday, CWB Chicago reported on the robbery of a pregnant woman. That single crime event is a microcosm story. It provides an opportunity for some much needed clarity on several key points. It is an important community policing bad news and good news moment. [Click the link below to read more.]
ILETSB Executive Institute Hosting Lemmer’s Engagement that Meets the Mission
On 6 December 2022, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Executive Institute will again be hosting Thomas Lemmer as part of their 2022 Executive Summit Series. Lemmer will be presenting his law enforcement leadership seminar, Engagement That Meets the Mission. The focus and level of engagement among the members of an organization are key variables in separating highly-effective agencies from failing ones. By optimizing the engagement level of agency supervisors and embracing effective accountability approaches, this instruction helps to build an organizational culture of excellence. The cost of this seminar is covered by the state training board for Illinois law enforcement supervisors and executives. The course is certified by the ILETSB for 6.5 hours of credit under the Procedural Justice law enforcement training mandate. [Click the link below to read more.]
Lemmer Presenting, 2022 Breaching the Barricade Conference
The 28th Annual Breaching the Barricade Law Enforcement Conference will be held on 30 September 2022, at the Lerner Theater, in Elkhart, Indiana. The conference and its companion Officer Appreciation Day are premiere industry events made possible by the vision, work, and mentoring of Jim Bontrager. The appreciation day event will be held in Sturgis, Michigan on Saturday, 1 October 2022. A U.S. Marine veteran, Jim is a long serving lead police chaplain for the Elkhart Police Department. At Bontrager’s invitation, Thomas Lemmer will be presenting again at the conference. [Click the link below to read more.]
IL Public Safety, Bad News Ahead
In Illinois, state’s attorneys are the elected county prosecutors. They represent the people of their respective counties in court. When 100 out of 102 elected state’s attorneys have a warning, then the people are wise to listen. The coming full implementation of the SAFE-T Act in January 2023 will make Illinois far less safe. On 5 August 2022, AM560’s Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson, from Chicago’s Morning Answer, interviewed two county prosecutors from the Chicago area. One Republican, Robert Berlin, from DuPage, County. One Democrat, James Glasgow, from Will County. They are agreed. Public safety will be jeopardized. Law-abiding citizens will be confronted by emboldened criminals, and the police and prosecutors will be far less able to do much about it. The full interview is a highly-recommended resource. [Click the link below to read more.]