We are very excited for the upcoming 2026 LETOA Conference. Important information regarding this year’s location, agenda, registration, and awards can all be found below.
Conference Location
Conference Location – We are excited to be hosting the 2026 conference at the new Rock County Sheriff’s Department training center. Lodging of choice is at the Towneplace Suites in Janesville. Scroll down to find the link for the reduced rate.
Conference Agenda
Conference Day One (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)
- 8:00am – Welcome from Sheriff Fell and the Janesville Business Bureau
- 9:00am – Nick Greco – C3 Education and Research: Officer Wellness – Focusing on Family Dynamics
- Police officers are well trained to respond to the daily emergencies that come with the job, yet they are not well-versed on how the job will impact their personal and family life. As they may try to protect their loved ones from the stressors of the job, spouses and partners may feel left out, have unanswered questions which heighten fears and worries about their loved ones, start to vicariously take on the stressors that officers experience, and further break down communication and trust. We will discuss healthy ways to deal with the stressors and trauma of the job by utilizing the support systems in your personal life and enjoying your life away from work. Officers, spouses, partners, and families will learn how to immediately implement ways to improve their relationships through reestablishing trust, fostering healthy communication, living in the moment, and achieving a healthy balance in their physical and mental health.
- 12:00pm – Lunch
- 1:00pm – Kalvin Barrett – Leadership
- 2:00pm
- Legal Update – (Law Enforcement) Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders will present about recent changes to the law, some foreseeable changes coming in the near future, and what officers can do to stay on top of their game.
- Legal Update – (Corrections) CO Attorney Samuel C. Hall, Jr, Managing Partner of Crivello, Nichols, & Hall
- 3:30pm – Michelle Sandry and Thessa Phillips – Training & Standards – “Shared Humanity, Safer Communication.” Stepping into the story of another person is like embarking on a journey of shared experiences and unique perspectives. It is an opportunity to uncover common threads and appreciate the differences that shape us as individuals
Conference Day Two (Thursday, April 16, 2026)
- 8:00am – 12:00pm
- Live fire range – Johann Boden, The Kinetic Group – Demonstration of different ammo types. The paramount goal of the class is to educate on the wounding mechanisms that lead to incapacitation of the human organism, specifically as applied through gunfire. We will describe in a classroom setting which attributes in a firearm projectile deliver the incapacitating wounds desired and to follow that up in a live fire demonstration on ballistic gelatin.
- 8:00am – 10:00am
- K9 for corrections, Chris Ludwig (Washington County Sheriff’s Office) – Presentation on K9 Ryker’s career and his “Big Wins”, the science behind how K9’s are able to detect the presence of drugs and how they are able to follow scents for tracks, and the benefits of having a K9 in a Correctional setting. This includes demos!
- 10:00am – 12:00pm – Kimba Tieu, Defensive tactics
- 12:00pm – Lunch
- 1:00pm – Rich Lefeber – Social Media Dangers for Protective Services
- 3:00pm – Justin Weisbecker – Juvenile Dysregulation
Conference Day Three (Friday, April 17, 2026)
- 8:00am – 12:00pm
- In February of 2021, Nicholas Pingel was involved in a crime spree that including crashing two stolen vehicles, breaking into homes, assaulting people, and fatally shooting two people. Pingel was confronted by a Washington County Deputy which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. Pingel was struck and subsequently died. Washington County Sergeant Brad Rodich and Detective Lee Goodman will be debriefing this incident for you.
Registration
Registration
Conference Registration – Registration is now open! Attendees have the option of registering online or through the mail. Click Here for the online registration.
Lodging
The hotel of choice is TownePlace Suites, Janesville (2706 Pontiac Place). Click here to book your room with the conference rate ($104/night) or call 608-898-4200. Make sure you mention the LETOA conference to get the block rate. Reserve by March 15, 2026 to guarantee the block rate.
Vendors
Conference Vendors – LETOA provides vendors the opportunity to share their services and equipment with conference attendees. If you own or represent a business who services law enforcement we can put you in front of potential new customers. Click Here for additional details.
Awards
Training Officer of the Year – Every member of LETOA has a desire to teach and share knowledge with fellow officers. Good instructors spend countless hours preparing lesson plans and improving their teaching skills. Each year, members have the opportunity to formally recognize a training officer that excelled within their agency. Click Here for additional details.
Training Coordinator of the Year – Training coordinators have a difficult job. They are required to juggle the needs of their officers, their agency, and their community. Each year, members have the opportunity to formally recognize their agency’s training coordinator in front of their peers. Click Here for additional details.