The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (I.L.E.E.T.A) held its annual conference in Wheeling Illinois from April 20 to 26, 2009. If you are not familiar with ILEETA, it is one of the largest instructors associations in the Law Enforcement community. Each year, over 700 instructors gather to teach, learn, network, relax and have a great time together. This year was no different.
Unlike many other groups or associations, ILEETA is not specific to any one discipline. Every ILEETA conference has classes in firearms, defensive tactics, driving, mental preparation, investigations, active killers, legal updates, and much more. All of the classes bring new perspectives to the student instructors. Many of us teach and train daily in our local areas and after several years, it is easy to feel like you have all the answers. We may be the most knowledgeable in our agency, but there are still things we can learn.
What I enjoy most about ILEETA are the many top trainers from around the world. Every trainer at the conference brings with them their experiences from problems that they have had to handle in their communities. They also bring with them the solutions they used to resolve the problems. Every class I attended, I learned something new, a variation on a technique I already knew, or a different way of thinking about a scenario. The old saying is that if you can learn one or two things from a course, then you're doing well. At the ILEETA conference, a student can take up to 20 to 25 classes during the week. If you learn one thing in every class, that's 20 to 25 new techniques or ideas for you to take back to your troops.
This year's conference, like the others I have attended, featured great classes and instructors. Every year seems to have a several topics that are featured. This year, Active Killer was the big topic. Realize that instructors submit proposals several months in advance. The fact that there were several Active Killer incidents in the months preceding the conference shows that the instructors are thinking about what could happen not just what is happening. I am certain that much of the information presented will be taken back and implemented into departmental training. In one of the Active Killer classes I attended, the instructor talked about some statistics that have been gathered over the past several years. This research showed that the traditional 4 person response to these incidents may not be the best approach. It's not that having 4 responders is a bad thing, but waiting until 4 officers arrive may take too long. As a result, we have to train for our unique geographical locations and situations. We need to train our officers to respond with multiple officer options.
Another aspect of the conference that makes the conference enjoyable is the exchange of information between the instructor and the students. I know I try to do this when I teach and my classes here were the same. I taught a transition class titled Handguns to Hands On - De-escalating while engaging. During the class I asked the students to give their input and they did. As a result, I think the other students learned not only what I was teaching but different approaches to the techniques. During the class, I demonstrated what I teach for weapon retention. I know some of the students looked at the techniques and thought "I'm not going to do that; I like what I do better." But being good students, they all tried what I was showing. After the class, I received a variety of comments about all of the techniques taught. Most of the students told me they would take the techniques back with them and try them with more resistance and energy to see if they really worked. As a conference instructor, that's all I can ask. I know I learned some techniques that I brought back to my fellow instructors to play with. Some other the techniques have been implemented into our curriculum the others were dropped because we did not feel that they would be a benefit to our officers.
Probably the best part of the conference is the networking and friendships that are developed. In the years I have been attending the conference, I have met several people that I now call friends. We stay in contact throughout the year, share training information and discussing ideas. When we meet back at the conference, it's like old home week. During the week, most of the attendees end up in the sports bar across from the hotel. Depending on who's in the bar, you may see some D-T techniques being performed, or see someone demonstrating weapons handling skills. The place gets loud from the laughter and stories being shared.
The I.L.E.E.T.A. conference is something you have to experience if you are a law enforcement instructor. You will gain information, insights and contacts that will benefit you and your agency for years to come. When it comes to teaching officers how to protect themselves physically, mentally, and legally, you owe it to them to find the best information and techniques you can. This conference will allow learn the things your officers need to know.
