Annual Security Conference Information
The Department of Justice, Law and Society is proud to sponsor an annual security conference, bringing law enforcement officials, professionals, faculty, staff, students, and members of the public together to learn about and discuss security and safety topics important to today’s society. The conference brings major players in the field of security procedures and policy to the Cal U campus to share their knowledge gained through years of experience addressing security matters here in Pennsylvania and abroad.
The inaugural conference was held on September 5, 2007, and was televised by C-SPAN. The theme for this conference was Homeland Security, and guest speakers presented on a range of topics, including: risk assessment, computing forensics, intelligence gathering, crime mapping, and background investigation. Among the presenters was Captain John Laufer of the Pennsylvania State Police, who took the audience through the investigation of the West Nickel Mines Amish school shooting. Other speakers represented the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security, California University of Pennsylvania, and several leading US security companies.
Link to: 1st Annual Security Conference Pamphlet Link to: C-Span Video
The second annual conference, held on September 11, 2008, focused on Executive Protection. This challenging application of security measures was tackled by presenters from the Pennsylvania State Police, the PA Department of Homeland Security, and several world renowned companies and individuals providing services and training in security and defensive driving. Topics covered included: counter surveillance, advanced defensive driving, global challenges in executive protection, advanced protection work, and citizen security assistance.
The third annual conference, to be held on October 28, 2009, will deal with School Security: Preventing the Disaster. Key speakers include Colonel Frank Pawlowski, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, PA Secretary of Education, Robert French, Director of the PA Emergency Management Agency, and Steven Toprani, District Attorney for Washington County, PA. The presentations will address: emergency planning; origins of violence in schools; school shooting case studies; school security policy; aggression and suicide in adolescents; and violence prevention programs.
Link to: 3rd Annual Security Conference Pamphlet
Link to: Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Review
Link to: Uniontown, PA Herald Standard Review
Link to: Conference Summary as provided by Dr. Cassandra Kuba.