D.J. Van Meter, Ph.D.

D.J. Van Meter Ph.D. is the principle of Van Meter & Associates, Inc. (VMA).  He served 15 years as a sworn officer, and has 24 years work experience in the field of law enforcement training and consulting.  His work includes expert witnessing in police use of force, performance evaluations, and researching and writing organizational policies and procedures manuals.

Education: Dr. Van Meter earned his doctorate from The Ohio State University in Training and Organizational Development, a master’s degree in Labor and Human Resource Management, a Bachelor of Science in behavioral science, and an Associate of Science in police science. He is a recipient of the Pace-setters Award from the College of Business, The Ohio State University, and a1973-74 graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute.  Dr. Van Meter authored Evaluating Dysfunctional Police Performance: A Zero-Based Approach, published by Charles Thomas Publishing and to order directly call 800.258.8980 http://www.ccthomas.com

John Detchon

John has over 30 years of law enforcement experience in state and county law enforcement agencies.  He has worked as a trooper, deputy sheriff, field training officer, jail commander, and investigation commander.  John attended Kent State University and holds numerous advanced law enforcement training certifications.  John's expertise is in leadership, supervision and police report writing.

Education:

John is a graduate of the Ohio State Patrol Academy and attended Kent State University.  Apart from his formal education, he holds numerous training certificates signifying his commitment to continued education. They are as follows:

· Police Procedures, Policy and Management Theories

· Ohio State Patrol Training Certificate

· Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Certificate

· Criminal Interrogation & Behavioral Analysis in Interviews

· Ohio Peace Officer Training Council-First Line Supervisor

· Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Service-Crime Prevention

· Van Meter & Associates, Inc.-Standard Task Accountability and Rating System

· Medina County Law Enforcement Academy-Drug Interdiction

· Public Agency Training Council-Court Security

· Ohio Peace Officer Training Council-Basic Corrections Certificate

· Adjunct Instructor at Cuyahoga Community College

Brian Hiester

Brian Hiester has 23 years sworn service as a police officer, detective, labor contract liaison/negotiator and Chief of Police. Chief Hiester will teach how he successfully defeated a union’s challenge and implemented this system within his department without violating his state’s anti-quota law.

As Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety in February of 2000.  As Lieutenant, I was assigned as the Patrol Unit Coordinator with responsibility of the direction, supervision and administration of the 18 member Patrol Unit.  Additionally, I was appointed as the Training Coordinator and was responsible for the development and implementation of in-service training for all department personnel.

As the Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety, I am the Chief Executive Officer of the Police Department.  My supervisory responsibilities include:

• Effectively and efficiently using budgeted funds, personnel, equipment, materials, facilities and time.
• Providing leadership, direction and positive motivation for department personnel
• Making public presentations to businesses, resident groups and Township Board of Commissioners.
• Researching, developing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Supervision and evaluation of subordinate staff officers
• Coordination and managing personnel work schedules
• Analyzing, planning, developing and implementing strategies for dealing with the needs of the community with regards crime patterns and required public services.

Dave Sturtz

Mr. Sturtz started as a Cadet Dispatcher in the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1959.  He held the rank of Trooper, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Staff Lieutenant, Captain, District Commander, Academy Commandant, and Major for 13 years.  While Major, Mr. Sturtz was in charge of the Bureau of Personnel, the Bureau of Operations, the Bureau of Technical Services and the Bureau of Ethics and Standards.  Mr. Sturtz retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol in January of 1988. 

Mr. Sturtz was the Inspector General for the State of Ohio.  He served 6.5 years under two governors- Governor Richard F. Celeste and Governor George V. Voinovich from August of 1988 to January 1995.

Mr. Sturtz became Deputy Director for the Department of Public Safety for the City of Columbus, Ohio from June 1996 until July 1999.

Mr. Sturtz was the Training Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration at Port Columbus International Airport, Columbus, Ohio.  He served from November, 2003 until July of 2005. 

Mr. Sturtz is currently an instructor for Van Meter & Associates primarily dealing with Executive Leadership for Senior and Upper Management of Law Enforcement Organizations.

Melissa Schnee

Melissa Schnee has nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience with 15 years at the supervisory level. She is currently a lieutenant in a larger city department. As a lieutenant, Melissa has served as an assistant commander in the patrol division, back ground investigator, in-service training instructor, member of the policy and procedure writing committee, and for the last four years has been an Internal Affairs investigator.

Melissa has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Akron and is in the process of completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication. She is also a graduate of PELC (Police Executive Leadership College) and CLEE (Certified Law Enforcement Executive)-both are programs that emphasize leadership skills for the 21st century.