NUCPS News & Updates

executive leadership award

Executive Leadership Award 2024 Recipients

NUCPS Director Shelly Camden presented the NUCPS Executive Leadership Award to 18 dedicated law enforcement professionals at the December 13, 2024, SPSC Class #585 graduation in Burr Ridge, IL. To qualify, candidates must have completed all three of our key Management & Leadership courses: Supervision of Police Personnel, School of Police Staff & Command, and the Executive Leadership Program. Learn more about this prestigous award. 

This year's recipients are:

  • Russell Allen, Rogers (AR) Police Department
  • Derrick Blasingame, Olympia Fields (IL) Police Department
  • Mark P. Cagle, Flossmoor (IL) Police Department 
  • Michael J. Cheatham, Ottawa (IL) Police Department
  • Gary C. Contreras, Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Police Department
  • Ryan M. Coutre, Crystal Lake (IL) Police Department
  • James D. Davis, Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Police Department
  • Michael W. Fellows, Berwyn (IL) Police Department
  • Joseph R. Grage, Lombard (IL) Police Department
  • Larry Hampton, Jr., University City (MO) Police Department
  • Aaron V. Lack, Champaign (IL) Police Department
  • LaTeisha A. Mosquera, Richmond County (GA) Sheriff's Office
  • Benny Ranallo, Lombard (IL) Police Department
  • Melissa G Sacluti, Evanston (IL) Police Department
  • Ryan Snedecor, Hobart (IN) Police Department
  • Keith A. Sullivan, Tinley Park (IL) Police Department
  • Anthony R. Terranova, Glen Ellyn (IL) Police Department
  • Richard Velasquez, Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Police Department

Fricke Cooper Award Recipients

Fricke Cooper Award Recipients in Baton Rouge
Adam Hyde and the 2024 Fricke Cooper Award Recipients, Baton Rouge, LA.

Adam Hyde recently had the honor of presenting 19 crash investigation and reconstruction professionals with the 2024 Fricke Cooper Achievement Award for Traffic Crash Investigation and Reconstruction. To qualify for this significant achievement, students had to have completed the five-course core sequence, Crash Data Retrieval Analysis and Applications, and three elective crash courses. Officers completing these requirements have demonstrated their commitment to delivering the best and most professional traffic crash reconstruction services to their communities. This year's recipients are: 

  • Samuel Aguirre, Aurora (IL) Police Department
  • Ryan D. Baker, Louisiana State Police, Troop F
  • Scott Boswell, LaPorte County (IN) Sheriff's Office
  • David Cummings, Louisiana State Police, Troop F
  • Mark L. Dennis, Louisiana State Police, Troop F
  • Shawn B. Donahoe, Louisiana State Police, Troop D
  • Shawn Christopher Falke, Vermilion Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office
  • Steven Guther, Elk Grove Village (IL) Police Department
  • Joel V. Heard, Louisiana State Police, Troop F
  • Tagie A. Journee, Louisiana State Police, Troop NOLA
  • Jose Geovanni Portillo, St. John the Baptist Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office
  • Julius E Rolland Jr., Louisiana State Police, Troop B
  • Jared Seruntine, St. John the Baptist Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office
  • Steven B. Spainhower, Louisiana State Police, Troop F
  • Richard Watson, Louisiana State Police, Troop I
  • Justin Wedekind, Elk Grove Village (IL) Police Department
  • Ron Whittaker, Jr., Louisiana State Police, Troop L
  • Robby Woodward, Louisiana State Police, Troop F

Alumni Spotlight: Sisters in Law: Identical Twins Lead by Living Their Truth

Schenita Stewart and Schonella StewartIn October 2022, Evanston native Schenita Stewart was sworn in as the first female Chief of Police for Evanston (IL) Police Department. Among the attendees in the packed hall that evening were supporters from the Evanston community and her family, including her identical twin sister, Commander of Investigations Schonella Stewart of the Oak Park (IL) Police Department. The Stewarts are the only identical twin sisters to graduate from SPSC. Chief Stewart is a member of SPSC Class #387; Commander Stewart, SPSC Class #561.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Alumni Spotlight: Sgt. Angela Smith

d5x_1212-1.jpgApril 2, 2024 - One of two NUCPS community members to graduate from SPSC and earn NUCPS Crash Investigation & Reconstruction's Fricke Cooper Achievement Award, Sgt. Angela Smith of the Wheaton (IL) Police Department discusses her NUCPS crash background, augmenting her interest in mentoring and leadership with lessons learned in SPSC #531, the current challenges of recruiting, and some of the positive changes in law enforcement culture that she has experienced in her 25-year career.

“I enjoy being challenged. When we go outside our comfort zones is when we learn the most about ourselves and the world around us.”

 

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New Joint NUCPS / IACP Course Announced

Online Hybrid Crash Investigation for Small Agencies

October 20, 2024 - At the IACP 24 Conference in Boston, NUCPS and IACP announced an all-new joint initiative between COPS, CRI-TAC / IACP,  and NUCPS who have come together to offer a specially designed NUCPS Crash Investigation 1. This online hybrid course is exclusively available to small law enforcement agencies at no cost.  Running from January 13 to February 16, the 5-week course is a blend of live remote classes (2 days per week) and asynchronous online study, projects, and exams. 

Instructor Spotlight: Meet Sgt. Alexandra Kitty Nelson

Sgt. Alexandra NelsonApril 1, 2024 - Sgt. Alexandra Kitty Nelson is one of two NUCPS community members to graduate from SPSC and earn NUCPS Crash Investigation & Reconstruction's Fricke Cooper Achievement Award. As a student and an instructor, Sgt. Alexandra Kitty Nelson is dedicated to lifelong learning. In addition to her duties with the Arlington Heights (IL) Police Department, she is also a NUCPS adjunct crash instructor and a CIT teacher through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standard Board.

"We need to remember that there is more to our professions that clocking into our shifts every day. I encourage every law enforcement professional to keep your minds and hearts open to the possibilities that exist to create connections and build bridges within our profession and from our profession to others." 

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