Jackson County Sheriff's Office hosts national conference
Published on July 08, 2022
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office recently played host to thousands of sheriffs and deputies as well as other law enforcement and public safety professionals during the Annual National Sheriff’s Association Conference.
Held from June 27 to June 30 at Bartle Hall, the conference featured numerous seminars and workshops covering all aspects of the duties and responsibilities for sheriff’s offices.
According to the NSA’s website, the annual conference is one of the largest of its kind and displays products and equipment relevant to every facet of police work, jails, prisoner transport, and courtroom security.”
Sheriff Darryl Forté and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office organized the event providing overall security for thousands of attendees, hosting a large-scale drone competition, and providing host tables at each of the hotels.
NSA president Sheriff Vernon Stanforth of Fayette County Ohio, noted in his opening address that 85-percent of a Sheriff’s liability comes from managing the jail and this year’s conference lineup was designed to help address this information and training need. This was the first time in the 86-year history of the organization that the conference included a workshop track specific to jails.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Sergeant Danny Barnes and Corrections Director Diana Knapp were asked to make a presentation on “Responding to the Urban Jail in Crisis”, a synopsis of policy decisions, initiatives, and culture changes. The presentation was an effort to take the Jackson County Detention Center out of national headlines and into the national dialogue about service delivery and best practices.
The focus of the conference was what the future of law enforcement will look like. As part of this theme, members of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office displayed a comprehensive history of the office. The display included past sheriffs, uniforms, and badges. Each had photographs associated with them showing when these items were utilized. A large attraction of the display included two Thompson submachine guns in a secured case which were accompanied by a photograph of Sheriff Tom Bash holding one during the Union Station Massacre in 1933.
In addition to the opportunity to network and learn from other law enforcement officials, hundreds of vendors were present and showed attendees the newest law enforcement equipment and supplies allowing them to test and evaluate some of the best items in the field.
Chartered in 1940, the National Sheriffs’ Association is a professional association dedicated to serving the Office of Sheriff and its affiliates through law enforcement education and training, and through the provision of general law enforcement information resources.