Law Officer's Editor-in-Chief Dale Stockton (left) and keynote speaker Kurt Schmid (right; Chicago HIPAA director) at ILEETA's Opening Ceremonies congratulate John Bostain (center).
Congratulations to John Bostain for his outstanding contributions and commitment to public safety training.
FEATURED IN BELOW 100
John Bostain, program specialist at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), was named 2012 Trainer of the Year yesterday morning. The announcement, at the opening address of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), saw the room erupt in prolonged standing applause.
Bostain was recognized by Law Officer editor-in-chief Dale Stockton for his overarching commitment to “service above self.” Stockton specifically cited Bostain’s tireless training schedule on behalf of FLETC, in addition to the training he performs on his free time.
An early and ardent proponent of the Below 100 initiative, Bostain has personally trained more than 2,000 officers in its tenets. “Below 100 is making a difference,” said Bostain upon accepting the award, which is co-presented by Law Officer and ILEETA. “We can see it in the numbers this year.”
“Thank your mentors,” said Bostain. “None of us were born knowing how to shoot or how to respond. Let someone know that they affected you.”
“Talk about a selfless guy,” said Jim Glennon of Lifeline Training. “He gets an award that everyone knows he deserves, and what does he talk about? The importance of Below 100 and thanking your trainers!”
Bostain began his career in 1994 with the Hampton Police Division, after serving four years in the Navy. Joining FLETC in 2001, he has been steadily promoted. He sits several boards and advisory committees, including those of ILEETA, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, among others.
The keynote speaker for the morning was Kurt Schmid, executive director of the High Density Drug Trafficking Area task force in the Chicago area.
“Lack of training and supervision gets cops in trouble,” said Schmid. “And lack of supervision is really nothing other than a lack of training.”
Schmid, who has worked 43 years in law enforcement, including working for two presidents, talked about the changes he’s seen in his career.
“We used to be people rich and information poor,” he said. “If you wanted to stop prostitution, you drove down the street. Try doing that in the days of Craigslist!”
“But today,” he said, “we have the opposite problem. We have way too much information and not enough people. … The challenge for law enforcement now is to manage all this information.”
ILEETA, the largest law enforcement training organization in the U.S., was founded by Ed Nowicki, who for the first time ever was not in attendance. Harvey Hedden, executive director, said Nowicki was “under the weather,” and he asked attendees to sign a card to encourage his recovery.
From the popular donut-eating contest to a wide-ranging menu training sessions geared toward trainers, this conference has enough to fill a month—and crams it into five action-packed days.
ILEETA Deputy Executive Director Brian Willis admonished attendees: “Knowledge isn’t power. Knowledge is potential to empower. … Take what you learn at this conference and make a plan to spread it when you get back home.”
With that the members of ILEETA, left for a busy day in what will prove to be a busy and rewarding week.
