Leadership APB

On this episode Guest Host Julie Parker interviews Retired Chief of Police Christopher Mannino. Chief Mannino discusses many topics including public service, private sector careers and his time at the FBI National Academy.  He is retired from the Park Forest Police Department and a proud graduate of Session 237 of the FBINAA.

Julie Parker’s unique media career spans from an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning television reporter in Washington, DC, to media director for two of our nation’s largest police departments, a senior media advisor for the largest police association in the world and a subject matter expert on crisis communications, social media and media relations for the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

Her passion for story telling began in the nation’s capital at ABC7 News. There, Julie served as a general assignment reporter, covering such stories as the three-week long ordeal known as the Beltway Sniper and the September 11th attacks.

After 13 years in news, she joined the Prince George’s County (MD) Police Department as its chief spokesperson and Director of Media Relations. Julie then took on the same role at the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department. In her two years there, FCPD’s social media presence soared.

Julie Parker Communications has an experienced team with decades of experience working in media, media relations and social media. Our subject matter experts offer guidance on crisis communications, public relations, media coaching and training, social media training, strategy and implementation, and communications audits. Proven and trusted, we will help you manage the media on your terms and effectively tell your story.

Julie Parker is a regular guest lecturer at the FBINAA and trains at numerous Chapter Retrainers around the country.

National Police Week occurs every May, and in 2022 we will be commemorating it with live, in-person events. National Police Week will be observed from May 11–17. The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum will hold ceremonies, including the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil, to honor the fallen officers whose names have recently been added to the Memorial.

The 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held on Friday, May 13.

Marcia Ferranto has served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) since August 2019. Known in the nonprofit sector for her reputation as a motivational and transformative leader, much of her career has been focused on improving the nonprofit business model—and that reputation has been validated in her current post. With her efforts at the NLEOMF focused on three key areas: financial stability, brand recognition, and building relationships, Marcia has at once proliferated the mission of the organization into three connected pillars while growing its fundability and streamlining its budget.

As an accomplished senior executive with international, national, and local experience, Marcia is dedicated to leading non-profits through launch, transition, and the enhancement of missions leading to greater fundability. By helping a wide variety of non-profit organizations, she has become instrumental in refocusing the non-profit business model to fit into today’s ever-changing business environment. As a proven negotiator, relationship builder and team player, conversant in change management, turn-arounds, and government relations, Marcia has directly influenced positive outcomes related to how the non-profit business model has impacted international, national, and local initiatives and the lives and professions that have been enhanced by its efforts. She is committed to delivering successful results through courageous leadership and by improving leadership and management practices throughout the non-profit sector by leveraging organizational strategy, structure, and culture to achieve goals. Ferranto is accustomed to getting a seat at the table where she is known to “lean in” with clarity of thought, vision, enthusiasm, and a good sense of humor.

Ms. Ferranto’s previous positions include CEO of both the National Court Reporters Association and Women’s Transportation Seminar International and its related Foundation. She also served as Executive Director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation and was an influential leader in the transformation of the Delaware Art Museum.

 She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Widener University. She is also a graduate of the Museum Leadership Institute and the Getty Leadership Institute. She recently se

Jocko Willink is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, Dichotomy of Leadership, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, leadership instructor, speaker and strategic advisor. Jocko spent 20 years in the SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the U.S. Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War.

Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. Jocko is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards.

Upon retiring from the Navy, Jocko co-founded Echelon Front, a premier leadership consulting company, where he teaches the leadership principles he learned on the battlefield to help others lead and win. Jocko also authored the Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, a New York Times Bestseller, and the best selling Way of the Warrior Kid children’s book series.

This episode of Leadership APB was brought to you with the support of T-Mobile for Government, Panasonic Toughbook & Nuance Dragon Law Enforcement.

Break in the Case is an original true crime podcast written and produced by the New York City Police Department in conjunction with the New York City Police Foundation. Listen as we follow the world’s greatest detectives to crime scenes—some which you may know, some which you certainly don’t.

The podcast offers listeners a glimpse into the police department's work and raises awareness about open cases that would benefit from information from the public. In many instances, the stories featured are pulled from the Detective Bureau's casefiles, and the storytelling features officers in their own voices as they revisit crime scenes to offer recollections and insights.

Break in the Case is available on all major podcast platforms. Season One launched in October, 2019 and spanned six episodes. After a hiatus during COVID-19, Season Two was published in September, 2021. The current season runs through February, 2022.

More than entertainment, "Break in the Case" captures the humanity of NYPD officers and the department's connection with those they serve throughout New York City, whose tips are integral in the work of clearing cases. The podcast raises public awareness about the department's public safety initiatives, such as Crimestoppers, and is part of the department's mission to serve all neighborhoods.

Break in the Case is researched, written, edited and produced by an in-house creative team within NYPD’s Strategic Communications unit. Executive Producer Jill Bauerle and Producer Kenzie Delaine develop the show under the leadership of Richard Esposito.

Retired Detective Sergeant Wallace Zeins (NA Session 152) worked at the NYPD from 1973 to 2003, ending his career on Night Watch, an exclusive team that investigates all the homicides and high-profile crimes between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. His experience brings him the insight necessary to tell the stories of Break in the Case. Wally also served on the hostage negotiation team and became a commanding officer. Nationally recognized for his work as a hostage negotiator, Wally is a frequent guest on network and local television.

Jill Bauerle is a writer and multimedia storyteller. She specializes in podcast production, and has directed feature-length and short documentaries for web, film and television. She works as an Executive Digital Producer at the New York City Police Department.

Kenzie Delaine is a former television journalist who works as an Executive Digital Producer in the New York City Police Department.

CLICK HERE to find out more information about Sigma Tactical Wellness

Dr. Benjamin Stone: Upon graduation from the University of Arkansas, Dr. Benjamin Stone attended Exeter College of Oxford University through the United States Air Force Institute of Technology. At Oxford, Dr. Stone developed a keen interest in cardiovascular physiology. He completed his PhD and related coursework for his medical doctorate and also coordinated research at the British Olympic Medical Institute, Oxford Nutraceuticals Group, and Cambridge University. Dr. Stone served as Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Central Arkansas, Sr. Tutor at Oxford University, and designed curriculums for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

In 2017, Dr. Stone co-developed Sigma Tactical Wellness, an organization intent on determining the causes-of and reducing the prevalence of coronary disease in law enforcement officers throughout the United States. To date, his program has screened more than 5000 police officers and the derived data and methods are being used across the nation to save countless lives.

As a well-regarded lecturer, Dr. Stone has presented data at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference, Texas Chiefs Association, The FBI National Academy, and many other state, local, and federal law-enforcement agencies.

Chief Noel C. March, M.A. - Noel C. March serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Sigma Tactical Wellness, LLC as well as faculty of Justice Studies and Director of the Maine Community Policing Institute at University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). 

From 2010 to 2018 he served as an appointee of President Barack Obama as the United States Marshal in Maine where he represented the U.S. Department of Justice in the protection of our federal courts and judges, the investigation and apprehension of federal fugitives, the investigation of registered sex offenders, confiscation of criminal assets and support of the witness protection program.

Chief March is a nationally recognized subject-matter-expert in Community Oriented Policing who presently sits on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Board of Directors.  He is also the author of an award-winning online police training program, and he instructs and speaks on community engagement topics at colleges and conferences internationally.

His work has been featured in The Police Chief, the ASLET Trainer, the FBI National Academy Associate and University Business magazines. He is a decorated veteran of law enforcement in Connecticut and Maine, where he has also held the ranks of Police Officer, Drug Unit Supervisor, Chief Deputy Sheriff and Chief of Police.

Noel is a graduate of the 170th session of the prestigious FBI National Academy as well as the University of New England and the University of Maine Graduate School, where he earned degrees in Organizational Leadership and Peace & Reconciliation Studies, respectively. 

CLICK HERE to learn more about the ABLE Project.

Gregory Hanna, Jr. retired in 2020 at the rank of Captain from the Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C. after 26 years of service. During his tenure with the department, he served in numerous leadership and command roles which included leading the Honor Guard Unit, Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Section Commander of the K-9 Unit, Precinct Commander, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, Watch Commander, and Commander of Internal Affairs. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of the agencies internal investigation tracking and agency accountability system (IAPro and Blue Team). His strategies led to a comprehensive department-wide early warning system to proactively identify emerging issues for early intervention. In 2016, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of the department’s first Summer Crime Initiative. The introduction of this program integrated weekly COMPSTAT crime strategies and the use of GIS technology to identify emerging crime patterns, crime hot spot mapping, resource allocation for crime reduction, and opportunities for community outreach events. Most notably, he is the author of several major special event security deployment plans for his department in Washington, D.C. The events included regional large-scale events and several National Special Security Events (NSSE) such as the Nuclear Security Summit, State of the Union, and Presidential Inaugurations. He is a graduate from the FBI National Academy Session #261 in Quantico, Virginia, as well as Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland Global College. He possesses over 20 years of instructor experience administering curriculum focused on biased-based profiling, implicit bias, ethical standards, Blue Courage, and numerous academy-based law enforcement curriculums. He is currently a certified National Instructor for the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project.

Greg Guiton is a retired captain and 34-year veteran of the Ocean City, Maryland Police Department.  He began his career with the agency in 1984 when he was hired as police officer.  He served in numerous Divisions throughout the Department and served in supervisory/management roles such as Commander of the Office of Professional Standards, Assistant Commander of the Patrol Division, Assistant Commander of the Administrative Division, and Commander of the Support Services Division in his final 6 years with the agency. 

Greg is a graduate of the 215th Session of the FBI National Academy and the 33rd Session of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (S.M.I.P.). Greg has been a member of the Maryland/Delaware Chapter of the FBINAA since 2003 and served on the Chapter’s Executive Board from 2013 to 2018, serving as the Chapter President in 2016.

In 2018, Greg was approached by FBINAA Executive Director Howard Cook to assume the role of Director of Strategic Partnerships for the FBINAA. Greg accepted the position in August 2018 and served in that capacity until July 31, 2021.

Greg has been working with the Georgetown University’s ABLE Project since January 2021, providing assistance as an instructor and facilitator for their Train-the-Trainer program.   

Greg has been married for 36 years and has two adult daughters.  He and his wife live in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

YogaShield® Yoga for First Responders® (YFFR) has a mission of bringing yoga and mindfulness science to practical applications for first responders and military personnel. 

YFFR’s unique, field tested, and evidence backed Protocol provides a systematic skill set to a known problem:

 High rates of

• Post Traumatic Stress
• Heart attack
• Suicide
• other stress-based issues

 The YFFR Protocol builds mental and physical resilience leading to optimal levels of performance on and off the job.

YogaShield® Yoga For First Responders® (YFFR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Olivia Mead and first seen at LAFD in 2013. 

To date, YFFR has trained over 300 instructors and introduced this new skill set to thousands of first responders and military personnel in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. 

 In 2019 alone, YFFR reached over 150 departments in 35 states, and a total of 12,000+ first responders and military personnel.

Julie Parker’s unique media career spans from an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning television reporter in Washington, DC, to media director for two of our nation’s largest police departments, a senior media advisor for the largest police association in the world and a subject matter expert on crisis communications, social media and media relations for the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

Her passion for story telling began in the nation’s capital at ABC7 News. There, Julie served as a general assignment reporter, covering such stories as the three-week long ordeal known as the Beltway Sniper and the September 11th attacks.

After 13 years in news, she joined the Prince George’s County (MD) Police Department as its chief spokesperson and Director of Media Relations. Her work was instrumental in changing both the internal culture and public perception of the agency by developing and instituting nationally recognized communications efforts that resulted in improved community and media engagement and marked enhancement of the department’s image. She was named “Best Police Flack” by the Washington City Paper.

Julie then took on the same role at the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department. In her two years there, FCPD’s social media presence soared, to include increasing its Twitter following from 100,000 to nearly 250,000.

Julie’s work ethic and dedication to transparency as well as community and media engagement was showcased in the Washington Post.

Julie Parker Communications started as a one-woman boutique communications firm in 2014. Today, Julie has an experienced team with decades of experience working in media, media relations and social media. Our subject matter experts offer guidance on crisis communications, public relations, media coaching and training, social media training, strategy and implementation, and communications audits. Proven and trusted, we will help you manage the media on your terms and effectively tell your story.

For more information about Christopher Freeze & Trauma-Informed Leadership, please click here.

Christopher Freeze is a former Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) through appointment by Governor Phil Bryant.

 As executive director, he oversaw an agency responsible for a wide range of public assistance to children and families throughout Mississippi. Under his leadership, agency staff helped Mississippians move from a state of crisis to self-sufficiency through targeted state assistance programs. This assistance made a profound difference to these families and improved quality of life within the state.

 Before MDHS, Mr. Freeze served 23 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), retiring as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Jackson Division.

 As head of the FBI in Mississippi, Mr. Freeze worked to strengthen partnerships with public and private sector agencies, bring attention to the challenges facing law enforcement, and encouraged individuals to demonstrate leadership in all aspects of their professional and personal life.