WASHINGTON — Police from around the globe came together in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, to help create the next generation of police leaders.
The initiative was developed by former Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee, and it’s already making an impact on policing worldwide. WUSA9 attended one of the sessions to see how MPD is playing a key role in shaping the future of law enforcement.
Departments from across the world are gathering in D.C. to share ideas on 21st-century policing. Topics like data-driven police work, officer wellness, and constitutional policing are front and center. But one area that stands out in D.C. is how the events of 2020 and 2021, namely the protests and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, have reshaped the way police handle civil disturbances.
At the Australian Embassy, where one of the seminar courses was held, we saw Robert Contee’s vision come to life.
"(He told me) ‘I did all the leadership programs. I’ve been to so many of them, and nothing prepared me for the job of being a chief,’” MPD’s Jessica Bress explained.
That’s why Contee entrusted Jessica Bress, a key member of MPD, with carrying out his vision for leadership training. Bress, who now plays a pivotal role in the program, explained why D.C. should be at the forefront of this type of training.
“If we’re the nation’s capital, and one of the largest police departments in the country, we should be leading the charge in educating the next generation of leaders,” she said.
The program itself is a comprehensive, multi-week seminar that covers critical topics for modern policing. Officers dive into areas like data-driven policing, mental wellness for officers, and constitutional policing.
But one subject in particular resonates deeply for the D.C. officers—civil unrest, an issue that has been all too familiar in recent years.
Former Seattle Police Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer, one of the leaders involved in the program, emphasizes the importance of studying the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as a case study. He explained that for an entire day, officers would break down the events of that day, reviewing minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour updates from commanders on the ground.
“We go to the Capitol and walk through what happened on that horrible day,” Kimerer says, noting that the lessons learned are essential for police leadership in handling large-scale civil disturbances.
Those lessons aren’t confined to the U.S. either. The program’s reach extends far beyond Washington, D.C., which brings us to the reason why the Australian embassy hosted this event for D.C. police officers in the first place.
Amy Knox, a police officer from Australia, has been attending the seminar and says the lessons about civil unrest have had a lasting impact on her. She notes how powerful the ability to protest is in the U.S. and how it’s woven into the fabric of American society.
“It’s really interesting to watch how strong your First Amendment rights are, and how people really, the ability to protest, is so ingrained in your society,” Knox said. “It’s something that everyone wants to protect.”
For Knox, the value of the program extends beyond the knowledge gained—it’s about the relationships built with officers from across the world.
She said, “When there’s an issue back in Australia that I haven’t seen before, I can reach out to that group and say, ‘Has anyone encountered this before? Do you have ideas on how we can solve this?’ It’s an incredible resource, and I’m really fortunate to have it.”