(WSIL) -- The upcoming event is called 'Policing in the 21st Century' and it's being put on by Eric Howard who is the Criminal Justice Instructor at Shawnee Community College.
The goal is for locals to meet local law enforcement in the area, learn more about what they do on a day-to-day basis, and for those interested in law enforcement as a career field to be able to ask questions.
Howard will share what students learn in his class, as well as, give a few demonstrations like finger printing.
The instructor has also invited several guest speakers like former detective Freeman Johnson, who is known in our region for his jerk chicken served fresh off the grill at the Caribbean Hut in Cambria.
Johnson worked for 25 years alongside the DEA to stop cartel drugs from coming to the United States by way of the islands.
Howard wants Freeman to share his experience as many in our area may know nothing about it.
"The things that he tells you, you would never know," Howard says. " I mean I never realized how the drugs come in from the coastal ways. He has stories he'll tell you that will blow your mind."
Other guest speakers at the upcoming forum include:
- Stanton Diggs, Chief of Police at John A. Logan Community College - Overview of his career, campus safety, and education and the future of policing.
- Aaron Brown, Sargent at Mounds Police Department - Overview of his career, street-level crimes and responsibilities of a patrolman.
- Stasey Sperling, Carterville & Crainville police officer - Women and diversity in policing, the future of policing and what needs to change, and discuss past cases.
- Joe Cervantez, Attorney - Court room aspect after the police make an arrest and investigate crimes, the process victims and suspects of crimes go through, and politics in the criminal justice system.
- JD Barter, Assistant Chief of Police Johnston City - Working for the Federal Department of Corrections, what he looks for when hiring officers, and differences in State and Federal Correctional institutions.
Howard, who is also a patrol officer for DeSoto, says when residents get to know the people who are protecting them, it also helps with community policing efforts.
"People know us by first name and they know things about us. They are comfortable about coming up to us just to chit chat," he explains. "People who normally wouldn't speak to law enforcement would come up and speak and tell us things we would never know."
The free event is virtual through Zoom and taking place on Monday, July 27th from 1-4 p.m. The deadline to register is the day of before the forum begins.
Those interested can sign-up by clicking , or by contacting Melissa Luttenbacher at (618) 634 - 3266 or [email protected]
