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Purpose

To provide Mississippi State Crime Stoppers agencies, boards and law enforcement officers the opportunities to engage in Crime Stoppers professional development sessions facilitated by the State Director for Crime Stoppers and other professionals.

Dates

October 18-20, 2023

New Location

IP Casino, Resort, Spa, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS

Continuing Education Hours

The Mississippi Board of Law Enforcement Standards and Training has approved 11 hours of law enforcement continuing education hours for attendance of this conference.

Registration

Register Online Downloadable .pdf

Registration Deadline

Please submit your registration online or via regular mail no  later than Friday, October 6, 2023.

PAYMENTS can be made with Visa or MasterCard or check for $200 payable to the University of Mississippi. 

All check payments should be payable to:

The University of Mississippi
Attn: Office of Professional Development, Event Services
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848

Conference Coordination and Registration Contacts:

Mary W. Leach, Director of the Office of Professional Development, Events and Services
Direct Line: (662) 915-7847
Email: pdlljac@olemiss.edu

Beth Beard, Coordinator, Office of Professional Development, Events and Services
Direct Line: (662) 915-7158
Email: pdlljac@olemiss.edu

Conference Agenda

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

10:00 a.m. - 12:00

REGISTRATION

12:30 p.m.

WELCOME

Randy Ginn, Colonel
Director, MS Highway Safety Patrol
Assistant Commissioner, MS Department of Public Safety

Keith Davis
Deputy Commissioner, MS Department of Public Safety

Sean Tindell
Commissioner, MS Department of Public Safety

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

How to Get the Buy-In from Law Enforcement and a Little Gumbo Thrown In
A Crime Stoppers program's success is dependent on the buy-in from law enforcement. Hear the strategies that Eddie utilizes in their program to assist police with arrests and bring success to their award-winning program.

Eddie Thibodeaux
Deputy Chief, St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
St. Landry Crime Stoppers, Coordinator
CSUSA Regional Director for LA, MS & AL

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Utilizing Behavioral Assessments in Communities to Aid in Reducing Violent Attacks
Amanda Hinton
Special Agent
FBI, Jackson Division-Gulfport Resident Agency

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.

BREAK

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.

Safe Haven Baby Box
Safe Haven Baby Box’s mission is to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns by raising awareness, offering a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis and offering the Safe Haven Baby Boxes as a last resort option for women who want to maintain complete anonymity.

Caitlin Kelly, RN, BA

3:30-4:15 p.m.

Criminal Information Center

Rusty Clark, Captain
Director, CIC
MS Department of Public Safety

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

WELCOME RECEPTION

Thursday, October 19, 2023

8:30 - 9:15 a.m.

Effective Partnership and Collaboration

Charles Haynes, Lt. Colonel
Director, MS Bureau of Investigation, MS Department of Public Safety

9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Crime Stoppers and Capitol Police

Bo Luckey, Chief
Derrick Jordan, Asst. Chief
Capitol Police

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.

BREAK

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Unleashing the Power of Social Media 
Today, it's imperative for law enforcement and Crime Stoppers programs to have a healthy relationship with the community they serve, along with local media. Too often misinformation is pushed out and since traditional media doesn't work as fast as social media, the misinformation becomes widespread without anyone actually checking the facts.

Sgt. Jason Ducre
Public Information Officer, Gulfport Police Department

11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Interagency Missing and Unidentified Persons Task Force

Anastasia Holobinko, PhD
Forensic Anthropologist, State Medical Examiner’s Office
MS Human Identification Program

11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Lunch Presentation

Training the Whole Community to Counter Violence
The School Guardian Act

Jim Brinson
Deputy Director, MS Office of Homeland Security

1:15 - 2:00 p.m.

How to Spot Human Trafficking and Child Endangerment in Your Crime Stoppers Tips and When/Where to Report

Anna Ward
Special Assistant Attorney General
Statewide Human Trafficking Victim Services Coordinator

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Left of BANG: Mental Wellness and Resiliency in a Challenging Time

Damon A. Darsey, MD, FAEMS
MS Department of Public Safety
Medical Director, Emergency Medicine Physician

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.

BREAK

3:15 - 4:00 p.m.

Board Conflict Resolution

Darlene Cusanza
Chief Executive Officer
Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans
CSUSA At-Large Director

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Q&A – Local Law Enforcement

Chuck Harrison
Madison Police Department

Jody Bradley
Greenwood Police Department

Friday, October 20, 2023

9:00 a.m.

Breakfast Awards Presentation

Keith Davis
Deputy Commissioner, MS Department of Public Safety

Speaker Bios

Eddie Thibodeaux
Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux began his career in 1986 with the Eunice Police Department in Louisiana. He was later hired by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office where he currently serves as Deputy Chief.

Chief Thibodeaux is responsible for starting the training section for the office and holds 10 police training instructor certifications. He also trains the surrounding smaller departments. As an instructor at the local police academy, he instills compassion and ethics to new cadets. Chief Thibodeaux has worked in patrol, K-9, Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and narcotics. He wears many hats including Director of Training, Public Information Officer, Substation Supervisor, and Crime Stoppers Coordinator.

Under Chief Thibodeaux, St. Landry Crime Stoppers is one of the most successful and innovative programs for its size, earning 13 national awards. He currently serves as the CSUSA Regional Director for Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Their program utilizes four major television networks, four radio stations, social media, and newsprint to get the message of Crime Stoppers to the community. He believes bringing law enforcement, the public, and the private sector together is the secret to helping fight crime and solving cases.

He owns and operates a martial arts studio where he instructs youth (some at no cost) on the importance of positive role models, morals, and ethics in the hope that they become and remain honest law-abiding citizens.

Amanda Hinton
Amanda is an Agent assigned to the FBI’s Jackson Division – Gulfport Resident Agency. Amanda has been with the FBI for 19 years entering on duty with the FBI in June of 2004. Following training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, she started her bureau career in the FBI Houston Division where she spent 14 years most of that time working online crimes against children. She then returned to the FBI Training Division in Virginia to serve as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI National Academy Unit. In August 2021, the opportunity presented itself to return home to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so she stepped down from her SSA role and returned to field work and is now assigned to the Gulfport Resident Agency where in addition to being a case agent, she serves as one of the BAU Coordinators and the Threat Management Coordinator for the Jackson Division

Caitlin Kelly
Caitlin Kelly has been a Gulf Coast resident for quite some time. She has been married to Steve for 17 years and they have four beautiful children. Caitlin and her husband are both medical professionals, foster parents and adoptive parents. Together, they have spearheaded the change in legislation for the Safe Haven law and incorporated the first Safe Haven Baby Box in the state of Mississippi.

Rusty Clark
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Rusty Clark is the Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation's (MBI) Criminal Information Center (CIC). With a career spanning 29 years in law enforcement, RAC Clark is a stalwart guardian of justice in Mississippi.

Before Commissioner Sean Tindell appointed SSA Clark as the Director of CIC, SSA Clark amassed a wealth of experience in various law enforcement capacities, including serving as a Supervisory Special Agent, Criminal Investigator, Accident Reconstructionist, Trooper, and Police Officer.

State statute mandates SSA Clark to oversee the management of a highly effective and efficient state criminal history repository. The CIC is the foremost channel for information exchange between Mississippi's law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division.

In addition to his role as Director, SSA Clark assumes several other crucial responsibilities. He proudly serves as Mississippi's CJIS Systems Officer (CSO), Mississippi's State Compact Officer, Mississippi's National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) representative, and was recommended by Commissioner Tindell and appointed by Governor Tate Reeves to be Mississippi's representative in SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. In these roles, SSA Clark serves on the FBI Advisory Process Board (APB), the Planning and Outreach Committee for the FBI Compact Council, and the Finance and Management Committee for NLETS.

SSA Clark holds a Bachelor's Degree in Administration Of Justice from Mississippi College and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Public Administration from Liberty University. His commitment to ongoing professional development is evident through his participation in prestigious programs such as the Henry F. Williams Homicide Seminar, FBI Mississippi Command College, and the Stennis Institute of Government's State Executive Director Institute at Mississippi State University.

Charles Haynes
Charles W. Haynes is from Jackson, Mississippi, and is the current Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) in the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS). With over 15 years of law enforcement experience, his tenure includes municipal, state, and federal task force assignments.

Haynes graduated from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Academy (MLEOTA) Basic Class 205, Mississippi Highway Patrol Cadet Class 57, and FBI National Academy Class 276. He has served as a state trooper in the central enforcement region, Special Operations Group (SOG), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), MBI Special Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Haynes earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in the science of leadership from Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi.

Bo Luckey
In May of 2022, Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell named Bo Luckey as Chief of Capitol Police. Prior to his position at DPS, he was a senior criminal investigator at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, serving in both the Human Trafficking Unit and Consumer Protection Division. He has also served at Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the DEA.

As Chief of Capitol Police, he oversees nearly 150 employees within the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID). In the last year, Chief Luckey and his team have made many improvements within the CCID and have been committed to ensuring safety for those who visit our capital city.

Chief Luckey holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Mississippi College, where he serves as an adjunct professor in the program, and he holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the MC School of Law.

Derrick Jordan
Assistant Chief of Police Derrick K. Jordan has over 23 years of Law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Jackson Police Department. He elevated through the ranks from Patrol Officer, Robbery/Homicide Detective, to Sergeant of Major Investigations. Assistant Chief Jordan also served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. His career has expanded to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2022, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Mississippi State Capitol Police. In his current role, he manages Patrol Operations which consist of: Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Flex Unit, Traffic Unit, and Crime Scene Unit.

Assistant Chief Jordan is a graduate of Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Belhaven University with a Master of Public Administration, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor, and the University of Mississippi’s Law enforcement Command College, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy session 287.

He is married to Shivon Jordan, and they have two sons Derrick, II and Daylen.

Assistant Chief Jordan strives to promote a community policing style leadership that focuses on intelligent policing and creating partnerships with community stakeholders.

Jason Ducre
Jason DuCré began his law enforcement career in 2008 at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. His commitment to public safety led him to the Gulfport Police Department in 2014.

During his tenure at the Gulfport Police Department, Jason has had various roles, including Patrol Officer, Street Crimes, the Criminal Investigative Division, and Public Information Officer. He has been a member of the entry team for SWAT, the Marine Unit, and DRIVE team, showcasing his commitment and dedication. Jason was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2020.
Jason carries out a wide array of responsibilities. These encompass managing traditional media and social media outreach, actively participating in recruitment efforts, and orchestrating community events that foster positive interactions between the police department and their community.

Jason dedicates his time and knowledge to educating future law enforcement professionals by teaching a diverse range of classes at the Harrison County Sheriff's Department Training Academy, molding the next generation of officers with his experience.

Jason is also a mentor in the "Before the Bullet Program," initiated by the Gulfport Police Department in July 2021. This program serves as a crucial intervention and mentorship initiative, helping guide young individuals away from potential troubles. The fruits of his labor are evident, with three program participants choosing to serve their country in the military. Many others have been positively influenced, steering clear of adverse paths through constant contact and guidance from Jason.

Anastasia Holobinko
Since joining the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office in 2016, Dr. Anastasia Holobinko, State Forensic Anthropologist, has been involved with multiple operational areas under the purview of the State Medical Examiner. In addition to overseeing all technical and administrative aspects of the Forensic Anthropology Division and performing daily case work, Dr. Holobinko directs the division’s Human Identification Program and interagency cold case task force, both of which are dedicated to the resolution of unidentified and missing persons cases statewide. She has studied and lectured at universities in the United States and Canada, presented at numerous scientific conferences, and is published in several journals. Dr. Holobinko holds a PhD in Physical Anthropology and a Master of Science in Zoology.  

Jim Brinson
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Certified Counter –Terrorism Operations Specialist with an emphasis in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Terrorism Tactics and Targeted Violence.

PAST EXPERIENCE: Mr. Brinson is a Specialist in Terrorism and Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Weapons of Mass Destruction. Mr. Brinson is an instructor in active shooter preparedness and response, training military, law enforcement and civilians in responding to and surviving active attacks. Prior to working for the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, Mr. Brinson worked for the U.S. Air Force where he responded to terrorist incidents and countering terrorism operations worldwide. He oversees the protection of the State of Mississippi’s Citizens, Critical Infrastructure, and governmental institutions. conducts training for major sporting events on security measures and trains law enforcement agencies across the country in various counterterrorism areas. Mr. Brinson presents at many local, state, national and international audiences on terrorism and targeted violence.

CURRENT TITLE/RESPONSIBILITIES: James Brinson is employed as the Deputy Director of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security and The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. He has been employed with the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security since 2004. Responsibilities include managing response assets for Terrorism related responses, oversees active shooter preparedness and training program for Mississippi, along with State Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, as well as being a sworn law enforcement officer that also works cases that are either potentially or actual terrorism related.

Anna Ward
Anna Ward is the Statewide Human Trafficking Victim Services Coordinator for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. She is a Special Assistant Attorney General and also serves as the Division Attorney for the Bureau of Victim’s Assistance. She is charged with the implementation of House Bill 1559 (2020) for the Attorney General’s Office, including the administration of the “Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund” created by the Mississippi Legislature. Anna currently serves on the Crime Stoppers State Advisory Council and formerly served as Board Attorney for Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers.

Anna is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Mississippi College School of Law. She was in private practice for 15 years before joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2020, practicing primarily in Chancery and Youth Courts.

Damon Darcey
Damon Darsey is a physician that holds two board certifications in emergency medicine and emergency medical services (EMS) with over twenty years of experience in public safety, field and emergency medicine. He was the founding physician of the Mississippi Center for Emergency Services. This emergency response umbrella organization includes a medical communications center (Mississippi MED-COM), a critical care transport division (AirCare), a Public Safety Support Division, and a traditional advanced life support ambulance service at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In 2021, Dr. Darsey started a healthcare consulting firm that provides support to regional and community hospitals in areas supporting the acute care and coordination of patient movement. His professional passion remains in supporting the medical care and wellness of public safety professionals throughout Mississippi and bringing attention to the needs of rural public safety professionals at the local, state and federal levels.

Darsey has been the principal investigator in nearly $35 million of grants focusing on the clinical interest and academic interest of improving the communications, care, and coordination of first responders and the medical care provided in the field since 2010.

Darlene Cusanza
Darlene Cusanza has served the past 28 years as the President and CEO of Crimestoppers of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area and the surrounding River parishes. Crimestoppers has more than doubled its call volume and crimes solved and expanded its community hotline operations to ten parishes, with Crimestoppers GNO being called upon as a “best practice” organization. Since their inception, tipsters have solved over 18,000 felonies with over $2,600,000 million paid in cash rewards.

In 2020, Crimestoppers expanded its student anonymous reporting and educational program “Safe Schools Louisiana” statewide under an agreement with the Louisiana State Police. As of December 2022, 500 schools are active with the anonymous reporting app, and over eighteen public school districts plus parochial schools have received training with our educational presentations.

Darlene, using her counseling degree, also serves as an advocate for crime victim’s families, lending her expertise to help them through their traumatic events. As their spokeswoman, she has become a “crime and community outreach” expert and is a regular guest on television stations and media outlets. The Crimestoppers organization has also worked under her direction to become proactive in crime prevention, education, and leadership training specifically for youth and is recognized with numerous awards for her work.

Darlene also serves on multiple boards including the Crime Stoppers USA National Board as an At Large Director.

Chuck Harrison
Chuck Harrison began his law enforcement career in 1994 at the Canton Police Department then moved to the Madison Police Department in 1998. After 28 years in law enforcement, he retired in 2022, but returned part-time in 2023. He has been involved with the Central MS Crime Stoppers as a coordinator since 2006 and has been the Tip Manager since 2008.

Jody Bradley

  • Currently the Executive Administrator for City of Greenwood Police Department. Law Enforcement coordinator for Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Crime Stoppers.
  • Master’s degree from Sam Houston State University in Criminal Justice Management.
  • Stephen Covery 7 Habits of Highly Effective People presenter. True Colors facilitator.
  • Guest lecturer in Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Certified instructor in multiple jurisdictions on standards and training.
  • Twenty-nine years’ experience in public safety and corrections. Includes local, county, state and federal organizations. Various positions from correctional officer and patrolman to Chief of Police and Warden.
  • Operations analyst and evaluator pre-accreditation audit and post incident.

Lodging

Conference participants are responsible for making their own individual room reservations. Make online reservations by going to the IP website or by calling the IP Reservations Department at 888-946-2847 and using the Group Code CSTJ23C. To get the special room rate, all registrants must use the group code stated above.

All guests are required to post a mandatory $100 deposit at check-in. Credit card or cash is the only valid form of payment accepted at check-in. Note: The hotel does not take personal or company check as method of payment at check-in. Credit card or cash is the only form of payment accepted at check-in. Hotel policy for cancellation of an individual guaranteed reservation is at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to arrival. Rooms released less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to arrival time will be subject to a cancellation penalty equivalent to the first night’s room and tax.

The last day to make reservation will be Thursday, September 21, 2023, or until rooms run out, whichever comes first.

HOTEL CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT TIMES: Check-In: 4:00 p.m. Check-Out: 11:00 a.m.

HOTEL ROOM RATE: The special room rate is $89.99 single or double occupancy plus resort fees and applicable taxes per night. Credit card will be charged at the time of making reservation for the first night's room and tax. 

HOTEL RESERVATION CUT-OFF: All reservations must be received at the hotel by Thursday, September 21, 2023. Reservations made after the cut-off date will be honored on a space-and-rate availability basis.

General Information

Accommodating Special Needs

If you require special assistance relating to a disability, please contact (662) 915-7847 or (662) 915-7158 or email pdlljac@olemiss.edu prior to October 6, 2023.

Cancellations

In order to receive a full refund of registration fee, cancel registration in writing no later than Thursday, September 21, 2023.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations after Thursday, September 21, 2023. You may substitute another person from the same agency.

Conference Coordination

The University of Mississippi
Office of Professional Development, Events and Services
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
P.O. Box 1848
1111 W. Jackson Avenue, Suite L
University, MS 38677-1848
O: 1+662-915-7847 or 3121 | F: 1+662-915-5138

Mississippi Department of Public Safety

Honorable Tate Reeves, Governor
MS Department of Public Safety Commissioner, Sean J. Tindell

Crime Stoppers Division, Mississippi Department of Public Safety

MS Department of Public Safety Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Keith Davis

MS Crime Stoppers Advisory Council Chairman, Leisa McElreath

P.O. Box 958
Jackson, MS 39205-0958
Telephone: (601) 933-2637