CCUPPCA 2026 Conference Agenda
Agenda at a Glance
The 2026 CCUPPCA Annual Conference is a three-day campus public safety conference for California college and university police chiefs, public safety executives, and K–12 and higher education safety leaders. It takes place November 10–12, 2026, at the Long Beach Marriott in Long Beach, California, and includes 20 hours of POST CPT credit.
This year’s agenda covers emergency management, Title IX, Clery Act compliance, crisis communications, real-time crime centers, California legislative updates, and workplace violence prevention. Select a day below to see each session’s time, speakers, and description.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Registration & Check-In
The Value of Higher Ed and Municipal Partnerships
Speakers: CCUPPCA President & Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish
Strong partnerships don’t begin during a crisis—they are built long before one ever occurs.
As the Chief of Police of the hosting city, Chief Hebeish will welcome attendees to the City of Long Beach and discuss the critical relationship between institutions of higher education and their municipal public safety partners. Drawing on his experience leading one of California’s premier law enforcement agencies, he will explore how trust, collaboration, and shared planning create stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.
From day-to-day public safety operations to large-scale special events, emergencies, and critical incidents, effective partnerships are built on communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to service. This opening session will highlight the importance of fostering relationships across jurisdictions and disciplines while setting the stage for a conference focused on leadership, preparedness, resilience, and collaboration.
After Action Report: An Independent Review of the Events Surrounding September 10, 2025
Speaker: G. Michael Verden, Founder, The Lake Forest Group
A clear, factual, and evidence-based understanding of the events leading up to, during, and immediately following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. The assessment was designed to evaluate the planning, preparedness, decision-making, operational response, interagency coordination, and post-incident actions related to the event. The objective of this review is not to assign blame, examine political viewpoints, or speculate regarding motivations. Rather, it is to provide an independent assessment of the incident, identify lessons learned, and offer practical recommendations to strengthen security, preparedness, response capabilities, and organizational resilience for future events.
Title IX in the Spotlight: Lessons for Campus Public Safety Leaders
Speaker: Marlon Lynch, Principal Consultant, COSECURE
Recent high-profile cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct on college campuses have renewed attention on how institutions respond to Title IX matters and, particularly, how Title IX processes intersect with campus law enforcement and public safety. This session provides campus public safety leaders with a practical look at their role in navigating complex Title IX matters, using recent events as a backdrop for discussion.
Lunch (Included)
Beyond the Emergency: How Cal OES Can Support California’s K–12 and Higher Education Campuses
Speaker: Brian Olmstead, Assistant Chief, Cal OES
California’s schools, colleges, and universities face an increasingly complex range of emergencies—from natural disasters and major planned events to acts of violence and other critical incidents. This session will provide K–12 and higher education public safety leaders with a practical overview of how the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) can support their institutions before, during, and after a critical incident. Attendees will learn how to strengthen relationships with Cal OES and regional emergency management partners, access available training and exercise resources, navigate mutual aid and state resources, and identify grant and funding opportunities that may support campus preparedness, safety, and resilience. The presentation will emphasize actionable resources and opportunities that campus public safety leaders can take back to their institutions and begin exploring immediately.
California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Updates
Speaker: Dr. Matt O’Deane, California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
This session will provide timely updates from California POST on issues relevant to higher education law enforcement. Attendees will hear about recent and upcoming changes to POST requirements, training standards, policies, and resources, with a focus on what campus law enforcement agencies need to know to remain informed and prepared.
Motorola & AVS Happy Hour
Please join Motorola and AVS for a happy hour following the first day of the conference. Connect with industry peers, share insights from the day, and enjoy a great evening. Complimentary drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres will be provided.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
From Information to Action: Building a Real-Time Crime Center for Campus Safety
Speakers: Axon & Grand Canyon University
Technology is increasingly changing how campus public safety agencies gather information, coordinate resources, and respond to incidents. This session will provide a real-world look at Grand Canyon University’s Real-Time Crime Center and the partnership that helped bring its capabilities together. Presenters from Grand Canyon University and Axon will discuss the operational needs that drove the initiative, how technology has been integrated into campus public safety operations, and lessons learned along the way. The session will explore how real-time information, situational awareness, and coordinated technology can support faster, more informed decision-making while highlighting practical considerations for institutions exploring similar capabilities.
Operating Through the Unthinkable: Campus Public Safety During the Southern California Wildfires
Speakers: Hampton Cantrell, Chief of Campus Security, Caltech; Meghan McGuire, Director of Public Safety, Pepperdine University. Moderator: Stan Skipworth, Retired Chief, California State University, Long Beach
What happens when your campus becomes part of the disaster?
As the 2025 Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fires swept across Southern California, campus public safety leaders were called upon to make critical decisions while their campuses, employees, students, and surrounding communities were being directly impacted by one of the region’s most significant emergency events.
Join two campus public safety leaders as they share their firsthand experiences leading through this rapidly evolving incident. Through the lens of emergency management and public safety leadership, they will discuss Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation, incident command coordination, continuity of operations, crisis communications, interagency collaboration, resource management, and the complexities of leading an institution during a prolonged regional emergency.
This is more than an after-action review. It is an opportunity to learn from real-world experiences that simply cannot be taught in a textbook. Attendees will gain practical operational insights, preparedness strategies, and leadership considerations that can be adapted to campuses of every size. Whether your institution is preparing for wildfires, severe weather, civil unrest, or another complex incident, you’ll leave better equipped to strengthen your campus’s readiness, resilience, and response.
Lunch (Included)
Communicating Under Pressure: Lessons from High-Profile Critical Incidents
Speaker: Josh Rubenstein, Bureau of Communications Director, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
When a critical incident unfolds, information moves just as quickly as the event itself. Long before an investigation is complete, students, employees, parents, elected officials, and the media are demanding answers—and how your institution communicates can have lasting implications for public confidence, operational effectiveness, and community trust.
Drawing from decades of experience managing communications during some of Southern California’s most high-profile public safety incidents, this session will explore the critical role strategic communications plays in emergency response. Attendees will gain practical insights into crisis communications, media engagement, executive messaging, rumor management, internal and external stakeholder communications, and maintaining credibility while information is rapidly evolving.
This is more than a discussion about working with the media. It is about communicating with purpose, leading with transparency, and supporting operational objectives when the stakes are at their highest. Through real-world experiences and practical strategies that cannot be learned from a textbook, participants will leave better prepared to communicate effectively before, during, and after the next critical incident.
Clery Compliance: Staying Prepared, Staying Current, and Looking Ahead to California’s 2027 Triennial Audit Cycle
Speaker: Steven Healy, Co-Founder and CEO, Healy+ Solutions for Organizational Excellence
Clery compliance requires more than an annual report—it requires ongoing attention, coordination, and institutional readiness. Building on last year’s CCUPPCA Clery presentation, this session will provide a brief refresher on key requirements while focusing on current considerations, common compliance challenges, and practical steps institutions can take to strengthen their Clery programs. The session will also look ahead to California’s 2027 triennial Clery audit cycle and help institutions prepare for the possibility of being selected for review. Attendees will learn what to expect if their institution receives an audit notification, how to organize an effective institutional response, and what can be done now to improve compliance and audit readiness.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Lessons Learned from the Critical Incident Review: Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX
Speaker: Nazmia E.A. Comrie, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office
On May 24, 2022, an active shooter took the lives of 19 children and 2 staff members, and physically and mentally injured the survivors, the families, staff and teachers, and the community in Uvalde, Texas. At the request of Uvalde leadership, the U.S. Department of Justice established the Critical Incident Review (CIR) to conduct an independent, objective assessment of what happened that day and assess the systems in place in the weeks leading up to May 24. The goal of the CIR is to provide information to those most affected by the tragedy and to build knowledge regarding how to best respond to incidents of mass violence. This training will present an incident timeline, as well as discuss observations and recommendations from the CIR report.
California Legislative Updates Impacting Campus Safety
Speaker: Anthony Frisbee, Chief, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
California’s evolving legislative landscape continues to shape how K–12 and higher education institutions approach campus safety, security, and public safety operations. This session will highlight recent and emerging California legislation impacting campus safety, with a focus on what campus leaders need to know, key compliance and operational considerations, and how new requirements may affect policies, procedures, training, and day-to-day practices. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of legislative changes and considerations for implementation at their institutions.
Lunch (Included)
Report on Workplace Violence Prevention
Speaker: Celia Torres, Social Science Research Specialist, U.S. Secret Service
Workplace violence remains a critical concern for educational institutions and public safety professionals. This session, presented by the U.S. Secret Service, will provide an overview of its “hot off the press” publication on workplace violence prevention and highlight key findings, considerations, and strategies for identifying and addressing potential threats. Attendees will gain insight into approaches to prevention, behavioral threat assessment, early intervention, and building multidisciplinary strategies to help reduce the risk of targeted violence within campus and workplace environments.
2026 Conference Speakers
- Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish
- G. Michael Verden – CEO & founder of the Lake Forest Group and author of the after-action report for the Charlie Kirk assassination
- Marlon Lynch – Principal Consultant, COSECURE
- Brian Olmstead – Assistant Chief, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
- Dr. Matt O’Deane – California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
- Presenters from Axon & Grand Canyon University
- Hampton Cantrell – Chief of Campus Security, Caltech
- Meghan McGuire – Director of Public Safety, Pepperdine University
- Stan Skipworth – Retired Chief, California State University, Long Beach (moderator)
- Emmy award winning Communications Director Josh Rubenstein – Bureau of Communications Director, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
- Steven Healy – Co-Founder and CEO, Healy+ Solutions for Organizational Excellence
- Nazmia E.A. Comrie – U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office
- Anthony Frisbee – Chief, California State University, Fullerton
- Celia Torres – Social Science Research Specialist, U.S. Secret Service
2026 Conference FAQs
When and where is the 2026 CCUPPCA Annual Conference?
The conference runs November 10–12, 2026, at the Long Beach Marriott, 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815.
Does the conference offer POST CPT credit?
Yes. The conference includes 20 hours of California POST Continuing Professional Training (CPT) credit.
How much does registration cost?
Registration is $285 for CCUPPCA members and $385 for non-members. Breakfast and lunch are included all three days.
Who should attend?
The conference brings together California college and university police chiefs, public safety executives, and K–12 and higher education public safety leaders. More than 75 campus police chiefs and executives are expected to attend.
Is there a hotel room block?
Yes. CCUPPCA has a group rate of $191 per night at the Long Beach Marriott for November 9–12, 2026. Book through the official hotel group rate link on the event page.
What topics does the 2026 agenda cover?
Sessions cover higher education and municipal partnerships, an independent after-action review of a major campus event, Title IX, Cal OES emergency support, POST updates, real-time crime centers, wildfire emergency response, crisis communications, Clery Act compliance and California’s 2027 triennial audit cycle, lessons from the Uvalde Critical Incident Review, California campus safety legislation, and workplace violence prevention.