First Amendment Summit 2025

Curriculum

Law enforcement officers have a vital responsibility to maintain public safety while upholding constitutional rights, including those protected by the First Amendment. A clear understanding of First Amendment implications is essential for officers to perform their duties lawfully, effectively, and in a manner that fosters public trust.The First Amendment safeguards freedoms of speech, assembly, press, religion, and petition. These rights frequently intersect with law enforcement responsibilities, particularly in situations involving protests, public demonstrations, media interactions, and encounters with individuals expressing dissent. Officers must recognize the legal boundaries of government authority in restricting speech and ensure they do not unlawfully detain, arrest, or use force against individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities.Misinterpretations of First Amendment rights can lead to civil rights violations, legal liability, and eroded public confidence. Over-policing peaceful protests, restricting media access, or retaliating against individuals for speech-related conduct can result in lawsuits and damage the legitimacy of law enforcement agencies.Proper training in First Amendment considerations equips officers to differentiate between protected speech and unlawful conduct, such as incitement to violence or credible threats. It also enhances their ability to manage public interactions professionally, balance security concerns with civil liberties, and de-escalate tense situations while respecting constitutional freedoms.By fostering a law enforcement culture that is informed, accountable, and constitutionally mindful, agencies can strengthen community relations, uphold democratic principles, and mitigate legal risks.

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Book Your Stay

Reservations can be made directly by registrants at the following URL: https://book.passkey.com/go/DF0525.Should guests prefer to make their room reservations by phone, they should mention the group code DF0525 when calling the toll-free number 1-888-226-7711.Address: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382

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What’s Included During Your Stay

Each morning on Days 1, 2, and 3, we provide coffee, tea, and other beverages, along with a light continental breakfast (including yogurt, fruit, and similar items).Days 1 and 2 include a full lunch. Additionally, at the conclusion of Day 1, we will host an evening networking event featuring happy hour, drinks, and light food (appetizers and snacks).

Reservations can be made directly by registrants at the following URL: https://book.passkey.com/go/DF0525.Should guests prefer to make their room reservations by phone, they should mention the group code DF0525 when calling the toll-free number 1-888-226-7711.Address: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382Parking OptionsWith more than 13,000 complimentary parking spaces, parking at Mohegan Sun is never a hassle. For additional transportation information, please visit https://meetings.mohegansun.com/getting-here/Address
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382

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Attorney Eric P. Daigle
Daigle Law Group

Attorney Eric Daigle specializes in Civil Rights litigation and law enforcement operations consulting. Attorney Daigle also conducts training on use of force standards, including electronic control weapons and responses to force/deadly force incidents. Attorney Daigle acts in his capacity as a Law Enforcement Consultant providing guidance and oversight to department command staff on operations, force response, and risk management. He has served as an expert witness in use of force cases and has reviewed use of force incidents around the Attorney Daigle serves as a member of independent monitoring teams and acts as an auditor in reviewing police department organizational compliance with procedural revisions directed or overseen by the Federal court system.

Attorney Eric R. Atstupenas
Daigle Law Group

Eric Atstupenas presently serves as the General Counsel for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. He serves as a member at large on the IACP Legal Officers Section board, a member of the IACP Committee on Human and Civil Rights, associate member of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police and Central Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Municipal Police Institute, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing training to law enforcement in Massachusetts. Eric is the author of several law enforcement training materials and has been published in the IACP’s Police Chief magazine. Eric has also worked extensively with Eric Daigle, Esq., the owner of Daigle Law Group, LLC, as a law enforcement consultant and trainer.

Attorney Joseph Race
Daigle Law Group

Joseph Race is an Associate Attorney with the Daigle Law Group and specializes in policy and accreditation issues. Mr. Race recently retired as a Captain of the Madison (CT) Police Department where he commanded the Administrative Division. During his time in Madison, Mr. Race successfully led the Madison Police Department to dual CALEA Accreditation for Law Enforcement and Public Safety Communication as well as State of Connecticut Tier III Accreditation. Mr. Race is actively involved in accreditation and currently serves as a CALEA Assessment Team Leader. Mr. Race is a graduate of the Quinnipiac University School Law and is a practicing member of the Connecticut state bar as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Mr. Race is a graduate of the Southern Police Institutes 76th Command Officers Development Course and the 270th Session of the FBI National Academy. Mr. Race is also proud United States Marine Corps veteran.

Spencer Fomby
Law Enforcement Tactical Consultants

Retired Captain Spencer Fomby is the section chair for the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Public Order Section and coordinated the creation of the NTOA Public Order Response and Operation Standards, the NTOA Public Order Basic Command Certification Course, and the NTOA Public Order Grenadier course. Spencer is the former director of the Boise Idaho Police Department Training, Education, and Development Division. He was previously employed by the Berkeley Police Department in California for 20 years. He has held primary assignments in patrol, narcotics, and crime prevention. He was assigned to SWAT for 18 years as an entry team member, team leader, and tactical commander. Spencer was the lead Berkeley Police Department public order instructor. He was responsible for equipment selection, tactical training, less-lethal weapon selection, chemical agent selection and deployment, and mission planning.

Attorney Carrie Hill
National Center for Jail Operations

Carrie Hill is an attorney and national criminal justice consultant. She has dedicated her thirty-year career in providing criminal justice consulting and professional development seminars in correctional law to educate and empower those working in the correctional industry. She is the Chief Jail Advisor for the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Executive Director for the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.

Attorney Mickey H. Osterreicher
National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

Mickey H. Osterreicher serves as general counsel to the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). He is an award-winning photojournalist with over forty years’ experience in print and broadcast and has been a uniformed reserve deputy sheriff with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) since 1976. Osterreicher was a member of the IACP Public Recording of Police advisory committee and helped draft the manuals and provide training on this issue. He has also instructed at previous Use of Force Summits as well as numerous annual IACP and National Sheriffs Association (NSA) meetings and provided training on this subject to many law enforcement agencies nationwide, including: Washington, D.C., Tampa, Cleveland, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Denver, Milwaukee, Miami and the Minnesota State Patrol. He is also certified under the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) honored him in 2015 as a “Fellow of the Society,” the highest professional honor given by the Society for extraordinary contribution to the profession and in 2021 he was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.