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Roanoke, VA 24016-2025
United States
Please join us for the
Cancellation Policy
Download Agenda
2026 VACP Annual Conference
Join us for our 101st Annual Conference at the Hotel Roanoke!
Sunday, August 30, 2026
to Wednesday, September 2, 2026
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue NortheastRoanoke, VA 24016-2025
United States
* Registration open until 8/31/26 at 8:00 AM (EDT)
Please join us for the
2026 VACP Annual Conference
100th Anniversary Year
CONFERENCE ATTENDEES MUST BE AN ACTIVE LEO/SECURITY OFFICER OR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS REGISTRATION LINK IF YOU SELL LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED PRODUCTS/SERVICES.
IF YOU REGISTER AS AN ATTENDEE, YOUR REGISTRATION WILL BE REMOVED.
Full Conference Agenda has been pre-approved by DCJS for 13.5 PIC hours (11.5 Career Development, 2 Legal).
Conference Information
The conference will be held August 30 - September 2, 2026 at The Hotel Roanoke. Registration and check-in begins at 2pm on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Training begins at 8:00 am on Monday, August 31st and concludes at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Conference Fees
Members/Non-Members: $400/$500
Conference Fees
Members/Non-Members: $400/$500
Fees cover:
- Monday's breakfast, breaks, lunch and dinner (Host Chief's Night/Retirement Celebration for Dana Schrad, VACP Executive Director, Ret.)
- Tuesday's breakfast, breaks, lunch and dinner (Valor Banquet)
Please do not add Banquet tickets to conference registrations for the primary attendee. These are add-on tickets for additional guests who are not registered attendees of the full conference. - Wednesday's Breakfast and break
Cancellation Policy
If cancellation is received by August 14th, you will be eligible for a refund. No refund will be granted for any withdrawal notice received after August 14th. No-shows are not eligible for refunds; however, qualified substitutions are gladly accepted with prior approval. Unfortunately, this also applies to any unforeseen emergency. The VACP must provide a headcount for attendees and it cannot be reduced after this date, therefore the VACP will still incur charges regardless of the attendee's attendance.
Questions
Please direct any questions concerning this event to Audrey Altovilla, (804) 285-8227 or audrey@vachiefs.org.
Questions
Please direct any questions concerning this event to Audrey Altovilla, (804) 285-8227 or audrey@vachiefs.org.
Registration Options
|
Registration Options
|
Credits | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Member Registration
|
13.50 (DCJS PIC Hours) | $400.00 |
|
Non-Member Registration
|
13.50 (DCJS PIC Hours) | $500.00 |
|
Retired Member Registration
|
$150.00 | |
|
Spouse/Significant Other Registration
|
$150.00 | |
|
Banquet Only Registration
|
$100.00 |
Agenda
| August 30 | |
| 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Registration |
| August 31 | |
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM | Registration & Continental Breakfast w/ Exhibitors |
| 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
OPENING CEREMONIES
Conference Welcome Presentation of Colors & Pledge of Allegiance Host City Welcome Special Olympics VA Torch Run Presentations |
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | OPENING KEYNOTE “The Fire Inside” — Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent, Virginia State Police |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Exhibitor Introductions & Morning Break with Exhibitors |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSION
A) “Leading Without a Badge: Maximizing the Value of Professional Staff in Modern Policing” — Ben Haiman, Executive Director, Center for Public Safety & Justice, University of Virginia B) “Leading the Fight: Building a Department-Wide Response to Human Trafficking in Virginia”— Lindsey Lane, Director-U.S. Programs & Nathan Whiteman, Law Enforcement Advisor, Human Trafficking Institute |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | HEAT Awards Luncheon |
| 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION
“AI Investigative Methodology for Criminal Investigations” — Morgan Wright, CEO & Founder, National Center for Open & Unsolved Cases --- PLATINUM PARTNER PRESENTATIONS: Axon Peregrine AT&T |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Break with Exhibitors |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION, cont.
“How Barnes v. Felix Impacts Use of Force Training, Reporting, Investigation, and Litigation” — Chief Timothy J. Longo, Sr., Esq., AVP for Safety & Security, University of Virginia Police Division “State of VACP and the Future” — Cory McGookin, VACP Executive Director |
| 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Retirement Celebration for VACP Executive Director (Ret) Dana Schrad |
| September 1 | |
| 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM |
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSION #1
A) “Can Agencies Effectively Manage Fatigue Risk” — Brett Cowell, Senior Program Manager, National Policing Institute & Dr. Stephen James, Associate Professor, Washington State University B) “Protection From and By Drones” — Charles “Chip” Dick, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, AirSight & F/Sgt. Travis Adkins, UAS/CUAS Coordinator, Virginia State Police |
| 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Morning Break |
| 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSION #2
A) “Fit to Lead” — Capt. Will Gervin, Operations Commander, Virginia Beach Police Department B) “Transforming Your Organization: Leading with Emotional Intelligence” — Beth Coleman, Leadership Trainer/Leadership Development Coordinator, Virginia State Police |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
Luncheon
VACP Law Enforcement Executive Certification Presentations VACP Business Meeting: 2026-27 Executive Board Elections |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION #1 “Bringing Ego to the Forefront" — Dr. Ron Camacho, Chief of Police, North Charleston Police Dept. |
| 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Afternoon Break |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSION
A) “VSP Fusion Center – The Way Forward” — Jeffrey Jones, Director - Strategic & Tactical Intelligence, Virginia State Police B) “The Threats You’re Not Seeing: Building an Early Actor Interdiction Capability Before Violence Occurs” — Aaron Cohen, Founder & CEO, GIDEON and Director of Intelligence & Counterterrorism, Houston County Sheriff’s Office (Reserve) |
| 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM |
AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION #2
VACP Legislative & Legal Update — Dale G. Mullen, Esq., VACP/VACLEA Legislative & Special Counsel and Partner, Whiteford Law DCJS Update — Rick Collins, Law Enforcement Director, Virginia DCJS |
| 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Banquet Reception |
| 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
Annual Awards Banquet & Board Installation
Special Guest: The Honorable Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia Presentation of Valor & Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement Awards Installation of 2026-27 VACP Executive Board |
| September 2 | |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | CLOSING KEYNOTE “Leadership Lessons from a Life of Service” — General John F. Kelly, USMC (Ret.) & Former White House Chief of Staff |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | VACP LE Roadway Safety Champion Awards & Traffic Safety Specialist (TSS) Luncheon All are invited to stay for the awards luncheon recognizing Virginia law enforcement agencies and officers who are champions of traffic safety in their communities! |
The Hotel Roanoke
110 Shenandoah Ave., NE
Roanoke, VA 24016
Book Online HERE
Call: (540) 985-5900
*Be sure to ask for the VACP Annual Conference Group rate of $119++ per night.
This room block will be available until August 7, 2026; unless sold out prior to this date. All rooms remaining after that date will be returned to general inventory for sale to other groups and/or individuals. Any reservation requests received after the cut-off date are not entitled to receive the group rate and are on a case by case basis dependent upon availability.
Please make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. It is easier to cancel a hotel room than it is to request additional rooms from the hotel close to the conference date. Hotel rooms are subject to sell out prior to the room block close date of August 7th.