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Test Your Skills at the ILEETA Conference: The International Police Driving Competition

By Capt. Travis Yates
PoliceOne Columnist

ILEETA has teamed up with L3 Communications and its MPRI law enforcement driving simulator to bring the first-ever International Police Driving Competition at this year’s conference in Wheeling, Ill. It will be among several competitions taking place Monday, March 31, including the International Iron Cop Competition (a physical skills challenge) and the ILEETA Cup (a shooting competition).

Larry Self, a 24-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department and current training specialists with L3, says that while the driving competition will be a great time for all involved, it means much more than pure fun.

“This competition emphasizes ILEETA’s and L3’s commitment to addressing the dangers that driving poses to our law enforcement personnel,” Self says. “We are committed to turning the tide of this troubling epidemic.”

Costing just $15, the driving competition is open to any sworn law enforcement officer or ILEETA member, and all proceeds will be split between the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the ILEETA Scholarship Fund.

The competition will no doubt bring more awareness to the most dangerous activity our officers do on a daily basis. I applaud ILEETA, L3 Communications, Ed Nowicki and Rich Maxwell for their commitment to bringing this competition to the conference.

Located in the heart of Middle America, in Twin Lakes, Wis., the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association was formed to serve the men and women dedicated to educating and training members of the criminal justice community throughout the world. ILEETA has quickly become the premier law enforcement training organization in the country.

Ed Nowicki, a 20 year law enforcement training veteran, is the executive director and he has placed numerous experts around him to help in the day-to-day operation of the organization. Nowicki often says that “you can’t afford not to be a part of ILEETA,” and in 2007 I found that out firsthand.

On an invitation from ILEETA founding member and Butler University Assistant Chief Andy Ryan, I attended my first ILEETA conference, held each spring in the Chicago area. It didn’t take long to figure out why I couldn’t afford not to be a part of ILEETA. More than 800 trainers from across the world came together for a week and trained with each other for as long as 12 hours a day. When classes were not is session, the discussions involved training. Strangers became friends, and everyone was there for the same reason: to give our officers the best training possible.

Law enforcement driver training is a hot topic with ILEETA, and when I looked over in one seminar and saw international driving expert Tony Scotti, I knew this was the place for me every year. It does not matter what you train in, you will find the leading experts in the field at the ILEETA conference.

Held from April 1 through 5 and with more than 110 topics and 25 separate instructor courses, the 2008 ILEETA conference looks to be the best yet. Craig Floyd, chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, is the opening speaker, and ILEETA has supported the memorial through its competitive events each year at the annual conference.

For more information, visit the ILEETA Web site or call (262) 279-7879.