Callahan Delivers Keynote Address at CPOA Event

June 17, 2010

Callahan Gives Keynote Address at CA Peace Officers Event

By Ben Dimapindan

Dr. Rich Callahan, right, with Long Beach Police Chief and MPA grad Jim McDonnell

With more than 100 law enforcement leaders from across the state in attendance, Richard Callahan, associate dean and director of state capital and leadership programs at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, delivered the keynote address at the installation ceremony for the new president of the California Peace Officers’ Association.

The ceremony, which was part of the CPOA’s 90th annual Training Symposium, took place at the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles in May. The association’s new president, Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, is a graduate of the master of public administration program at SPPD.

Callahan’s remarks focused on the important role of peace officers, not only within public safety, but within society in general.

“The values they bring as law enforcement leaders – values of integrity, honesty and justice – are very significant to us as a society,” he said. “Certainly, we benefit from the protection and security they provide, but we also benefit from them as leaders, particularly in modeling how to lead from these core values.”

Callahan added that his participation in the event “strongly helps to build SPPD’s institutional presence and connectedness to law enforcement professionals.”

“It advances the work of our school, and of the university, to address the pressing issues we face today,” he said, “especially because law enforcement stands at the forefront of dealing with the most challenging of social problems.”

In addition, Callahan noted that he has the opportunity to engage with – and teach – law enforcement leaders each year through the EML program. Typically, he said, each class of EML students includes working professionals from the LAPD, Sheriff’s Departments and Federal Air Marshal Service.