Officers Gain Exciting and Timely Training at 5th Annual Leadership Academy

Left to right: CLEAT's Charley Wilkison, Matt Novosad, CLEAT Region 6 Director, and Mark Clark of the Houston Police Officers Union discuss retirement and pension issues during a pension panel

Texas law enforcement leaders converged on Austin last week for the annual CLEAT Leadership Academy. Officers from across Texas signed up to participate in seminars about union governance, leadership, legal issues, media messaging, local advocacy, as well as listen to the political forecasts regarding the statewide retirement and pension war.

“This was the largest turnout in the history of the leadership academy. This is a tradition of excellence where CLEAT continually assists in training of our current and future leaders,” said Sgt. Todd Harrison, President of CLEAT.

Presenters included Michael F. Helle, President of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, Jim Spearing with the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Michael Rickman, John Curtis, Karl Brehm and Richard Carter of the CLEAT Legal Division, Wayne Vincent, President of the Austin Police Association, Jose Marrufo, President of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Officers Association, Charley Wilkison with CLEAT Public Affairs and Mark Clark of the Houston Police Officers Union.

Attendees of the Leadership Academy

“We look forward to next year’s Leadership Academy,” said Harrison. The Leadership Academy is a free service offered to all CLEAT members across the state.