Event Series:
HELPER Program
HELPER Program
September 2 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The HELPER program exposes students to both an empirical and applied understanding of law enforcement/policing in the United States. Course content includes recorded online lectures and in-class presentations from local, state, and federal law enforcement/police executives and professionals.
The HELPER program is open to all UWM students. Interested undergraduate students should register for Criminal Justice 592; graduate students, register for Criminal Justice 970-002. Not a student, but want to learn more about specific topics? Contact Dr. Hassell for more information.
In-class presentations will be held in Merrill Hall room 131.
| Date | Speaker | Topic | Time |
| Introduction Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 | Introduction: Associate Professor Hassell; FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Hensle | Interpersonal and Service-Oriented Nature of Law Enforcement and Policing | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. |
| Session 1 Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 | Milwaukee Police Department Chief Norman | Role of Police and Law Enforcement in a Democratic Society; Evolution of Law Enforcement and Policing | 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 2 Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 | Marquette University Police Department Chief Hudson; Safe & Sound Executive Director Whitaker | Legitimacy, Procedural Justice, and Police-Community Relations | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 |
| Session 3 Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 | Milwaukee Police Department Assistant Chief Walder; Shorewood Police Department Chief Wurth | Police Culture, Hypermasculinity, Stereotypes, and Women in Law Enforcement/Policing | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 4 Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 | Milwaukee Police Department Captain Leitzke; Wauwatosa Police Department Chief MacGillis | Police-Citizen Interactions, Proactive Activities, and Implicit Biases | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Online Exam Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 | |||
| Session 5 Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 | Milwaukee Police Department Office of Community Outreach and Engagement; Training Academy | Use of Force, De-escalation, and Situational Awareness | 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 6 Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 | Milwaukee Police Department’s Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART) Officers and Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division CART Clinicians | Crisis Intervention and Interactions with People with Emotional Disturbances and Mental Illness | 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 7 Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 | Oak Creek Police Department Chief Stecker; Milwaukee Police Department Assistant Chief Waldner | Officer Wellbeing: Physical, Emotional, and Mental Fitness and Health | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 8 Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 | Dane County Emergency Management Director Tubbs | Demonstrations and Protests – First Amendment and Expressive Activities | 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Online Exam Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 | |||
| Session 9 Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 | Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern | Prosecuting Criminal Cases | 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 10 Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 | WI Drug Enforcement Administration ASAC McGarry; Wauwatosa Police Department Chief MacGillis | Inter-Agency Collaborations/Task Forces, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and Evidence-Based Crime Control | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 11 Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 | Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner Ruben Burgos (MPD Lt, ret.); Madison Police Department Officer Powers | The Role of and Need for Oversight and Accountability | 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Session 12 Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 | UWM Police Department Chief Switala | Recruitment Processes, Eligibility Criteria, and Sworn and Nonsworn Careers in Policing and Law Enforcement | 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. |
| Online Exam Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 |
hassell@uwm.edu