IPMBA Conference Archives
2019 IPMBA Conference
April 7-13, 2019, saw the IPMBA Conference return to the Lone Star Republic for the third time, but the first time to Fort Worth. The last IPMBA Conference in Texas was held in San Antonio in 2004, a decade after the first one. 2019 marked a temporary return to a hotel-based conference as we took up residence in the Historic Hilton Downtown Tampa for the week. Built in 1920 as the Hotel Texas, this property was the first grand hotel in Fort Worth and hosted President John F. Kennedy the night before his fateful visit to Dallas. There is a JFK Suite on the 15th floor, but the Kennedys stayed in Suite 850, which, as a result of gutting and subsequent renovations, is now just Room 808. Perhaps an IPMBA member stayed there and dreamed of Camelot. Because it was not a large hotel or one with an abundance of meeting space, the conference activities were spread out more than is typical. The Instructor Course was hosted by the Tarrant County College; the Maintenance Officer Course was held at nearby Sundance Square; the Bicycle Response Team Training took place at the FWPD Academy; and the Bike Check was in the Fort Worth Convention Center. The multiple training venues demanded an even greater level of coordination than usual due to the need to move equipment and people to more places more often. Despite the additional logistics, the host agency team handled it with aplomb. They were challenged physically and intellectually at times, in part because the Main Street Arts Festival was scheduled the same week, but they were undaunted. Fort Worth Lieutenant Phil Latham, who has been coordinating special events for years, paid IPMBA the ultimate compliment when he said that the conference broke his routine, challenged his thinking, and reawakened his enthusiasm for his job. We would like to think that is what the IPMBA Conference does for everyone who attends.
Photo Gallery
Thanks to Our Hosts
The IPMBA board, staff, members, and conference attendees extend their gratitude to the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) and the Tarrant County College Police Department (TCCPD) for co-hosting the 2019 IPMBA Conference.
The implementation of the conference was truly a team effort, bringing together personnel, training venues, and equipment from FWPD, TCCPD, Flower Mound Police Department (FMPD), Denton Police Department (DPD), and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO).
Under the leadership of Lieutenant Phil Latham (FWPD) and Captain Greg Bowen (TCCPD), aided by TCCPD Lieutenant (“right-hand man”) Robert Macklin, the members of the host agency team proved time and again how adept they are at organizing and implementing special events. This was especially impressive given that many of them had not attended previous conferences and had no personal experience with the event logistics.
IPMBA Instructor David Millican of the Denton Police Department also served as a member of the Command Staff, often as liaison between IPMBA, the Command Staff, and the instructor cadre, giving him a unique perspective on the conference as he began his term on the IPMBA Board in the position of Education Coordinator.
The liaisons assigned to each course – FWPD Officers Nicolas Guadarrama, Brian Hardin, Tony Maldonado, Marcus Mendoza, and Joseph Spragins and TCCPD Officers Johnny Holland and Tien Tran – earned high praise from the instructors for their preparedness, flexibility, and willingness to be of assistance.
Transportation team leaders FWPD Sergeant Mike Cagle and TSCO Sergeant Duane George and team members Sergeant Chandra Dell, and Deputies Robert Gallardo, Antonio Gamboa, Barry Hancock, Kari James, David McPherson, Calvin Palmer, Daniel Pereda, Amber Smith, and Jason Ware made sure that equipment and people were delivered to the right places at the right times.
FWPD Officer J.P. Delahunty coordinated equipment logistics from start to finish, while Officer Bradley Herle helped keep bikes running smoothly in the Bike Check, which was staffed primarily by volunteers from Code Blue under the leadership of Warner Filley.
Flower Mound Police Department sent its entire bike team, plus a volunteer, on a daily basis to assist and support the event in myriad ways.
We thank Sergeant Jason Rachal, Officers James Augenstein, Landon Burns, Charles Chaple, Christopher Coots, Randy Posey, and Doug Smith; and Citizens Police Academy Volunteer Rikki Boehmer for “service with a smile”.
Other key personnel include TCCPD Sergeant Jeffrey Lang and Officer Johnny Rosales, TCSO Deputies Moris Contreras, Robert Gallardo, David McPherson, Daniel Pereda, and Elijah Silas; Officer Danny Evans; and Rangemaster Craig Mankins.
The conference activities were photographed and filmed by PIO Raymond Cervantes, who did a masterful job creating a “highlights reel” for the enjoyment of all who attended the awards dinner.
We are grateful to all the other officers, volunteers, civilian personnel, and community members – especially the Fort Worth Police Bike Support Group and Anna Boulware, Trinity River Vision, the Bass Companies, Ben E. Keith Distributors, The Library Bar, and the Silver Leaf Cigar Lounge – who are too numerous to mention but who undoubtedly played a role in the success of our conference.
Finally, we thank everyone who participated as attendees, instructors, exhibitors, and sponsors. The IPMBA Conference has gained a reputation as the premier training event for public safety cyclists, and we appreciate those of you who challenge us to live up to that reputation.