2026 Officer Safety and Wellness Conference Recap – Police Chief Magazine

Police Chief Magazine
The IACP welcomed 1,082 attendees from across the globe to the 2026 Officer Safety and Wellness Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 6–8. Participants had valuable opportunities to network with fellow members of the policing community, engage with exhibitors and attend solutions spotlight presentations, and gather valuable resources to bring back to their agencies. Attendees participated in various wellness exercises, incorporating unique mental and physical practices, such as movement sessions, wellness trivia, and memory challenges.
At the Opening General Assembly, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick welcomed attendees to the city and emphasized the importance of seeking help and walking alongside peers to guide them with support and intervention. Louisiana State Police Lieutenant. Colonel Joseph “Jody” Hasselback also spoke, stating, “Officer safety goes beyond surviving each shift. It is about fostering growth in the profession. We achieve peek public safety by investing in each officer’s safety.” The opening session featured Pete and Michelle Tucker in a keynote presentation that highlighted their extraordinary journey through Pete’s recovery from a life-threatening motorcycle accident to his return to the Ontario Provincial Police, an achievement driven by heart, determination, and purpose.
The Closing General Assembly featured an esteemed panel presentation exploring the often-unseen emotional labor in policing and public safety, showing how sustained exposure to trauma and human need leads to compassion fatigue—and why addressing it requires organizational, cultural, and supervisory solutions. Moderator and IACP Executive Board member, Chief Ron Campurciani, expressed the importance of leadership in supporting wellness efforts: “Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box and be that leader who adapts, changes, and adjusts to ensure you are taking care of your people.”
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