April M. Lee – Owner and President, Performance Leadership Institute, Inc.

April Lee is the principal owner of Performance Leadership Institute, Inc. and serves as a senior consultant working with clients on strategic planning, marketing, and community education campaigns, media relations activities, internal and external communication systems, and organizational development and employee relations projects. She is also the principal business manager, coordinating all training programs and organizational development projects offered by the firm.

April has more than 15 years of experience working with law enforcement agencies as a consultant and trainer. She has assisted many agencies with their internal communication needs as well as external community relations and marketing and has conducted citizen surveys and citizen input meetings for countless law enforcement agencies. April provides training and consulting on “Dealing with the Media”; “How To Create A ‘Brand Name’ Law Enforcement Agency”; “Maximizing Your Marketing Message” and customized community relations and marketing programs, including contract PIO services. Among her past media relations and marketing, clients are Spokane, WA Police Department, Lincoln County, Oregon Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Washington University and Comfort Suites Hotels. April is a former newspaper reporter and has a background in print and community journalism, community opinion research and marketing.

April holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Communications from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice through Boston University.

In her spare time, April enjoys bicycling around her hometown of Hood River, Oregon, practicing her hobby of amateur photography, running her vintage antique/junking business “Vintage Vixens”, and driving her sports car.

Sheriff Tim Mueller, (Ret.), Linn County, OR Sheriff’s Office

Tim has been actively involved in law enforcement for over 30 years, three years on active duty with the US Army as a Military Policeman and 29 years & eight months with the Sheriff’s Office. During his career with the Sheriff’s Office, Tim worked his way up through the ranks of Deputy, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Undersheriff. As Lieutenant he oversaw all operations of a 230 bed jail and as Undersheriff he managed the overall operations of the Sheriff’s Office, including managing the budget, directing the work of the division commanders, and frequently dealing with employee disciplinary matters.

As Sheriff, Tim focused on improving the level of professionalism in his agency, providing top quality training and maintaining the focus on the safety of the citizens. Tim brings extensive, real-world experience to the table, along with training and practical knowledge in overseeing a crisis intervention program for his agency, being ready to mobilize for a crisis response, and decades of experience on the front lines of law enforcement practice.

Captain (Ret.) Randy Barnes

Captain (Ret.) Randy Barnes has 28 years of progressive experience including eight years as a division commander. Randy has served as a faculty member in the Leadership Division at the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission since 1995 and has been involved in the strategic planning and development for many of their ethical leadership, situational leadership, budgeting, and mentoring programs. Randy is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy (207th Session), a certified leadership instructor for IACP, and serves as a guest instructor for the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College. Randy has also served since 1999 as the Tactical Situations Commander for the area Regional Emergency Response Team. Randy is an instructor and consultant for Performance Leadership Institute, providing instruction and services in leadership, strategic planning, employee performance measures, succession planning and training, and building a values-driven culture in your agency.

Chief (Ret.) Jon D. Zeliff

Chief Jon D. Zeliff served as the Chief of Police with Central Point Police Department in Southern Oregon, where his agency became the first agency in the nation to earn the esteemed “Certificate of Excellence In Integrity” from the National Institute of Ethics. Jon formerly served as a commander at the Grants Pass, Oregon Department of Public Safety. He has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and has served in a wide range of assignments. Jon has a BA degree in Business Management and was the Oregon Chapter Director for the International Association of Ethics Trainers and a member of the Center for Law Enforcement Ethics, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Jon has testified as an expert witness for the Oregon Department of Justice on ethical issues and is frequently consulted by individuals and organizations on matters of professional ethics, character, and integrity.

Captain Cory Darling, Bend, Oregon Police Department

Captain Cory Darling currently serves with the Bend Police Department. He has 25 years of law enforcement service and has been Captain over Patrol, Investigations and Support Services/Training. Cory has also served numerous special assignments, including: 5 years with Narcotics Investigations for the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE) and 16 years with Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (SWAT) serving as Entry Team Leader, Sniper, and Team Commander. Throughout his career, Cory has also served in Detectives, Street Crimes, as a Motor Officer, Firearms Instructor, Integrated Use of Force Instructor and as a Field Training Officer.

Cory is a graduate of FBI National Academy 237. He also has served or currently holds positions as Past President of the Oregon Tactical Officers Association (OTOA), Past Vice President of the Oregon Narcotics Officers Association (ONEA), Past Central Oregon Police Chaplaincy Board Member, Current Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) liaison for the Oregon Terrorism Information Threat Analysis Network (TITAN) Fusion Center, Current Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, Current Deschutes County Crisis Intervention (CIT) Steering Committee, Current National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).

Cory works with PLI on CIT programs and instruction.

Chief (contract city) Mike Blair

Mike Blair is a direct and to-the-point trainer with Performance Leadership Institute, Inc. who speaks to the practical, real-world issues faced by law enforcement supervisors and also conducts a program on handling line of duty death situations, peer support programs and family relations. He has more than 15 years law enforcement experience with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in Tacoma, Washington, currently serving as Chief of Police of the contract city University Place. During his career he has worked as a Resident Deputy and a Domestic Violence Investigator. He has also served as a Washington State EVOC Instructor, a Community Academy Proctor, a Field Training Officer and a Master Patrol Officer. Mike has also had prior appointments by the Sheriff to the Board of Professional Standards, as well as on the Sheriff’s Department Strategic Planning Team, facilitated by Performance Leadership Institute, Inc. Mike graduated from Washington State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

Lt. Patti Jackson-Kidder, Pierce County, WA Sheriff’s Department, Corrections Bureau

Patti has extensive experience as a trainer both in corrections and law enforcement. She is part of the instructor cadre for Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) through International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) and serves as the Mental Health Officer for her agency in the Correction Bureau. Patti works for PLI as an instructor offering curriculum for crisis intervention training for corrections personnel and speaks specifically to crisis response in a jail setting.

Sgt. Wayne DuBois, Richland, WA Police Department

Sgt. Wayne DuBois has been a police officer for 18 years and supervisor for the previous 6 years. He currently supervises a Street Crimes Unit at a mid-sized law enforcement agency. He has served with a regional SWAT team since 1998, and has been a Team Leader for the previous 9 years.

Wayne serves as President of the Washington State Tactical Officers Association, and is the Lead Instructor for the WSTOA Training Cadre. He has instructed with the WSTOA for over 10 years and has been responsible for training over 1000 officers in patrol and SWAT tactics, as well as topics in leadership. Wayne holds a BS in Government and Religion from Liberty University. He works with PLI teaching CIT-related programs as well as “Coaching & Counseling” and other leadership topics.

Molly S. Wells, LCSW

Molly Wells holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Walla Walla University with an under graduate in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Ms. Wells manages the inpatient psychiatric services for St. Charles Health System, including 20 psychiatric beds and Emergency Psychiatric Services. Ms. Wells is a founding member and trainer of the Crisis Intervention Training in Deschutes County which began in 2010. Ms. Wells has 24 years combined experience in Emergency Mental Health Evaluation and Treatment, Civil Commitment Services, Inpatient Psychiatric Services, Mental Health Treatment within the Judicial System, and outpatient treatment in the community mental health system for those suffering with Severe Mental Illness.

Patti Powell

Patti Powell is a member of the Oregon and Idaho Bar Associations as well as the U.S Supreme Court.   In addition to her work as the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Policy Analyst (Oregon), she also served as the Chief Legal Advisor to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office in Boise, Idaho.  While an Assistant Attorney General in Montana, Ms. Powell wrote the prevailing brief before the United States Supreme Court in the criminal matter State of Montana v Krantz.  Ms. Powell’s career has spanned numerous settings in law enforcement and public service.   She has been a law enforcement consultant, trainer, and teacher in colleges and universities, private consulting companies, law enforcement agencies and for the U.S. Department of Justice. She currently teaches for Performance Leadership Institute on issues related to employment law and legal issues and challenges for law enforcement clientele.

Ms. Powell received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from Boise State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho.  She has practiced in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Missouri and Oregon and has been an instructor at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).  She concentrates on leadership, employee performance standards and measures, and use of force trainings.  She has attended training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.  For the U.S. Department of Justice, she served as a consultant and trainer in correctional settings.

Officer Buck Jones, Seattle, WA Police Department

Captain Mike Cobb

Captain Mike Cobb, BCETS, currently serves as a Captain with the Richland, Washington Police Department. Mike has been with the department since 1982, serving in many operational, support, administrative and tactical command positions. He is a past president of the Washington State Tactical Officers Association (WSTOA). Mike is the co-founder of the Tri-City CISM Network and faculty member with the International Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation (ICISMF) and is an approved instructor for CISM. Mike is also a board-certified expert in Traumatic Stress and a Diplomate member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.

Sgt. JR Hall, King County, WA Sheriff’s Office

Sgt. JR Hall is a member of the King County Sheriff’s Office where he has worked for over 25 years. In his tenure with the King County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Hall has worked as a Field Training Officer, Undercover Narcotics, Property Crimes Detective, Homicide Detective, and has a well established reputation for being a very talented interviewer and interrogator. Sgt. Hall has 20 years experience as an EVOC and PIT Instructor and is an assistant Media Relations Officer.

In 1996 Sgt. Hall was selected as a full time staff member to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy where he taught the Criminal Investigations block of instruction to recruit police officers. Sgt. Hall has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Highline Community College where he taught the Investigations block of instruction as part of the Criminal Justice Degree program.

Sgt. Hall lives in Western Washington with his beautiful wife Mary Kaye; they have 5 wonderful children ranging in ages 19 to 30. In November of 2014 Sgt. Hall became a grandfather for the first time. Sgt. Hall is a licensed Pro River Guide and a Pro-Staff Member with the St. Croix Rods Company. When he’s not at work you will find him drifting the rivers of Western Washington for Steelhead and Salmon. Sgt. Hall is also quite accomplished with a 2 handed fly rod. You’ll often find him swinging flies to hungry Steelhead year round.

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Laura Zeliff