The Blue Line Lawyer Institute's 2025 Force Forum achieved record attendance and high praise from law enforcement leaders and legal professionals during its May 20-22 executive training conference. Focused on "Navigating the Crunch Time After an Officer-Involved Shooting or Critical Incident," the event provided public safety professionals and their attorneys with practical strategies for managing high-stakes situations that increasingly intersect with human resources compliance and organizational risk management.
Lance J. LoRusso, principal attorney at the LoRusso Law Firm and founder of the Blue Line Lawyer Institute, emphasized the forum's real-world relevance, noting that speakers delivered actionable guidance based on frontline experiences. This approach addresses a critical need in the HR vendor ecosystem, where organizations serving public safety agencies require specialized knowledge of post-incident protocols that impact employee relations, liability management, and compliance frameworks.
The forum's curriculum featured prominent experts addressing multiple dimensions of critical incidents. Bill Lewinski, Ph.D., of https://www.forcescience.org presented on human performance under stress, offering scientific insights that inform both training programs and post-incident evaluations. Tamara Cummings of the Illinois FOP Labor Council addressed due process and officer protections, topics directly relevant to HR professionals managing disciplinary procedures and union relations in public safety organizations.
Additional sessions explored constitutional aspects of prosecutorial decisions in use of force cases, licensing agency roles, and officer mental health considerations. Judge D. Victor Reynolds examined legal nuances while Michael Ayers and Dr. Tina Jaeckle provided perspectives on regulatory compliance and psychological support systems respectively. These multidisciplinary approaches reflect the complex landscape HR vendors must navigate when developing solutions for public safety clients.
With Georgia POST approval and pending GACP Executive Credit, the forum demonstrated the institute's commitment to elevating training standards in a field where certification and continuing education requirements directly impact HR technology and service providers. The event's agenda specifically targeted law enforcement personnel, use of force instructors, administrators, and defense attorneys with sessions covering post-incident response protocols, investigation pitfalls, officer resiliency, and legal frameworks.
The announced plans for the 2026 Force Forum signal sustained demand for specialized training in this niche, creating opportunities for HR vendors to develop complementary products and services. As public safety agencies face increasing scrutiny around critical incidents, the need for integrated solutions spanning legal compliance, mental health support, and administrative processes continues to grow. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities for vendors operating at the intersection of human resources and public safety, where understanding specialized protocols like those discussed at the Force Forum can differentiate service offerings and inform product development.
The forum's success highlights an expanding market segment within the broader HR industry, where vendors must understand not only general human resources principles but also the specific regulatory, legal, and operational contexts of public safety organizations. As these agencies seek to improve their response to critical incidents, they increasingly look to external partners for solutions that address the complex interplay between personnel management, legal compliance, and organizational resilience.
