Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Post as Dean of Schools of Public and Social Services & Education at Ivy Tech Community College


A MESSAGE FROM DR. RICHARD WEINBLATT, THE COP DOC:

Here is the big announcement...

The Weinblatt family is off to new adventures as I have been offered and have accepted a terrific new opportunity that allows me to serve students and faculty in the vital community college arena while still preserving my existing business of The Cop Doc LLC.

I was called while I was giving a keynote speech to a police conference in the Boston area and told that, following interviews, presentations, and screenings, I was selected as the top candidate for the position of Dean of the School of Public and Social Services and the School of Education for Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana in Indianapolis, IN.

This followed several hurdles including an all day marathon of meetings I had in Indianapolis at Ivy Tech Community College with different stakeholders including a formal open forum presentation to the college on my vision for the dean's post if I were selected, as well as separate interviews with the program chairs that report to this dean position, other deans, the incumbent dean (twice), the vice chancellor of academic affairs (twice), and the chancellor (who used to be the chief academic officer at the very respected Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL).

Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana is one of the largest, respected, and well-known community colleges in the country with approx. 35,000 students.

The Dean of the School of Public and Social Services and the School of Education oversees program chairs, faculty, and staff (as well as dean's office administrative staff) in the following areas:

School of Public and Social Services- Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Hospitality Administration, Human Services, Library Technical Assistant, Mortuary Science, Paralegal Studies, and Public Safety Technology.

School of Education- Early Childhood Education and Education.

The Dean reports to the chief academic officer who in turn reports to the college's chief executive.

After subsequent reference and background checks, I have since been formally offered this really terrific opportunity and I told them that I am honored to accept. The even better news is that (as is customary in colleges) I will be able to keep my The Cop Doc LLC business operating albeit with some time constraints. If anything, as one person pointed out to me early on, the Dean position gives my expertise an enhanced level of credibility.

Here is the announcement that was just put out by the vice chancellor of academic affairs who is the chief academic officer:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Weinblatt to the position of Dean of the School of Public and Social Services & Education. Dr. Weinblatt earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida. Most recently he has served as Director of the Public Safety Institute at Central Ohio Technical College and prior to that as Program Manager and Professor for the Criminal Justice Institute at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida. He has been active in criminal justice classrooms since 1997. He also is the principal consultant for The COP DOC, LLC, a consulting service in the area of law Enforcement.

I am sure that you will all join me in welcoming Dr. Weinblatt to the College.

This is just a fantastic opportunity to serve! We (Anne, Michael, and I) have been scrambling on housing, movers, etc. and expect to drive out to Indianpolis on Friday, December 9, 2011. The other good news is that Anne's company recognizes her value and loyalty and has graciously allowed her to telecommute from Indianapolis. It's just a win-win for everyone and we are very lucky with the way it has all turned out.

This is just a terrific opportunity to make a difference within a large, nationally respected community college arena and it is a natural career progression.

Thank you again to all of our friends, clients, and colleagues in Orlando and elsewhere. We appreciate your continued support as the Ivy Tech Community College Dean adventure begins and The Cop Doc LLC business continues on.

New Facebook Group for Seminole Police Academy Instructors and Students


If you are a current or former instructor or student at the Seminole Community College / Seminole State College Police Academy in Sanford, FL, check out the new Facebook group I created for networking, etc.: https://www.facebook.com/​groups/146193365483882/

The group is growing already with close to 100 members admitted by the admin. Group members are adding their videos and pictures. There is even a poll which shows that learning is competing with the drill instructors as voters' favorite part of the Seminole Police Academy experience.

The group was created by former Program Manager and Professor Dr. Richard Weinblatt to help with networking, career advice, and to see where group members' friends went off to.

Said group member and Police Academy instructor Shannon Lemquist Seiple:

"Love the new group you started. Great idea!" and "I have enjoyed every class I have taught. I like the idea of being able to see and hear about what some of our favorite recruits are doing!!!!"

Another student favorite, instructor Mark DiBona, chimed in:

"Hello everyone, I hope everyone is doing well!!!!"

Many of the former Police Academy students recounted in posts of the memories that the new Facebook group is bringing back (such as Pepper Spray).

Monday, December 5, 2011

Keynote Speech at Great Massachusetts Police Reserve Conference


I had the good fortune to be with a great crew of police reserves in suburban Boston recently. I was truly impressed by their enthusiasm and the dedication of their leader and conference guru Auxiliary Captain Marc Spigel.

Here is the text of an article from PoliceReserveOfficer.com on the conference:


It was an enthusiastic crowd that took in the training and speeches and helped to make the 2011 Massachusetts Volunteers in Policing (VIPS) conference a success. The brainchild of Framingham, MA, Police Auxiliary Captain Marc Spigel, the November 12 and 13 conference at the suburban Boston Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, MA, brought together the top minds in law enforcement training and reserve law enforcement.

Police reserve expert and author Dr. Richard Weinblatt delivered the evening keynote speech on the sometimes contentious relationship between volunteers and full-timers. The conference purchased copies of Dr. Weinblatt's book "The Cop Doc's Classic Writings on Police Reserves" and distributed copies to each conference attendee.

Nationally known VIPS expert Denver Police Lieutenant Matt Murray, who has overseen that agency's successful volunteer law enforcement program, lead a dynamic afternoon presentation on starting and growing a volunteer police program. Lt. Murray, the Denver Police Department's public information officer and aid to the Police Chief, entertained and informed as he dazzled the crowd with the tricks of his trade.

The weekend's continued activities moved over to the Boylestown Police Academy as training from some of Massachusetts' top subject matter experts took center stage. Volunteers and part-time officers were given top-notch training in firearms, defensive tactics, officer survival, and other related subject areas.