Good afternoon, 

I hope this email finds everyone safe and healthy. I wanted to take a minute of your time to discuss several important issues concerning NPCA members. The first issue is our current situation regarding how the Corona-19 Virus is affecting our members. Certainly, each department, state and region are facing their own directives of how they are deployed and guidelines during this unprecedented time. The NPCA depends on our members involvement to accomplish our goals and those members depend on their agencies allowing them to be involved. The NPCA provides training and certifications both of which are dependent on our members. Training and Travel restrictions result in a reduction of available certifications and our National Seminar that was scheduled for August 2020 in Connecticut has been rescheduled to August of 2022. 

Knowing there is no reasonable ability to determine when this pandemic will allow the LE Community to return to a normal status the Board approved the “re-scheduling” until 2022. We will continue as planned for our 2021 National Seminar. We have previously signed a contract with the host Hotel and will begin advertising that event later this year. 

The next area affected by this pandemic is our certification process. As previously sent out the NPCA is not allowing any travel to conduct certifications. Any certification that is occurring is local and the CO’s have a direct responsibility to adhere to their current departmental guidelines and social distancing. We must keep everyone safe! I have fielded numerous questions regarding expired or soon to expire certifications. In the event your certification expires during this “LOCK DOWN” period of social distancing and stay at home warnings, be prepared with your training records, past certification records, proficiency assessments and deployment records to defend yourself in court. It is more than reasonable to articulate why you have not obtained a current certification during this period. It is not going to last forever. We suggest that once the Country opens back up that you seek out your certifications within a reasonable amount of time. We understand that this is difficult and where you usually get your certifications done may not be available when you need them so be sure and keep your records complete and accurate. If you need any further assistance, please be sure and contact your Regional Director or NPCA directly. 

Most importantly, stay safe and stay healthy!! 

Terry Anderson 

President, NPCA