LEAP Speakers for Wisconsin
When I first started my activism, LEAP was known as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. They have since grown into Law Enforcement Action Partnership. I utilized their resources many times and often had LEAP speakers at my events. The message LEAP brings to the table is vital to our work here in Wisconsin. I worked as a booking agent for the LEAP Speaker’s Bureau. At that time we did not have a dedicated speaker for Wisconsin, so I worked with James Gierach out of Illinois. Jim was awesome and is still is! He is still advocating for a change in drug policy through his new book The Silver Bullet Solution: Is it time to end the War on Drugs?
I stay in touch and network wherever I can with other organizations. Lance Buchholtz, my former Sheriff in Green Lake County became a LEAP speaker in 2013 before he passed away in 2018. Lance worked for Green Lake County dispatch and City of Markesan Police Department. He became Undersheriff in Green Lake County under Don Bruendl in 1991 and was elected Sheriff for eight years. He retired from law enforcement in 2005 after 26 years of service. Although we never worked directly together through LEAP in Wisconsin, I know his work impacted our state and still can.
Today, I see three more LEAP speakers positioned throughout Wisconsin to utilize. I stumbled across the name of one of them in researching who testified at recent public hearings down in Madison. We should try to use their expertise and advice in overcoming the perceived objections by law enforcement to policy reform in Wisconsin.
LEAP Speakers for Wisconsin
Detective David Doddridge (Ret.)
Detective David Doddridge (Ret.)began his law enforcement career in 1973 as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department in California. He attained the position of detective and is an expert in police procedure, crisis intervention, narcotics investigations, no-knock raids, juvenile crimes, and sex crimes.
Chief James Small (Ret.)
Chief James Small began his law enforcement career as a corrections officer with Waushara County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to becoming chief, he served in several roles including detective and corporal.
Chief Art Howell (Ret.)
Art Howell began his career in the Racine WI Police Department in 1984. He served in a number of roles including gang unit officer, traffic investigator, detective, and public information officer.
How can we book the LEAP Speakers for Wisconsin?
First, if you have a media contact in radio, tv, newspaper, podcast or blogs authors, it might be a great idea to introduce them to this organization and the “Media” portion of the Speakers Bureau. Legislators that hold press conferences might benefit from expertise like this during these types of media events.
If you are holding an event, it might make sense to review the “Request a Speaker” portion of the website. I know just looking at the possible selections when filling out the form made me think of several ways Wisconsin could utilize such expertise.
If you want to be more active with reform measures and network with me, do not hesitate to join the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network on Facebook and volunteer to be a cannabis activist.
