New York Women in Law Enforcement - NYWLE

11/01/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Lieutenant Kaiser and the Glenville Police Department for bringing their therapy dog, Waylon, to the 15th Annual NYWLE Training Conference! We truly appreciate you sharing Waylon with us and allowing our attendees the opportunity to meet him.

To follow along on Waylon’s adventures and see what he’s up to, be sure to check out his page, “Where’s Waylon!” 🐾

10/31/2026

Thank you to our incredible sponsors and vendors for making the 15th Annual New York Women in Law Enforcement Conference possible! We’re very proud to recognize the amazing organizations and businesses who helped bring this year's conference to life:

Motorola • TRACS • Law Firm of Alex Dell • Marc A. Mirabella • Syracuse PD PBA • NYS Troopers PBA • NY Police Juvenile Officers Association • NY Sergeants Benevolent Association • Marist College • New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Inc. • Depew PD PBA • Bethlehem Officers & Supervisors Association • The NEIGH • Operation SANTAs S.L.E.D. • EM&V Boutique & Light a Spark Permanent Jewelry • A.D. Valor Technical Cleaning• America’s Mighty Wipes • Artistic Audio Entertainment • Wegmans • Niagara Falls USA • Niagara University • National Law Enforcement & First Responder Wellness Center • Steelbound Brewery & Distillery • Western New York Law Enforcement Hotline • Venture Fox Realty • The Resilience Lab • Taylor & Co. Custom Apparel • National Center for Public Safety & Disability LLC • New York Division of Criminal Justice Services

Your partnership and support in our organization allows us to continue this important work.

10/31/2026

10/31/2026

15th Annual New York Women in Law Enforcement Training Conference -- Niagara Falls, New York

As we reflect on another successful conference, we extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and traveled from across New York State to be part of this event.

A special thank you to the members, agencies, sponsors, vendors, presenters, attendees, and volunteers whose generosity, commitment, and support made this conference possible. Your contributions are instrumental in bringing our law enforcement community together through training, collaboration, and connection.

10/30/2026

✨FINAL DAY RECAP | NYWLE 2026✨

We closed out the 15th Annual NYWLE Training Conference with an incredible group of presenters and panelists!

A huge thank you to NYSP Daniel Howard (Troop A BCI) for his presentation on Mass Casualty Incidents, and to our panelists, NYSP Sergeant Kelli Fitch, NYSP Technical Sergeant Meg Brown, NYSP Detective Sergeant Joelle Bence, and Buffalo PD K-9 Unit Commander Elizabeth Diaz-Baker, along with our moderator, NYSP Trooper Lynnea Crane, for sharing their experiences, knowledge, and expertise.

We also extend our appreciation to NYSP Deputy Counsel Amanda Nissen for providing an informative presentation on Legal Updates!

10/30/2026

DAY 2 RECAP | NYWLE 2026

Day 2 was filled with phenomenal presentations and valuable insights— a huge thank you to Joshua Vinehout, Julie Palmer, Robert Quick, George Sichler, and Operation Santa’s SLED for sharing your time, knowledge, and expertise with us!

We appreciate you being part of another incredible day at the 15th Annual New York Women in Law Enforcement Training Conference. 💙

Joshua Vinehout — DCJS Supervisor of Public Safety Programs

Julie Palmer — Executive Director of PATH Inc., Founder of PATH Enrichment Center in Buffalo

Operation SANTA’s S.L.E.D

Robert Quick — Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer of the National Law Enforcement & First Responder Wellness Center at Harbor of Grace

George Sichler — Speaker of Purpose Through Strength & Development, The Resilience Lab

Former President of NYWLE, Gina Cocchiara (Bethlehem PD) and Newly Elected President of NYWLE, Chelsea Giovo (Oswego City PD)

NYWLE Conference Attendees Wear Pink — Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness & Research

10/29/2026

✨ DAY 1 RECAP | NYWLE 2026 ✨

Day 1 was a success! Thank you to our keynote speaker, Erica Gaines, presenters Alex Dell and Dawn Samuelson, and our amazing sponsors and vendors for helping make it all possible!

We’re looking forward to another great day of training, connection, and inspiration. Let’s see what Day 2 brings!

10/28/2026

NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY | October 28, 2026

Today, New York Women in Law Enforcement honors the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities.

As we kick off the 15th Annual NYWLE Training Conference in Niagara Falls, we recognize the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of first responders across New York State and beyond.

Today, and every day, we thank you for answering the call. Your service matters, your sacrifices are never forgotten, and your dedication does not go unnoticed.

10/27/2026

🚔 PANEL DISCUSSION SPOTLIGHT | Beyond Patrol: Women in Specialized Roles

We are proud to spotlight an incredible panel of women who will share their stories, hard-earned wisdom, and unique experiences serving in specialized roles within law enforcement at the 15th Annual NYWLE Training Conference!

▫️ NYSP Sergeant Kelli Fitch
▫️ NYSP Technical Sergeant Meg Brown
▫️ Buffalo PD Detective Sergeant Joelle Bence
▫️ Buffalo PD K-9 Unit Commander Elizabeth Diaz-Baker
🎤 Moderator: NYSP Trooper Lynnea Crane

From technical operations to investigations and K-9 leadership, this discussion will highlight the diverse opportunities within our profession and offer an opportunity to learn from the women who continue to break barriers, lead, and inspire.

We look forward to bringing everyone together in Niagara Falls! 💙

10/13/2026

On behalf of New York Women in Law Enforcement, we extend our deepest condolences to the Suffolk County Police Department following the tragic loss of an officer.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the fallen officer’s family, friends, and colleagues. 💙