Meeting/Event Information

Please join us for our Annual Holiday Meeting for networking, great food and two engaging presentations.  

Morning Session  

Presentation Title: “The Crime Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Trafficking Awareness for the Code Enforcement Industry”
Presenter: Tom Ruck, Senior Engagement Manager, DHS Blue Campaign

Human trafficking is a crime that thrives in secrecy—and too often, that secrecy unfolds in places we least expect, including within many workplaces within America. In this eye-opening presentation, Tom Ruck, Senior Engagement Manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, will shine a spotlight on the realities of human trafficking in America and its troubling intersections within the American workforce and the power of Code Enforcement officials to make a difference. Ruck believes that Code Enforcement Professionals are a “secret weapon,” in the fight against Human Trafficking.

Attendees will learn to identify the subtle indicators of both labor and sex trafficking, understand how traffickers exploit industry across the board, and gain actionable steps to prevent, detect, and report suspected cases. Drawing on DHS’s latest research, survivor insights, and real-world case studies, this session offers more than awareness—it delivers a call to action.

Because when we recognize the signs, we can change lives.

Afternoon Session

Presentation Title: “Officer Safety & Mindset”
Presenter: Chip Sikes, Retired Law Enforcement Officer and United States Marine Corps Veteran

In today’s ever-changing world, the reality of overwhelming emotions, frustration and the appearance of there being no relief in sight, cause many “logical thinking people” to make illogical decisions. Many times, those illogical decisions are coupled with mental illness, prescription drug mis-use or abuse, street-drug use and/or alcohol abuse. These factors become the perfect storm for extreme violence.

This course provides training for the ever-changing demands of situational awareness, recognition of pre-violent indicators, escape-route planning and if need be - Reasonable & Prudent self-defense that is justifiable, to include the mental preparation required to - “KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO COME HOME TO FAMILY”. This course is based on the theory of: 

“Keeping Promises.  Knowing when a Good Run, is better than a Bad Stand.”

DHS Blue Campaign 

T. Ruck Biography

April 18, 2024

Biography

300-Characters or Less

Mr. Thomas Ruck currently serves as a Senior Engagement Manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign in Washington, D.C. He leads engagement with the private sector (industry) to raise awareness of human trafficking and emphasize each industry’s unique position to recognize and report potential cases across the country.

Complete Biography

Mr. Thomas Ruck currently serves as a Senior Engagement Manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign in Washington, D.C. He leads engagement with the private sector (industry) to raise awareness of human trafficking and emphasize each industry’s unique position to recognize and report potential cases across the country.

Mr. Ruck began his federal career at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) where he served as the Director of Fayetteville National Cemetery before being appointed to Director of the Los Angeles National Cemetery where he served for six years. Mr. Ruck was honored to bring to fruition the first National Cemetery Administration’s Urban Initiative Columbarium Project at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in 2019. During his tenure at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Mr. Ruck created and jointly produced, with ABC-7 in Los Angeles, two Memorial Day television programs honoring the veterans of Southern California.

Mr. Ruck is the author of Sacred Ground; A Tribute to America’s Veterans, which reached number five on Amazon’s best sellers list and garnered five nationwide book awards. Royalties from book sales are donated directly to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund for children of veterans.

Prior to joining the VA, Mr. Ruck spent over 20 years in national accounts sales, marketing, and national account management within the clinical laboratory field. In these roles, he created and provided solutions to meet the needs of his clients while cultivating strategic partnerships. 

Mr. Ruck holds a Bachelor degree  from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He serves as a Visiting Fellow to the Freedom Alliance Foundation, is a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and is a member of the Springfield American Legion, Post 283, Sons of the American Legion. In his free time, Mr. Ruck travels around the nation to advocate for veterans’ causes on television and radio programs.

Chip Sikes is a Retired Law Enforcement Officer and United States Marine Corps Veteran with 33 years of Collective Governmental Service. During his professional tenure as a Law Enforcement Officer, he has been assigned to Patrol, with a specialty detail of being a Field Training Officer. As the Lead for that position, he Trained new recruits fresh out of the Academy.  The main objective to this position is to shape and develop new graduates into productive solo Officers.  When promoted to the Traffic Division as a Motorcycle Officer, Chip was again selected for a specialty as a Vehicular Homicide Detective. 

During his career his accomplishments span a wide range of specialties.  These assignments are diverse in nature and cover quite a bit of ground. Chip’s assignments were: Special Agent with the Alcohol Control Board, a member of the Executions Team, a Plain Clothes / Narcotics Detective investigating Outlaw Bikers & Motorcycle Gangs, a SAU/SWAT Team Member, with the last decade and a half of his Career, as a Professional Hostage Negotiator, trained by the FBI. 

While assigned to the SAU / SWAT Team, Chip took great interest in developing an expertise and extensive background in Crisis Intervention & Positive Resolution.  His forte’ is in the area of building rapport with citizen(s) experiencing extreme crisis and others who have been diagnosed with cognitive challenges.  His training and experience, to include efforts in training others in these specialized areas have saved countless lives and successfully de-escalated numerous volatile incidents, resulting in positive resolutions.

Chip has taken these Professional experiences and developed Courses to educate the Public.  His specialty is promoting and supporting collaborative efforts of Law Enforcement & Mental Health Care providers, during interaction with individuals with Cognitive Disorders, Mental Illness(es), Special Needs and PTS-D.     Chip’s courses offer education in numerous areas, ie:    Violence Recognition Cues, De-escalation Tactics and Resource Information, while striving to reduce the mis-information, stigma and panic that encompass these topics.

Post-Retirement, Chip has once again been called upon for his expertise.  This time, Castle Rock Entertainment of Hollywood, California made the call.  Castle Rock relies upon a Team of 5 members for unparalleled success in ensuring accuracy in: Action Movies, Safety with Firearms, Individual & Team Executions, Explosives and Hand-to-Hand Combat Tactics.  Chip is relied upon for Technical and Research Consultation for realistic replication in their Motion Pictures.

Locally in Arizona, he keeps his time occupied with several businesses he owns. The vast majority of his time is spent at Phoenix Harley Rentals.  Chip owns an entire fleet of Harley Davidson Rental Motorcycles, conducting Tours throughout the continental United States.  His Firearms Training Company shares his passion for Responsible Firearms Training and Ownership.  His Team offers training in Situational Awareness, Personal Protection and Family Safety.  Chip’s courses not only include the knowledge and skills of self-defense, but also shares educational perspectives on the Legal aspects of Lawful and Justifiable uses of Physical Force and Deadly Physical Force, to include offering Private and Group CCW Courses.

Continental breakfast (serve time is 8:30am) and Lunch buffet (serve time is 12:00pm) will be provided

50-50 Raffle Tickets are available $1.00 a piece or 6 for $5.00

.5 CEU's will be provided

This workshop will also include insightful and didactic discussions, use of media and hands-on activities.

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