When the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) held a STOP Domestic Violence course in Somerville, Tennessee, the entire community became involved.
LEIC provided the domestic violence and sexual assault training throughout the state with funding provided by the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP). OCJP compared arrest data and conviction rates on domestic violence and was discouraged by the disparity in some geographic areas in Tennessee. Providing this specialized training to first responders and criminal investigators was the first step in striving to close that gap, and the OCJP reached out to LEIC.
After providing training in six districts across the state to 185 participants from more than 60 agencies, LEIC received additional funding to continue the courses. One of the additional classes in Somerville attracted more than 50 law enforcement professionals from West Tennessee. Fayette Baptist Church hosted the training in Somerville and kept hot coffee coming for participants throughout the multi-day course, while other area churches provided participants with lunch each day.
IPS Reports $1.2 Billion Economic Impact for FY16
The UT Institute for Public Service provided assistance in fiscal year 2016 that led to more than $1.2 billion in economic impact for Tennessee. IPS is the UT System’s outreach arm to government, business and communities.
Through its five agencies which provide training and technical consulting to state and local governments, businesses and law enforcement, IPS answered almost 30,000 requests for assistance in the last fiscal year. IPS agencies also trained more than 15,300 of its customers in everything from crime scene investigation to county and municipal government operations.
“Our employees are dedicated to the IPS mission of outreach in the public service sector, and that’s evident by the economic impact and training participant numbers we saw last year,” says IPS Vice President Herb Byrd. “Thanks to the work of our Center for Industrial Services, many businesses across the state secured multi-million-dollar government contracts, which led to positive economic impacts for many counties across the state.”
Naifeh Center Director Named
Ely was a training specialist with the Naifeh Center from 2007 to 2013. He succeeded former Naifeh Center Director Gary Peevely, who retired in the spring of 2016.
“With his background at the Naifeh Center, his experience as a training manager and his partnerships across the state, Macel will capably lead the Naifeh Center into the future,” says IPS Vice President Herb Byrd. “We’re pleased to have someone with his experience and many talents taking the helm of the center.”
Ely received a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Kentucky Wesleyan University. He received a master’s degree in public administration and a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies from UT Knoxville.
The Naifeh Center, an agency of IPS, provides training and professional development for leaders at all levels, from the emerging supervisor to the experienced executive.
