Candy Priano

Topics:
1) Police Pursuit Crashes and the innocent bystanders
2) Educating Teens to Pull Over
3) Faith: Before and After Tragedy
Candy's Biographical Information (pdf)

Candy Priano's 10-year advocacy for safer vehicular police pursuits has always had one goal: to prevent the tragedy of pursuit from happening to another innocent bystander or police officer.

Her daughter Kristie, 15, an innocent bystander, was killed in 2002 as the result of a vehicular police pursuit. The Prianos were traveling to Kristie's high school basketball. At the same time, a mother called the police complaining that her daughter was driving the family car without permission. The chase began and ended in a residential neighborhood.

Candy has presented "The Other Side of the Windshield" at law enforcement and government safety officer conferences. During all of her presentations, she says: "I am thankful that I chose this path because I have met such caring and professional men and women in law enforcement. They have helped me rebuild the trust in law enforcement that was lost."

A new presentation: "Faith: Before and After Tragedy" focuses on how Kristie lived her life. Just 15 years old, Kristie led a full and very giving life. She reached out to others in need, served many volunteer roles, and spread her joy throughout her home and community. Candy reads several entries from Kristie's journals and shares both her own and Kristie's walk with the Lord.

Candy talks with teenagers about not fleeing from the police. This presentation is entitled, "Pull Over; Have No Regrets." Click to see PursuitSAFETY "Prevention" Flyer handouts.

Ret. Capt. Thomas Gleason

Ret. Captain Thomas "Tom" Gleason's passion for law enforcement training led him to the position of coordinator of the Law Enforcement Academy for the Florida Public Safety Institute from 2006 to 2009. He now instructs for Florida Public Safety Institute, North Florida Community College, and Alert International. He teaches in the areas of human diversity, patrol procedures, first aid, firearms, police pursuit policies, diversity in education, introduction to education, and handling the mentally ill. He served 30 years in city, county, and state law enforcement. Tom is a member of the Valor Law Enforcement Group.

In 2009, Tom accepted a position as captain in charge of training and acquisitions with the Florida Department of Financial Services. He became responsible for developing and overseeing training for the 150 detectives working throughout the state of Florida who investigate insurance fraud. During his tenure, he oversaw the transition from Sig. Sauer 9 MM to Glock .40 caliber.

Tom holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He has published two articles dealing with police training and domestic violence. In 2000, he was chosen as part of a team to teach the course “Dynamics of Domestic Violence” to Moldavian police officers and volunteers. Ret. Captain Gleason began serving on PursuitSAFETY's advisory board April 2012.

Tom's son Brian was killed in the line of duty as a Military Police Officer when the patrol car he was a passenger in ran off the road and hit a curve. Tom states: "When my son was killed, I made a commitment to do what I could to see if I could keep any other parent from hearing the same horrible news." Tom speaks to officers about Brian's death.

Jonathan "Jon" Farris

Topics:
1) Police Pursuit (Chase) Policies,
2) Legislation Governing Police Pursuits
3) National Police Pursuit Statistical Analysis
4) Mentors Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Jonathan Farris is a man of service and helps others by serving as PursuitSAFETY's board chairman.

This pursuit occurred during the 2007 Memorial Day weekend. Paul, a 2006 graduate of Tufts University was killed after a sport utility vehicle being chased by State Police crashed into the taxi cab in which he and his girlfriend Katelyn Hoyt were passengers. Also killed was the cab driver, Walid Chahine, 45. Katelyn's injuries have improved. She will never fully recover from her injuries.

Jon shares this story of two innocent victims dead and a wonderful young woman injured for life. Why? As any parent would do, Jon questions the necessity of a pursuit for a minor traffic violation that traveled down a crowded 25 mph posted street at over 75 mph.

Jon has amazing insight about this public safety issue: "Pursuits, like the one that killed Paul and Walid and so seriously and permanently injured Kate, happen every single day - and someone else's son, daughter, mother, father, family of friend dies every single day.

"Police pursuits, for the most part, are merely a passing newspaper story or television headline, forgotten by readers and viewers a few minutes later. But for the hundreds of relatives and thousands of friends of these innocent victims, the pain is real and never goes away. Never.”

David and Brenda Ehrensperger

Topic: Police Response Call Crashes

David and Brenda Ehrensperger also volunteer for PursuitSAFETY, serving on the organization's Board of Directors.

They became involved with this national nonprofit public safety organization after the death of their son, Steven.

Steven was killed November 28, 2007, when a police officer with less than one year's experience received a call that there was a “possible prowler” at someone’s house. He struck Steven’s car at a high rate of speed. Steven died instantly.

Brenda has been a member of the organization since early 2008 and was one of those who requested that PursuitSAFETY’s mission be expanded to include tragic first-responder calls that, on average, kill at least 124 innocent bystanders and 51 occupants in the first-responder vehicle every year. Many other innocent bystanders are injured, some times receiving permanent, life-altering injuries.
She has written articles for PursuitSAFETY’s website including The Steven Ehrensperger Story and If Only…. These articles are included in this information kit.

Brenda has worked for a nonprofit research and development organization since 1981. She serves on the Senior Leadership Team and directs all activities related to grant and contract administration for over $80 million in research funding per year. She is recognized for her knowledge of both federal contracting and grant regulations and commercial business practices.

Prior to her current position, she worked as an accountant after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Brenda has certifications in professional contract administration from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and the Society of Research Administrators. She is a member of the National Contract Management Association and Society of Research Administrators.

Brenda, like PursuitSAFETY, has a passion for protecting the most important people in our lives—the people we love. She plans to fulfill one of her goals by working with PursuitSAFETY to impact the thought processes of our law enforcement officials, especially young officers.

“Public safety should be the goal at all times,” Brenda says. “I believe we can prevent other families from going through the unrelenting pain and grief that my family has suffered needlessly. Most people are unaware that so many innocent people are injured or killed as a result of responder calls and police chases. Most people don’t think much about it— until it happens to someone they love.”