Please note:

The webinar will be one hour, followed by an optional 30-minute post-webinar discussion with the speakers. 

The webinar will address issues relevant to both police and correctional oversight.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. EDT, NACOLE will welcome Michael Gennaco and Julie Ruhlin, of the OIR Group, and Bruce Stoffmacher, of the County of Santa Clara Privacy Office, to discuss meaningful ways for oversight to incorporate AI technology to assist practitioners and the challenges that could come along with the use of AI.

As a result of the increasing deployment of body worn cameras, jail cameras, surveillance cameras and automated collection of other police data, the digital material that records and documents law enforcement activity has grown exponentially. While that information has been extremely helpful to those in the field of police accountability, it has also presented a daunting task of how to digest and effectively review thousands of hours of video/audio data. The session will identify artificial intelligence programs that can provide assistance in mining that data by identifying noteworthy episodes without the need to sit through thousands of hours of video/audio footage. The session will also discuss the challenges that implementation of the technology presents and introduce strategies to address them. Finally, the session will also discuss the use of artificial intelligence that is being developed for law enforcement including automated license plate readers, facial recognition, and drones.

Michael J. Gennaco, Principal, OIR Group

As a principal of OIR Group, Mr. Gennaco provides services in the field of independent oversight; serves as a monitor for negotiated agreements involving police reform, assists federal courts in developing remedial plans intended to cure defects in Constitutional policing; conducts independent reviews of critical incidents including officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths; conducts audits of law enforcement departments focusing on review of internal investigative processes and policies; and undertakes independent internal investigations of allegations of police misconduct. Mr. Gennaco headed up civilian oversight of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for thirteen years and continues to provide ongoing oversight for the Anaheim, Palo Alto, Burbank, Davis, Santa Rosa, Modesto, Eureka, Las Cruces (NM) and Santa Cruz Police Departments, the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Offices, and the Portland Oregon Police Bureau. Mr. Gennaco played a central role in creating independent oversight models for both the largest sheriff’s department and prison system in the United States. Mr. Gennaco has also provided independent review of critical incidents, adverse civil verdicts and/or best practices audits and designed remedial recommendations for the cities of Madison, Westminster, Pasadena, Portland, Torrance, Spokane, Santa Monica, Santa Maria, Inglewood, Glendale, Oxnard, Alhambra, Davis, Lompoc, Oakland, and Vallejo Police Departments, and the Orange County, San Diego County, King County, San Francisco, Ventura, Merced, and Denver Sheriff Departments as well as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Recently, Mr. Gennaco was selected to provide independent reviews of two mentally ill persons that were killed by police from the Springfield and Tigard Oregon Police Departments. Prior to his work in police oversight, Mr. Gennaco served as an Assistant United States Attorney, Chief of the Civil Rights Section, and was responsible for prosecuting police officers for excessive force and other Constitutional violations.

Julie Ruhlin, Principal, OIR Group

Julie Ruhlin is a Principal of OIR Group, providing advice and an independent perspective to communities and law enforcement agencies on critical incident analysis, policy reform, and training initiatives. She has worked with agencies and municipalities throughout California, as well as Portland, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; and Denver, Colorado. She currently serves as the Project Manager for the Santa Clara County Office of Corrections and Law Enforcement Monitoring and leads the Office of Inspector General for Santa Cruz County (California). From 2011 to 2014, Ms. Ruhlin was Deputy Chief for the Office of Independent Review in Los Angeles County.

Ms. Ruhlin joined OIR in 2006 after working with Merrick Bobb at the Police Assessment Resource Center in Los Angeles, where she was responsible for investigating and drafting special reports to the County Board of Supervisors regarding policy and training deficiencies within the Sheriff’s Department. Prior to working with PARC, her private law practice focused on civil rights and criminal defense. She graduated from American University and the University of Southern California School of Law.

Bruce Stoffmacher, Senior Privacy Analyst, Privacy Office of the County of Santa Clara

Bruce Stoffmacher serves as a Senior Privacy Analyst in the Privacy Office of the County of Santa Clara where he works at the intersection of public policy and technology. He has played a lead role in working with over 20 agencies - including the Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the Probation Department, and the Public Defender's Office - to develop surveillance use policies to balance law enforcement operations and public oversight. Bruce is leading a new initiative to audit the use of various technologies used across Santa Clara County, looking at data and security best practices. He also helps County agencies assess AI and Generative AI technology solutions.

Previously, Bruce worked for the Oakland Police Department (OPD), where he served as liaison to the City’s Privacy Advisory Commission as well as the City Council, and played a key role in developing surveillance technology policies, contracts, and inter-agency agreements. Prior to his time at the OPD, Bruce served as a policy analyst for an Oakland Councilmember. He began his career as a teacher in South Central Los Angeles before pivoting to public policy after graduate school.

To register for the webinar, click the "register" button below.
($25 for NACOLE members; $35 for non-members)

Registration Deadline: June 11, 2025, 2:30 p.m. EDT