LOS ANGELES, CA – The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy’s Safe Communities Institute (SCI) will be sponsoring Game Changer event #144 when the Los Angeles Angels take on the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Anaheim, California. Partnering with the Los Angeles-based California POST-accredited and STC-accredited law enforcement/community relations program in 2023 marks the continuation of a promising relationship that began in early 2019.   

Led by Director and former LA County Sheriff, Jim McDonnell, SCI’s focus is to advance public safety solutions through “a tradition of research, interdisciplinary education, and collaboration to further sustainable ‘whole-of-community’ public safety strategies, policies, and programs,” as outlined on their website.  Thanks to former SCI Director, Dr. Erroll Southers, the Institute has hosted multiple Game Changer events on USC’s campus dating back to 2019 and was influential in the law enforcement/community relations model moving its headquarters from San Diego to Los Angeles.  The two entities share multiple goals as it relates to law enforcement/community relations, and have resumed talks to utilize the data that Game Changer has captured over the past 6 years to impact public policy.

2022 Game Changer Training Event with the LA Angels

“We’re extremely happy to resume our partnership with SCI under the new leadership of Sheriff McDonnell and Managing Director, Jessie Redd. Their latest investment in Game Changer, and our mutual desire to combine resources to bring about measurable change, is a win for the community residents and members of law enforcement in Los Angeles County,” said Game Changer CEO and Founder, Sean Sheppard.  

The 3-hour focus group will consist of Los Angeles-based youth and young adults from Brotherhood Crusade and members of multiple law enforcement agencies in LA County. All participating members of law enforcement will earn 4 continuing education units in “Community Engagement/Building Trust” from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Since December 2016, Game Changer has conducted 142 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada.  A total of 2,538 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

For more information on Game Changer please visit: GameChanger1.org

Game Changer conducted training event #138 with the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, February 13, 2023. The nation’s premiere law enforcement/community relations model continued to provide California-State sanctioned training to members of law enforcement with the NHL team as part of their Black History Month programming.

The focus group portion of the event began 3 hours before the puck dropped between the Los Angeles Kings and the Buffalo Sabres and was moderated by Game Changer Founder, Sean Sheppard. Training event #138 featured youth from the Brotherhood Crusade and police officers from the Los Angeles Airport Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. Game Changer participants Jesse Lizarraga from Brotherhood Crusade, and Dr. Luann Pannell, Director of Police Training and Education for the Los Angeles Police Department, were selected to participate in the pre-game honorary puck drop. The training was sponsored by Brotherhood Crusade and the Kings Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Los Angeles Kings.

The training event allowed participating officers to earn 4 hours of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) continuing education units in Community Engagement/Building Trust. Game Changer training events also provide opportunities for members of the general public to receive training and insight into the concerns, objectives and priorities of members of law enforcement. Game Changer is the only entity in the state of California that utilizes sporting events and community residents to train members of law enforcement while collecting behavior change data.

The global law enforcement training model creates safe space for members of the general public, law enforcement, prosecutors, and elected officials to discuss problems and devise solutions together during moderated focus groups that take place 3 hours before the start of collegiate and professional sporting events. At the focus group conclusion, all participants attend the game together to continue communicating in a casual environment.

Since December 2016, Game Changer has conducted 138 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada. A total of 2,464 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The National Football League and the Los Angeles Rams will jointly host Game Changer training event #136 on Thursday, December 8, 2022 when the Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium. By partnering with the Los Angeles-based California POST-accredited and STC-accredited  law enforcement/community relations program, it marks the first time the Rams and the NFL league office will play a role in formally training members of California law enforcement.  

The focus group portion of the training will take place in NFL West building right next door to SoFi Stadium, home of the Super Bowl LVI Champions Los Angeles Rams, prior to the game.  Once community residents and members of law enforcement conclude their focus group, moderated by Game Changer Founder, Sean Sheppard, all participants will walk next door to SoFi Stadium to take in the game and continue their communication training in a casual environment.  

The 3-hour focus group will consist of local youth and adults from members of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), RISE with the Rams participants from Oaks Christian High School, Dale High School and Los Angeles High School, and LAPD police officers. All participating LAPD officers will earn 4 continuing education units in “Community Engagement/Building Trust” from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

2022 Game Changer training event with the LA Angels

“We have been communicating with the league office about collaborating since 2017, and with the Rams since 2019. Now that the pandemic has subsided, we’re happy that collective calendars have aligned to allow the NFL and the Rams to be hubs for civic engagement and law enforcement training,” said Game Changer Founder, Sean Sheppard.  

Since December 2016, Game Changer has conducted 135 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada.  A total of 2,352 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

RICHMOND, Va. — VCU police are working to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community through a collaborative, interactive event that they are bringing back for the first time since 2020.

The program, called Game Changer, is a national program focused on facilitating the dialogue between police and community members with different experiences, according to John Venuti, VCU’s Chief of Police.

The program is known to help police see community perspectives and then works to find out what solutions can help strengthen relationships.

“What happens inside is magical. It does allow everyone to share their experiences. If you take the time to open your backpack and unpack your backup and don’t judge or jump to conclusions, the world will be a better place,” Venuti said.

The university received the funding for the program through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. To date, there have been 10 events held at VCU.

Venuti said his department is constantly working to participate in events that strengthen the community and his department.

“There is nothing more important than that,” Venuti said.

This article appeared on WTVR 6 News.

Game Changer will resume providing California-State sanctioned law enforcement training with the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, October 27, 2022, for the first time since February, 2020. 

The focus group portion of the event will begin 3 hours before the puck drops between the Los Angeles Kings and the Winnipeg Jets and will be moderated by Game Changer Founder, Sean Sheppard.  Training event #134 will feature participants from the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and investigators and prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The training will be sponsored by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Kings Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Los Angeles Kings.  

The training event will allow participating investigators to earn 4 hours of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) continuing education units in Community Engagement/Building Trust. Game Changer training events also provide opportunities for members of the general public to receive training and insight into the concerns, objectives and priorities of members of law enforcement. Game Changer is the only entity in the state of California that utilizes sporting events and community residents to train members of law enforcement while collecting behavior change data.

The global law enforcement training model creates safe space for members of the general public, law enforcement, prosecutors, and elected officials to discuss problems and devise solutions together during moderated focus groups that take place 3 hours before the start of collegiate and professional sporting events. At the focus group conclusion, all participants attend the game together to continue communicating in a casual environment.

Since December 2016, Game Changer has conducted 133 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada. A total of 2,290 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

Game Changer recently conducted training events in San Diego County and Los Angeles County thanks to funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance National Training and Technical Assistance Training Center (BJA NTTAC).  The funding resulted from technical assistance and training requests made by the Los Angeles County Probation Department and the La Mesa Police Department.

Both law enforcement agencies made the requests to BJA NTTAC that allowed for federal funds to cover the cost of their officers to receive training through the Game Changer model.  The training events took place on August 18, 2022, and August 22, 2022 in San Diego County and Los Angeles County respectively.

Sean Sheppard moderates Game Changer training event featuring DA prosecutors and investigators in early September, 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels

Juvenile probationers, La Mesa, California community residents, and members of the La Mesa Police Department, completed the focus group portion of training at the Omni Hotel adjacent to Petco Park before taking in the San Diego Padres game together to continue communicating outside of a formal environment. Juvenile incarcerees, juveniles from Brotherhood Crusade, Los Angeles County Probation Officers, Los Angeles County District Attorney investigators, and Los Angeles County DA prosecutors, completed the focus group portion of the training at the Los Angeles Police Department Academy Elysian Park before taking in the Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium directly across the street from the academy.

With Game Changer being a California POST-accredited and STC-accredited organization, all participating members of law enforcement received California continuing education training units during the BJA NTTAC-funded events.

Since December, 2016, Game Changer has conducted 133 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada.  A total of 2,352 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

Game Changer continues to provide opportunities for professional sports teams to serve as a hub for community engagement while training members of law enforcement.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the Los Angeles Angels will host Game Changer event #133, their first, in Anaheim, California at Angel Stadium. Los Angeles District Attorney Bureau Investigators and Deputy District Attorneys will participate in a moderated focus group with youth and adults from Brotherhood Crusade. The group of participants will discuss problems within the criminal justice system and devise solutions together, three hours before the Angels take on the on the Detroit Tigers (6:38 PM PT). At the conclusion of the focus group, all participants will attend the game together to spend quality, casual time communicating while taking in the game. 

The training event is sponsored by Brotherhood Crusade and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The training event will allow DA Investigators to earn four hours of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) continuing education units in Community Engagement/Building Trust. The training event also provides an opportunity for members of the general public to receive training and insight into the concerns, objectives and priorities of law enforcement and criminal justice professionals. 

Since December 2016, Game Changer has conducted 133 in-person and virtual training events in 10 different states and Canada. A total of 2,302 community residents and members of law enforcement have participated in the training events, including 57 unique law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 7, 2022) – The Los Angeles Lakers retained the services of Game Changer Founder, Sean Sheppard, to conduct multiple 1 on 1 interview with Laker legends that have included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Robert Horry, and Carmelo Anthony. The interviews have or will air exclusively on DWS+, the streaming platform of DWS, the official global investment sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar focused on his incomparable life as a social justice champion, the Black experience in America, and law enforcement/community relations, among other topics. The interview took place at the UCLA Health Training Facility in El Segundo, California, training center for the Los Angeles Lakers, and home of the South Bay Lakers G-League team.  30 second clips of the interview were shown at Lakers home games throughout the month of February, 2022.

The Robert Horry interview took place at the home of the 7-time NBA champion on March 2, 2022, and focused on the upbringing and career of the one and only “Big Shot Bob.” The interview can be viewed in its entirety on the official YouTube Channel of the Los Angeles Lakers (see below).

The Magic Johnson interview occurred on March 21, 2022, at the UCLA Health Training Facility in El Segundo, California, training center for the Los Angeles Lakers, and focused on his incredible journey to becoming a billionaire business man.

The Carmelo Anthony interview took place on April 2, 2022, at the Band of Vices Art Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, and focused on the future Hall of Famer’s love of art and his passion for supporting and spotlighting artists of color. The interview also touched on his new book, Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised, and being the first recipient of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award.