Networking - 8:00-8:30
Program: 8:30-10:00
Summary:
Acting UWO Chief of Police, Chris Tarmann, and UWO and geology professor and mass shooting survivor, Dr. Joseph Peterson team up to provide active threat preparedness. During the training, Peterson will highlight his personal experience. Together, the team will share their knowledge to educate you on how to identify potential threats, share information, and respond to an active shooter scenario.
About our Speakers:
Dr. Joseph Peterson is a Professor of Geology and Paleontology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Originally from outside of Rockford, IL, he received his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and his Masters and Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. While teaching a geology course at NIU in February of 2008, a gunman entered the classroom and began firing at a crowd of nearly 180 students. He survived the attack with minor injuries.
After completing his PhD in 2010, he accepted a position in the Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. When he isn’t teaching courses on geology and paleontology, he partners with UW Oshkosh Police Department Chief Christopher Tarmann to present training workshops to promote open campus communication and best practices for active threat assessment and attack preparedness.
Chris Tarmann serves as the Chief of Police at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Police Department. He has been in law enforcement since 2006 and has held leadership roles within the department since 2011. Tarmann has also served with the Village of Winneconne Police Department, Montello Police Department, and the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Tarmann has more than 15 years of experience developing innovative safety and wellness initiatives. His work includes creating WILE Guardians, a statewide wellness app for law enforcement; launching We Heart You, a nationally recognized program connecting community members to critical resources; and co-hosting UWOPD on the Mic, a podcast designed to strengthen police and community relationships.
He has been a leading contributor to the Wisconsin Active Threat Integrated Response Conference (ATIRC) since its creation in 2017 and currently serves as Chair. In 2024, he was named President of the newly formed Wisconsin Active Threat Training Association, where he leads a team of professionals dedicated to enhancing preparedness and saving lives. Chief Tarmann has been teaching Active Threat Response since 2010 and is a strong advocate for advancing the way communities prepare for and respond to critical incidents.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a passion for creating impactful, life-saving programs that build resilience and safety in both law enforcement and the communities he serves.
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