Fomby, Spencer
Policing Political Protests

This seminar will cover issues related to policing violent political protests between Right- and Left-wing extremists. The presenter will share lessons learned from years of protest experience in the California Bay Area, including 12 protest events in 2017 and events in 2018.

Spencer Fomby - Bio
Retired Captain Spencer Fomby is the section chair for the National Tactical Officers Association Public Order Section and coordinated the creation of the NTOA Public Order Response and Operation Standards, the NTOA Public Order Basic Command Certification Course, and the NTOA Public Order Grenadier Workshop. He is the former director of the Boise Idaho Police Department Training, Education, and Development Division. He was previously employed by the Berkeley Police Department in California for 20 years. He was assigned to SWAT for 18 years as an entry team member, team leader, and tactical commander. Spencer was also the lead Berkeley Police Department public order instructor. He was responsible for equipment selection, tactical training, less-lethal weapon selection, chemical agent selection and deployment, and mission planning. In retirement Spencer works as a use of force expert witness and consultant.