Speaker Series - First Amendment Auditors (Full Day)

Effective Interactions with First Amendment Auditors: A Workshop and Panel Discussion for Maryland Public Safety Professionals

Facilitated by SEAN QUINN, Former FBI Special Agent

The landscape of public safety and government operations has evolved to include frequent interactions with individuals conducting "First Amendment audits." These audits, often involving the filming of public officials in public spaces, present unique challenges that necessitate a proactive and informed response from public safety agencies. This comprehensive and interactive conference is designed to equip Maryland public safety professionals and municipal employees with the essential legal knowledge, practical strategies, and de-escalation techniques required to manage these encounters effectively and lawfully. The conference aims to enhance understanding of constitutional rights, clarify Maryland-specific legal nuances, and provide actionable methods to minimize conflict, enhance transparency, and reduce both legal and reputational risks. By fostering a culture of professional and constitutionally compliant public service, this program seeks to ensure operational continuity while upholding civil liberties and building public trust.

By the end of this conference, the participant will be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to handle these encounters professionally and legally, protecting both the public's rights and the safety of employees.

Conference Objectives:
- Understand the Legal Framework: Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the First Amendment rights related to recording in public spaces, including the scope and limitations of these rights as they apply to public employees and buildings.
- Develop De-escalation Techniques: Participants will learn practical, evidence-based communication and de-escalation tactics to prevent encounters with auditors from escalating into confrontations.
- Establish Departmental Policies: The conference will provide guidance on creating and implementing clear, consistent policies and procedures for interacting with First Amendment auditors.
- Protect Against Liability: Attendees will learn how to reduce the risk of civil litigation and departmental liability by ensuring their actions are legally defensible and consistent with established case law.

Agenda & Overview:
7:30am: Registration & Coffee;
8:30am: Morning Session - Foundational Knowledge and Legal Deep Dive;
10:45am: Maryland’s Specific Legal Landscape: Navigating State Statutes;
12:00pm: Lunch (not provided);
1:00pm: Mid-Day Session - Practical Scenarios and De-Escalation Training;
3:15pm: Policy Development and Agency Preparedness;
4:00pm: Panel Discussion;
5:00-5:15pm: Closing Remarks.

The morning session will focus on Understanding First Amendment audits and the motivations and practices (including financial incentives) presented, as well as a review of critical Maryland-specific legal considerations. The mid-day session will provide Best Practices for Professional Engagement and the Do’s and Don’ts, including the “boring video” approach, and De-escalation Techniques and Scenario-Based Training with interactive scenarios and how to be effective in challenging situations. The Policy Development and Agency Preparedness session will focus on the importance of proactive policy development and internal preparedness for managing First Amendment audits. The Panel will share their First Amendment Audit experiences and attendees will review video for a lively discussion on good and bad performance aspects.

Important Notices:
- The full day session is for Maryland public safety professionals, sworn personnel and administrators. Attendees should choose between one of the dates (January 12th or January 13th).
- The half day session is for non-sworn and front desk personnel. There will be two identical sessions (January 14th, morning and afternoon).
- In order to accommodate the 175+ law enforcement agencies and correctional administration, we would ask that no more than 2 per agency attend each session type.
- Attendees of the full day session should bring a copy of their agency's policy, procedures, and signage for the afternoon workshop.

Location: PSETC Sykesville
Dates of Class: 01/12/2026 - 01/12/2026
Approval Number: NotAppr
Approved Hours: NA
Price: 20.00