Executives Talk: Leading Out on Officer Safety and Managing Expectations

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Susan Burke serves as the executive director of Carey Group, a justice consulting firm that focuses on advancing research-informed practices and tools to enhance system outcomes and community well-being. With over 30 years of experience in the justice field, she specializes in justice system reform and possesses extensive expertise in strategic planning, team building, and implementing action plans. Throughout her career, Susan has played a key role in community mobilization and leading public policy changes. As a probation executive, she established annual certification standards for probation officers using evidence-based practices and supervised system innovation projects. In her role as director of a statewide youth correctional system, she managed a wide range of services, effectively expanding home and community-based services for youth in the justice system and enhancing their outcomes. Susan holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Utah and is a graduate of the 2009 inaugural class of the APPA Leadership Institute. She was elected president of the American Probation and Parole Association in 2015 and president of the National Association of Probation Executives in 2022.

Brian K. Ford is the Chief Probation Officer for Alameda County, overseeing one of California's largest and most progressive probation departments. With over 22 years of experience in criminal justice, Mr. Ford is recognized for his commitment to evidence-based practices, leadership development, and achieving equitable outcomes for justice-involved individuals and families. Mr. Ford began his career with Los Angeles County Probation, where he dedicated 16 years to various leadership roles before transitioning to Alameda County. His expertise extends beyond county borders; as a consultant and trainer for the Carey Group, he has guided justice agencies across the United States in implementing evidence-based practices, risk reduction strategies, and quality assurance protocols. Mr. Ford maintains active involvement in professional associations, including the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), America Probation and Parole Association (APPA), National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) Board of Directors, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), while regularly engaging with local, state, and federal stakeholders to advance the fields of probation and community corrections.

Marcus Hodges is the Associate Director for the Court Services Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) in Washington, DC. As a Community Corrections professional, he works tirelessly to improve the lives of those under our supervision and care. He started his career in the Virginia Department of Corrections, including positions as a Rehabilitation Counselor at a maximum-security prison, as an Intensive Probation and Parole Officer, and as a Regional Manager. For the last three decades, he has had the privilege of working the front lines alongside these professionals and has witnessed the direct, positive impact evidence-based efforts have on justice-involved citizens. The work he does in support of those he supervises also impacts their friends, families, and entire communities. As an evidence-based practitioner, he has worked passionately in countless positions and jurisdictions to promote prosocial change and reduce recidivism among those supervised, resulting in safer communities and fewer victims. As a results-driven leader, he has motivated entire agencies to adopt what works and use data-informed decision-making while steering cutting-edge initiatives that inform and improve our field. He is a past president of the National Association of Probation Executives and is currently President of the American Probation and Parole Association.

Tamika Nelson was appointed Chief Probation Officer for the County of San Diego in January 2022. She made history by becoming the first female Chief Probation Officer for the County of San Diego in its 117-year history. She leads more than one thousand San Diegans, serving their neighbors by providing the highest quality of services to clients while balancing support and accountability. She is passionate about family and education and brings those values to support the department and community in transitioning clients successfully into the community. In her role, she focuses on pushing probation towards the future by using data to drive decisions in implementing evidenced-based approaches in serving clients and the community. Throughout her career, she has been strategic, collaborative, dynamic, and driven while never losing sight of a mission and purpose in serving the community. Her career in Probation has allowed her to gain knowledge and expertise across many facets of matters impacting public safety. She taught Probation principles and justice concepts in public safety academies and institutes for several years. She is a Senate appointee to the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board and currently serves as Secretary for the National Association of Probation Executives.

Cobi Tittle is the Director of the Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from Texas Christian University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. Cobi holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Tarleton State University. She currently serves as the president for NAPE, is a board member for the Texas Probation Association, and is the Texas Representative for APPA. She also serves as a mentor for APPA’s Leadership Institute. Cobi has served on numerous committees at the state-level including the Texas Department of Criminal Justice- Community Justice Assistance Division’s Grant Committee, Fiscal Issues Committee, and a state-wide legislative committee created by the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She recently served on the Peer Network Support Committee, creating the first network support team for Texas probation officers following a work-related critical incident.