Thirty-nine years ago, blessed with the insensitivity to economic risk that younger people have, I started LRIS. The notion was a simple one. Public safety employees and employers needed accessible, affordable, and neutrally-presented information about the workplace rights of law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and other public safety employees.

The last 39 years have been quite a ride. LRIS has hosted hundreds of seminars, attended by tens of thousands of public safety professionals. My rough calculations are that I’ve written over 6,000 newsletter articles, recorded hundreds of podcasts, and written or edited more than a dozen books, all focused on workplace issues. I’ve met and become friends with more individuals than I imagined possible, and truly treasure those relationships.

But all things eventually must change. I am stepping down as Executive Director of LRIS. I’m thrilled that the Philadelphia labor law firm of Willig, Williams and Davidson will be taking over LRIS in conjunction with Anil Karia, my partner in my law practice. Many of you know WWD partner Rick Poulson, who has spoken at LRIS seminars for years, and who will take over as the director of LRIS. Our wonderful staff – Marc Fuller, Claire Cowan, and Victoria Leyva – will all remain with LRIS in Portland. WWD is a great believer in the mission of LRIS and intends to build on the foundation we have laid.

The transition will be a gradual one. I’ll be speaking at LRIS’s Public Safety Union Leadership conference on January 25-27 in Las Vegas, and at several other LRIS seminars over the course of 2023 and 2024. For those of you crazy enough to like listening to a lawyer talk about caselaw, I’ll continue recording our First Thursday podcast for the foreseeable future. There will be a similar gradual transition in my law practice at Public Safety Labor Group, where I’ll slide into the role of giving unsolicited advice to the firm’s lawyers.

To all of you, I offer a heartfelt thanks for your interest in LRIS. I count myself as truly fortunate that you’ve made the vision of LRIS come alive and thrive.