Meet our speakers

Sean started his law enforcement career as San Diego County Deputy Sheriff in 1987 and then relocated to Washington in 1990 and spent over 16 years with the Kirkland Police Department. Sean’s many accomplishments include being a member of the International Homicide Investigator’s Association, Homicide and Sexual Assault Detective, D.A.R.E. Officer, Gang Officer and certified trainer. He is also credited with solving one of the first ever elder abuse homicide cases in the nation. 

Recognized as an exciting national keynote speaker and trainer in high demand, Sean travels throughout the United States to share his inspirational story, cutting edge training in a non-traditional, interactive format. Riley hits those controversial topics “head on” that have traditionally been taboo in the first responder population.

Safe Call Now® provides public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide with a simple and confidential way to ask for help. Staffed by first responders, former first responders and public safety professionals, Safe Call Now® is a safe and confidential place to turn to get help from individuals who understand the demands of a first responder career.

Safe Call Now® is a confidential, comprehensive 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide. Safe Call Now® was started in 2009 after landmark legislation guaranteed confidentiality nationwide for all who call the Safe Call Now® crisis line which is staffed by current and former first responders.

John Allovio serves as the Vice President of Operations for Armor Up America, the first responder mental health education program of Safe Call Now. As part of the Safe Call Now organization John speaks throughout the United States as an advocate for first responder mental health care. Specifically, John discusses the role of local first responder mental health resources and how those local programs connect to the Safe Call Now and Armor Up America national network. 

John has been working with Safe Call Now and its subsidiary organizations Armor Up America and Serve and Protect since January of 2017.

A native of Peoria, Illinois John graduated from Peoria High School before serving with the United States Army as a nuclear missile crewman. After completing his military duties John began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Jefferson County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office. John began his service to the citizens of Waco, Texas in 1996 with the Waco Police Department. John has worked as a patrol officer, K9 handler, narcotics investigator where John completed 92 undercover operations. Additionally, John assisted in the creation of the United States Marshal’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in central Texas, created a community wide homeless assistance program and served as the Waco Police Association president. John promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2012.As a sergeant John has worked in patrol and supervised the establishment of the Texas Anti-Gang Task Force. John retired from the Waco Police Department in May of 2021 with 25 years of service.

John has worked to enhance the mental health programs of police departments by creating a framework for first responders and their immediate families that allows for confidential acute care using a combination of employer and private resources resulting in a significant cost savings to those that need assistance. 

John is married to his wife Joy and they have twin boys, Chris and Charlie, who are fifteen. John holds an associate’s degree from Cameron University, a Texas Master Peace Officers License and an Advanced Undercover Narcotics Officer certification. John is recognized in numerous Texas District Courts as an expert in the manufacture and delivery of illegal narcotics and the organizations that conduct those illegal activities.

Dr. Johnson is founder of the Blue Wall Institute, an Air Force veteran, former police officer, and published author. She belongs to numerous professional organizations and Boards. Dr. Johnson is a subject expert in police suicide and prevention and recently received the Law Enforcement Psychological Autopsy Certification from the American Association of Suicidology. She holds a master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Johnson formerly served as an Advisory Board member for VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program regarding curriculum review for de-escalation training and techniques. She previously worked as a Senior Research Associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a Lead Instructor for the VALOR Officer Safety Program and was the Program Advisor and Lead Instructor for the Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers (SAFLEO) Program.

Billy Mitchell served the Fort Worth Police Department for 30 years and operated as the Peer Support Coordinator for this department from 2009 until 2021 when he retired. He is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) through the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC) and is a consultant for several police agencies, including the Fort Worth Police Department. He is an instructor in Critical Incident Stress Management through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Billy is also the coordinator for the DFW First Responders CISM Network which serves as a resource of cooperation and mutual aid for CISM teams in the DFW area.

Speaker and advocate on First Responder mental health and the effects on the families. Deborah is the producer and director of Code 9 Officer Needs Assistance – The Documentary. Code9film.com

Deborah is also the president and founder of the “Heroes and Families United” (Herorsandfamiliesunited.org) nonprofit organization. The nonprofit is dedicated to making mental health a priority for all first responders through education, training and raising awareness about the effects of job related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the prevention of suicide.

Deborah is the wife of a retired NY State Trooper / DEA Agent who after a 22- year career, began experiencing the horrors and nightmares of PTSD. Her experience, both as the spouse of a police officer and the one who went through these struggles with him, inspired her to take her broad experience as writer and producer and apply it to a documentary on the emotional struggles and needs of law enforcement officers and their families. The documentary, "Code 9- Officer Needs Assistance," has received national acclaim, awards, drawn tremendous support for her nonprofit and the film. The film is currently being used for training courses in academies, police departments, private organizations, NYSP and the DOJ.

Deborah is also currently working with various organizations worldwide on addressing the pressing issues that our first responders and their families are facing.

Deborah has been interviewed several times by Gayle Guyuardo WFLA Morning News and was featured on her. “Great Inspirations” segment, Tampa named Florida, and Mike Holfield News 6 Orlando, along with various news stations, podcasts and articles. 

Vanessa Riley is the President and CoFounder of Armor Up West Virginia and the Director of Family Services for Armor Up America.

In her capacity, she provides critical and much needed services to first responder family members 24/7. Vanessa is also a national keynote speaker and shares her experience of strength and hope around the country.

Vanessa walks family members through her experiences of an officer involved shooting, untreated trauma which led to addiction and domestic violence in her home, and the path to healing and recovery.

Vanessa speaks on subjects that are still considered taboo in the first responder profession. Vanessa not only speaks about these topics, but also brings hope to those struggling in silence.

Vanessa has changed and saved the lives of many first responders and their family members throughout the United States. Dynamic, heart-wrenching, persistent and heroic are just a few words used to describe Vanessa's training and heart as she serves the family members of our first responders.