Chief (retired) John Carli is an innovator and pioneer regarding employee wellness. Recognizing the gap between first responders in crisis and the need for early prevention strategies, Chief Carli embarked on implementing a radical culture shift to create psychological resiliency for front-line workers. Chief Carli’s preventive approach to promoting this culture of wellness led to the technical development of a unique “Law Enforcement Wellness App” in partnership with Cordico. The app was highlighted at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) national townhall meeting in New York, focusing on reducing police officer suicides, and is now recognized internationally as the gold standard in wellness.

As an outspoken advocate and thought leader in safety and security environments, Carli’s most relevant work focuses on national best practices in policing, community engagement, and first responder safety. In the summer of 2016, Chief Carli was summoned to the White House to personally meet with President Obama in the wake of national high-profile officer-involved fatal encounters. Since then, he has dedicated his time and efforts to improve the profession and implement meaningful change.

Chief Carli is a nationally recognized authority regarding technology, use of force and de-escalation, public trust and police legitimacy, and legislative and policy development. Carli was instrumental in the early adoption of body-worn cameras for police officers over a decade ago. This gained national attention through the publication of a department study on the issue of body-worn cameras and organizational trust, which was included in the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) report “Implementing a Body-worn Camera Program – Recommendations and Lessons Learned.” More recently, Vacaville, California, under Carli’s leadership, received the 2020 National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund “Destination Zero” General Officer Safety Award in Washington, DC.

Carli holds a Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership and is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He was awarded the Executive Leadership Certificate by the California Department of Justice Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.