Seminar Title
Supervising the Toxic Officer
Dates of Events
09/22/2026 through 09/23/2026
Last Updated: 09/06/2026
Instructor(s): Steven Kellams
Location: Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute Training Center - 5250 E. US Highway 36, Avon, IN 46123
Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Avon - 193 Angelina Way, Avon, IN 46123
Course Registration Fee: $295
Instructor Bio
Steven Kellams
Steven Kellams retired in 2019 as the Administrative Captain for the Bloomington Police Department in Bloomington Indiana. Captain Kellams attended Indiana University from 1987 to 1991. In 1989, he graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy. In 1991, he was hired by the Bloomington Police Department and was assigned to night shift. After spending 10 years as a night shift patrol officer, Captain Kellams was promoted to Sergeant, and then Lieutenant. His final position with the department was as the Administrative Captain, responsible for a number of duties including internal affairs, public information, and CALEA Accreditation. During his time at the department, he served as a breath-test operator, bike patrol officer, field training officer, and senior field training officer. Captain Kellams has also served as a Patrol Supervisor, Detective Supervisor, Civil Disturbance Unit Commander, Motor Unit Supervisor, Field Training Manager, Field Training Coordinator, Special Investigation Unit Supervisor, and Public Information Officer.
In 2000, Captain Kellams was instrumental in redesigning the field training program for the Bloomington Police Department and has taught that program to hundreds of departments throughout the United States. He has also instructed on field training issues at the national level when he presented two courses at the 2002 National Association of Field Training Officers Conference. He also presented courses for NAFTO in 2008, 2010, and 2011. In 2000, he was elected state director for the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Field Training Officers. He also served on the NAFTO National Executive Board and served as President of the board in 2009.
Captain Kellams was awarded the Monroe County Officer of the Year Award in 2005 for his work with the Bloomington Police Department Field Training Program.
In 2020 Captain Kellams started Blue Canary, a podcast for police officers. Tired of having other people tell our stories, Captain Kellams started Blue Canary to provide a voice for police officers everywhere to share their stories, thoughts, and ideas regarding all topics in law enforcement.
Steven Kellams retired in 2019 as the Administrative Captain for the Bloomington Police Department in Bloomington Indiana. Captain Kellams attended Indiana University from 1987 to 1991. In 1989, he graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy. In 1991, he was hired by the Bloomington Police Department and was assigned to night shift. After spending 10 years as a night shift patrol officer, Captain Kellams was promoted to Sergeant, and then Lieutenant. His final position with the department was as the Administrative Captain, responsible for a number of duties including internal affairs, public information, and CALEA Accreditation. During his time at the department, he served as a breath-test operator, bike patrol officer, field training officer, and senior field training officer. Captain Kellams has also served as a Patrol Supervisor, Detective Supervisor, Civil Disturbance Unit Commander, Motor Unit Supervisor, Field Training Manager, Field Training Coordinator, Special Investigation Unit Supervisor, and Public Information Officer.
In 2000, Captain Kellams was instrumental in redesigning the field training program for the Bloomington Police Department and has taught that program to hundreds of departments throughout the United States. He has also instructed on field training issues at the national level when he presented two courses at the 2002 National Association of Field Training Officers Conference. He also presented courses for NAFTO in 2008, 2010, and 2011. In 2000, he was elected state director for the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Field Training Officers. He also served on the NAFTO National Executive Board and served as President of the board in 2009.
Captain Kellams was awarded the Monroe County Officer of the Year Award in 2005 for his work with the Bloomington Police Department Field Training Program.
In 2020 Captain Kellams started Blue Canary, a podcast for police officers. Tired of having other people tell our stories, Captain Kellams started Blue Canary to provide a voice for police officers everywhere to share their stories, thoughts, and ideas regarding all topics in law enforcement.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Course Description:
Supervisors face a growing number of challenges in law enforcement today. Not only must they balance the responsibilities of providing qualified and competent employee performance for the community, but for the employees as well. One important step to ensure this is to create and maintain a professional work environment.
Unfortunately, there are employees who intentionally and unintentionally create a toxic work condition.
While the number of toxic employees is generally low, the amount of damage they can cause in an organization is very high. It is critical that leaders and supervisors understand the dynamics of the toxic employee, how they are created, and ways to mitigate the damage to the department.
This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to identify and deal with the toxic employee.
Students will learn:
· The types of toxic employees and how to identify them.
· How toxic employees are created and steps to slow down and eliminate the issues that cause the toxic employee.
· How to identify personalities during the hiring process to avoid potential toxic employees.
· How to utilize performance evaluations and internal investigations to address and deal with the toxic employees.
Supervisors face a growing number of challenges in law enforcement today. Not only must they balance the responsibilities of providing qualified and competent employee performance for the community, but for the employees as well. One important step to ensure this is to create and maintain a professional work environment.
Unfortunately, there are employees who intentionally and unintentionally create a toxic work condition.
While the number of toxic employees is generally low, the amount of damage they can cause in an organization is very high. It is critical that leaders and supervisors understand the dynamics of the toxic employee, how they are created, and ways to mitigate the damage to the department.
This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to identify and deal with the toxic employee.
Students will learn:
· The types of toxic employees and how to identify them.
· How toxic employees are created and steps to slow down and eliminate the issues that cause the toxic employee.
· How to identify personalities during the hiring process to avoid potential toxic employees.
· How to utilize performance evaluations and internal investigations to address and deal with the toxic employees.