Rise: Women in Policing | San Diego | September 2026 | Sponsors

There are choices for your stay in San Diego! Our host hotel is the Town and Country Resort and we have overflow blocks at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley and the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley. 

Included with those overflow rooms are round-trip trolley tickets for each day of the conference. The trolley drop off is located directly behind the Town and Country Resort.

*The Town and Country Resort is sold out.*

As for meals, the following is what is included with an All-Access Badge:

Rise History

About Rise: Women in Policing Training Symposium

Rise began with a simple but powerful idea: women in policing needed space to connect, learn from one another, and feel supported. 

In 1987, Palo Alto Police Department Officers Lacey Burt and Alana Forrest decided to coordinate a small gathering of women at a downtown hotel restaurant to discuss issues related to women in law enforcement. About 20 women showed up to exchange ideas and business cards. 

In 1993, Sergeants Burt and Forrest hosted another gathering, this time intentionally designed as a networking and support space for women in law enforcement. In 2004, the duo broadened horizons by holding a more formal workshop that included a panel of women police executives. They expected about 40 women to attend. Instead, 125 RSVP’d, with additional women showing up at the door. 

The overwhelming response clearly validated the need for women in law enforcement to come together, hear each other’s stories, receive training, and build lasting bonds. In 2005, the duo organized another event with more than 220 women in attendance, and momentum continued to build. 

In 2006, California Police Chiefs Association President Steve Krull learned about these “Women Leaders in Law Enforcement” workshops and asked CPCA leadership to expand the effort into a statewide conference. He appointed San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer and Los Gatos Police Chief Scott Seaman to lead the charge. Later that year, a one day event was held at the Burbank Hilton with the theme “Sharing Strategies for Success.” Hoping for 300 registrants, we were blown away when more than 540 women registered, and the conference sold out. 

Rather than making it a one time event, CPCA committed to continuing the conference as an annual gathering. It has since expanded to two and a half days and now hosts 2,000 attendees each year. 

Since its inception, there have been hundreds of stories of women connecting, supporting one another, and sharing strategies to navigate a challenging career in policing. The original purpose that Lacey and Alana envisioned still remains: to provide excellent training in a supportive, positive, and inspiring environment, so attendees leave feeling better than when they arrived.

Today, that legacy continues as Rise: Women in Policing Conference. Rise honors the foundation built through Women Leaders in Law Enforcement while expanding the vision to center connection, inclusivity across roles and ranks, and purpose-driven opportunities for connection, education, and community.

The California Police Chiefs Association relies on the strong partnership of our exhibitors and sponsors to deliver meaningful, high-quality events. To protect the value of their investment and ensure a fair environment for all participants, CPCA enforces a strict policy against suitcasing and outboarding at all of our conferences, trainings, and summits.

What is Suitcasing and Outboarding?

Suitcasing refers to individuals or companies who attend as registrants (or without proper registration) and attempt to promote their products or services in public areas—such as aisles, lounges, or networking spaces—without securing an exhibit booth or sponsorship.

Outboarding occurs when non-exhibiting companies host competing events or meetings—such as hospitality suites, off-site dinners, or product demos—that are timed to overlap with official CPCA programming, and aimed at drawing attendees away from the event.

Examples Include (But Are Not Limited To):

• A company that is not exhibiting sets up a hospitality suite or dinner nearby and invites attendees to stop by.
• A representative walks the expo floor without a booth, soliciting business or handing out materials.
• A company promotes conference-adjacent activities or meetings using CPCA branding or referencing the event without participating officially.
• A vendor leverages another exhibitor’s investment to promote its own product or service without having a formal presence.

Enforcement & Consequences

Any attendee or company found engaging in suitcasing or outboarding activities will be:

• Immediately removed from the event without refund
• Prohibited from participating in future CPCA events
• Reported to the appropriate professional channels, if applicable

If activities are taking place at venues under CPCA contracts (such as partner hotels), we reserve the right to shut down those unauthorized functions.

Our Commitment

This policy exists to safeguard the integrity of CPCA events, protect our community, and honor the commitment of our valued exhibitors and sponsors. Their investment directly supports CPCA’s mission to lead, educate, and support California’s police chiefs and public safety leaders.We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create a respectful, high-value experience for all participants.

We're thrilled to share that the official Rise merch is now available on our CPCA storefront. It's the perfect way to show off your Rise spirit and get ready for this year's conference!