Bruce Praet, Lexipol co-founder, has been honored by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated effective and innovative leadership in law enforcement training that achieves results.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by California POST, an organization I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with for almost four decades,” says Praet. “Law enforcement standards and training have evolved over the last several decades and I am privileged to be able to work with POST to ensure California officers have high-quality training that can help them keep up with the changes.”
Praet began his career in law enforcement in 1973 and worked in Patrol, Detectives, SWAT and K-9 during his time as an officer. After completing his law degree, he served first as Assistant General Counsel to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, then as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Orange until forming his own police defense firm in 1987. In 2003, Praet, together with risk management expert Gordon Graham, founded Lexipol to provide a comprehensive policy and policy training solution for law enforcement agencies. He is a partner with Ferguson, Praet & Sherman, a law firm specializing in defending police civil matters and representing management in personnel matters.
“I’ve been so fortunate to work with Bruce for more than three decades,” Graham, who received the California POST Lifetime Achievement Award himself in 2008, says. “His background as an officer and an attorney gives him a unique perspective of the challenges law enforcement officers face. Countless officers have benefited from his instruction.”
“Law enforcement standards and training have evolved over the last several decades and I am privileged to be able to work with POST to ensure California officers have high-quality training that can help them keep up with the changes.”
Praet has been heavily involved throughout his career with POST committees and curriculum development. He acted as a subject matter expert in the development of the California POST Law Enforcement K-9 Guidelines and contributed to the California POST’s Use of Force Standards and Guidelines. He is also a frequent guest speaker for numerous statewide police associations, the FBI Academy, the CHP Academy and other national peace officer associations.
Praet will receive the award formally in a ceremony at a future POST meeting.
