Law enforcement agencies are rapidly expanding their use of battery-electric vehicles (EVs) for patrol, traffic enforcement, and specialty assignments—driven by fuel and maintenance savings, emissions goals, and the emergence of pursuit-capable platforms. This webinar will provide a practical, decision-focused look at what it takes to evaluate, procure, and operate EVs in law enforcement, including duty-cycle fit, charging strategy, upfitting and equipment loads, vehicle downtime, and total cost of ownership.
Join this webinar to hear candid, first-hand lessons learned from a large municipal police department with a year of experience operating a fleet of Chevy Blazer Police Pursuit Vehicles, plus a retired police chief and change-management consultant who will address the organizational and cultural shifts needed for successful fleet electrification. We’ll also explore how EV pursuit platforms perform under rigorous vehicle dynamics testing—what metrics matter most, how to interpret results, and the key questions to ask as you assess EVs for your agency’s operational needs.
Speakers:
Retired Police Chief Neil Cervenka, Command Insight Consulting LLC
Neil Cervenka is a retired police chief and public-safety consultant who brings 25 years of law enforcement experience. Neil advanced from Police Officer to Acting Captain in California’s Central Valley before serving as Chief of Police for a small rural agency on California’s north coast. As chief, he launched a social services unit to reduce police interactions with unhoused residents, implemented one of the region’s early EV patrol fleets, built an organizational wellness program, and led citywide emergency management and a department-wide culture and modernization effort.
Neil is a graduate of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and POST Command College, and he holds a POST Executive Development Certificate (California’s highest law enforcement certification). He earned an MBA from California State University, Stanislaus, and served as President of the California Peace Officers’ Association (2024–2025)
Lieutenant Rusty Rea, Chula Vista Police Department
Rusty Rea is a lieutenant with the Chula Vista Police Department in San Diego County, California, where he has served for 27 years. Over the course of his career, he has worked as a motor officer and agent, street team officer and sergeant, supervisor in the Professional Standards Unit, and in Patrol as an officer, agent, sergeant, and lieutenant. In March 2020, he returned to the Traffic Division, where he continues to serve today.
In addition to overseeing the Traffic Division, Lt. Rea currently manages special events coordination, the department’s Senior Volunteer Program, EVOC operations, and fleet services, along with the many “other duties as assigned” that accompany police leadership roles. He has also served as the department’s rangemaster and a motor instructor, and played a key role in modernizing departmental operations through implementation of a contemporary scheduling and timekeeping system. Born and raised in Southern California, Rusty is an avid motorcyclist and proud father of two.
Moderator, Rachel Ellenberger, Green Seed Collective LLC
Rachel Ellenberger is an environment and sustainability professional and the Owner & Principal Consultant of Green Seed Collective LLC, providing project management and strategic growth support to mission-driven organizations. She works with nonprofits nationwide—primarily in the Midwest—to design and fund programs and clarify strategic priorities, with a focus on sustainable transportation and renewable energy. Rachel previously spent 3.5 years with Clean Fuels Ohio in progressive leadership roles spanning business development, communications, and fundraising (Business Development & Communications Manager; Director of Business Development & Communications; Director of Development). She also brings policy experience across state, federal, and private sectors and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
This webinar has been approved by NAFA Fleet Management Association for 1.5 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE), which may be applied towards CAFM recertification credit.
When: March 19, 2026. 2-3:30PM ET
Where: Zoom link info will be sent prior to the session.
Registration Fee: Free, but registration is required.
Registration Deadline: March 18, 2PM ET.
