Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through shieldpst.org, Shield training registrations, contact forms, newsletter and email subscriptions, assessments, surveys, consultations, educational programs, and other services operated by Shield Public Safety Training, Inc. ("Shield," "we," "us," or "our").

This Policy does not necessarily apply to third-party websites, platforms, services, or organizations that may be linked from or used in connection with Shield services. Those entities may have their own privacy practices and policies.

1. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with Shield. We may collect the following categories of information.

Information You Provide Directly

You may provide personal information when you register for training, complete a form or assessment, contact Shield, subscribe to communications, request a consultation, make a payment, participate in a program, or otherwise communicate with us.

This information may include:

• Name;
• Job title or professional role;
• Agency, organization, or employer;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Mailing or billing information;
• Training registration information;
• Professional licensing or continuing-education information;
• Responses to surveys, questionnaires, and assessments;
• Information submitted through contact or consultation forms;
• Communications you send to Shield; and
• Other information you voluntarily provide.

Payment Information

When you register for a paid program or purchase a Shield service, payment information may be collected and processed by third-party payment processors or commerce platforms. Shield generally does not directly store complete credit-card or debit-card numbers.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically through website hosting systems, analytics technologies, cookies, pixels, logs, and similar technologies.

This may include:

• IP address;
• Browser type and version;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Approximate geographic location derived from an IP address;
• Pages viewed;
• Date and time of visits;
• Referring websites or sources;
• Links or buttons selected;
• Website interaction and navigation information; and
• Other technical diagnostic and usage data.

2. How We Use Information

Shield may use personal information for legitimate organizational and operational purposes, including to:

• Register participants for training programs and events;
• Process payments and administer transactions;
• Provide confirmations, program materials, certificates, and attendance information;
• Respond to questions, inquiries, and consultation requests;
• Provide assessments, reports, resources, and requested services;
• Communicate regarding programs, scheduling changes, and administrative matters;
• Send newsletters, legal updates, training announcements, and other communications where permitted by law;
• Administer continuing-education or professional-training credit;
• Improve Shield programs, resources, website content, and services;
• Analyze website use and effectiveness;
• Maintain website security and prevent misuse, fraud, or unauthorized activity;
• Maintain appropriate organizational and financial records;
• Comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, contractual, or reporting obligations; and
• Protect Shield, its users, faculty, participants, and others.

3. Training and Event Communications

If you register for a Shield program, we may use your contact information to communicate with you about that program. These communications may include registration confirmations, payment information, program reminders, schedule changes, virtual-access instructions, course materials, evaluations, certificates, continuing-education information, and other administrative communications.

These transactional or administrative communications are distinct from general marketing communications and may be sent when reasonably necessary to provide the service you requested.

4. Email Newsletters and Marketing Communications

Shield may send newsletters, educational updates, legal alerts, training announcements, program information, or other communications to individuals who have subscribed, registered for Shield programs, requested information, or otherwise have an appropriate relationship with Shield, subject to applicable law.

Marketing emails will include an appropriate method to unsubscribe or manage communication preferences. Unsubscribing from marketing communications does not necessarily prevent Shield from sending transactional communications relating to a registration, payment, program, request, or other ongoing relationship.

5. Assessments, Surveys, and Consultation Forms

Shield may offer agency assessments, technology-governance assessments, ADA or correctional assessments, questionnaires, surveys, intake forms, and similar tools.

Information submitted through an assessment may be used to evaluate the responses, prepare findings or recommendations, provide a consultation, improve the assessment process, and develop aggregated or de-identified information concerning industry practices and trends.

Shield will not intentionally publish an agency's identifiable assessment responses without authorization unless disclosure is required by law.

6. Cookies and Analytics

Shield's website and the third-party services supporting it may use cookies, analytics tools, pixels, and similar technologies to operate the website, understand how visitors use it, improve performance, remember preferences, measure engagement, and evaluate the effectiveness of communications and outreach.

These technologies may collect device, browser, interaction, and usage information. Depending on your browser, device, location, and applicable law, you may be able to limit or disable certain cookies through browser settings or available website privacy controls.

7. How We Share Information

Shield does not sell personal information in the ordinary sense of selling lists of personal information to third parties for money.

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to organizations that assist us in operating Shield and providing services, including:

• Website hosting and content-management providers;
• Payment processors and commerce providers;
• Email and communication platforms;
• Form and survey providers;
• Video-conferencing and virtual-training platforms;
• Analytics and technology providers;
• Cloud-storage and information-technology providers;
• Professional advisers such as attorneys and accountants;
• Venues, hosts, or event partners when necessary to administer a program;
• Continuing-education or credentialing organizations when necessary to seek or document credit; and
• Government authorities or other parties when disclosure is required or permitted by law.

These service providers may process information only as appropriate to perform their services, subject to their own contractual and legal obligations.

8. Legal and Safety Disclosures

Shield may disclose personal information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, a subpoena, court order, governmental request, regulatory requirement, tax obligation, or other lawful process.

We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, safety, or security of Shield, our website, participants, faculty, users, or others; investigate suspected fraud or misuse; enforce agreements; or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

9. Third-Party Websites and Services

Shield may link to or use third-party services for registration, payments, forms, analytics, video conferencing, social media, lodging information, publications, government resources, and other functions.

When you interact directly with a third-party service, that service may collect information under its own privacy policy and terms. Shield does not control the privacy practices of unaffiliated third parties and encourages users to review their policies when appropriate.

10. Data Retention

Shield retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for legitimate organizational purposes, including training administration, financial and tax records, continuing-education documentation, customer service, contractual obligations, legal compliance, dispute resolution, and protection of legal rights.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the service involved, contractual requirements, and applicable law.

11. Data Security

Shield uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

No internet transmission, website, email system, cloud platform, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users should therefore exercise care when transmitting confidential or sensitive information electronically.

12. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may request that Shield:

• Confirm whether we maintain personal information about you;
• Provide access to certain personal information;
• Correct inaccurate information;
• Delete certain information;
• Limit certain uses of information;
• Update your communication preferences; or
• Provide information regarding how personal information is handled.

Some requests may be subject to exceptions or limitations under applicable law. Shield may need to verify your identity before acting on a privacy request.

13. California Privacy Rights

California residents may have privacy rights under applicable California law concerning certain personal information. The precise rights available depend on the law, the nature of the information, and whether a particular statutory requirement applies to Shield.

Where applicable, California residents may request information concerning personal information collected, used, disclosed, or retained by Shield and may request correction or deletion subject to applicable exceptions.

Shield will not discriminate against an individual for exercising a privacy right provided by applicable law.

Privacy requests may be submitted to staff@shieldpst.org.

14. Do Not Sell or Share Personal Information

Shield does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.

Certain analytics, advertising, or online technologies can be treated as a "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under some state privacy laws even when no money changes hands. To the extent such laws apply to Shield, Shield will provide any disclosures or opt-out mechanisms required by applicable law.

15. Children's Privacy

Shield's website and services are directed primarily to adult professionals working in public safety, law, government, risk management, corrections, education, and related fields. The Services are not directed to children under 13, and Shield does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the website.

If Shield learns that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

16. Photographs, Recordings, and Events

Shield may photograph or record certain training programs or public events. When Shield intends to use identifiable attendee images or recordings for promotional or other purposes, Shield may provide additional notice, obtain permission where appropriate, or establish program-specific recording terms.

Participants requiring an accommodation or having a particular concern regarding event photography or recording should contact Shield before the program when practicable.

17. Accessibility

Shield seeks to make its website, programs, and resources accessible to the audiences it serves. If you experience difficulty accessing this Privacy Policy or another Shield resource, or require an accommodation, contact staff@shieldpst.org.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Shield may update this Privacy Policy as its services, technologies, practices, or legal obligations change. When the Policy is revised, the updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

Material changes will apply prospectively unless otherwise required by law.

19. Contact Shield

Questions about this Privacy Policy or requests concerning personal information may be directed to: