From Ticket Writing to Public Trust: Building Defensible Enforcement Systems

Thursday, September 17, 1:45 PM, Room: Columbia/Charleston Room

This session offers 1 certification point for the PTMP Application and Recertification.

Parking enforcement is often viewed through a narrow operational lens focused on citation volume and ordinance compliance. In practice, however, enforcement sits at the intersection of public safety, customer service, officer discretion, and community trust. Many of the profession’s most persistent challenges do not stem from enforcement itself but from the systems that shape it, inconsistent training, unclear standards for discretion, weak documentation practices, and uneven supervisory expectations.

This session is led by two professionals with complementary experience in municipal enforcement, training, and operations. Kenneth Simon will focus on building defensible enforcement systems, including scenario-based field training, documentation standards, and supervisory review practices that improve citation quality and officer decision-making. The session will address one of the most critical frontline challenges in the profession, managing aggressive interactions with the public, and provide practical strategies for de-escalation, professional communication, and maintaining control through ordinance knowledge and situational awareness. Participants will gain practical, real-world strategies for strengthening enforcement outcomes while improving public perception.

The session will also explore how clear standards, consistent training, and confident communication can reduce complaints, improve defensibility, and support officers in high-pressure situations. Using real-world examples and interactive discussion, this session provides a framework for moving parking enforcement beyond simple compliance and toward a model built on consistency, professionalism, and public trust.

Learning Objectives

• Identify system-level factors that weaken citation defensibility, including gaps in training, documentation, and officer discretion.

• Apply practical field training and supervisory review strategies to improve citation quality, officer decision-making, and consistency in enforcement.

• Demonstrate effective de-escalation and communication techniques to professionally manage aggressive interactions while maintaining control and public trust.

Kenneth Simon (City of Greensboro/ Police Department)

Kenneth Simon, PTMP, PECP, is a Parking Enforcement Supervisor with over 20 years of leadership experience in public safety, security, and municipal parking operations. Simon leads enforcement operations within a police department structure, focusing on training, compliance, and operational accountability.

He specializes in building defensible enforcement systems, developing field training programs, and strengthening officer decision-making to improve public trust. Simon is an active member of IPMI and CPMA and is dedicated to advancing professional standards in parking enforcement.