2026 Drug Recognition and Enforcement Conference

Chris Heartsill is certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology as a Diplomate - Forensic Toxicology and received his B.S. degree in chemistry from East Central University in 1991. Chris has been working in analytical chemistry for over 34 years, with more than 30 years of forensic toxicology experience, including the areas of human performance forensic toxicology, postmortem forensic toxicology and forensic laboratory quality management. Chris is the regional toxicology liaison in the mid-south United States. He was previously the quality manager for the Dallas Police Department Crime Scene Response Section. Prior to coming to the Dallas Police Department, he served as the quality manager for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas, and the toxicology supervisor, toxicologist, quality manager and breath testing technical supervisor at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas, Texas. 

Chris is an active member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, serving as president, member of the Finance Committee, Toxicology Resource Committee and editor of ToxTalk. Other professional organizations include the Southwestern Association of Toxicologists, serving two individual terms as president, Grant Committee chair, and historian, The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, The National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, and the National Safety Council Alcohol, Drugs & Impairment Division, serving on the executive board and performing duties as vice chair. Chris participates in the creation of standards, guidelines and best practices by serving on the OSAC Toxicology Subcommittee. 

He serves as vice chair of the NSC Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division.

Aaron Botts has been a dedicated member of the law enforcement community since July 2008. Beginning his career in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Aaron honed essential skills as a patrol officer in suburban environments, quickly excelling as a Field Trainer, SWAT team operator, and Crime Scene Investigator. Among his various roles, his commitment to combating impaired driving has particularly stood out.

In 2016, Aaron transitioned to the Denver Police Department, joining the DUI/DRE Enforcement Unit. In this capacity, he has been at the forefront of initiatives to address impaired driving, contributing significantly as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and DRE Instructor and serves as the agency coordinator.

Promoted to Corporal in 2022, Aaron is an integral figure at the Denver Police Academy, where he leads training for all incoming officers on impaired driving enforcement. His expertise extends beyond the academy; he has instructed at various police academies and agencies throughout the Denver metro area. Aaron also serves as an adjunct professor in the Community College of Denver Criminal Justice Program.

As a presenter, Aaron has shared his knowledge and insights at numerous local and national conferences, quickly establishing himself as a respected voice in his field. Aaron became a DRE in 2019 and a DRE Instructor in 2021. In that short time he has distinguished himself through his dedication and passion for teaching others. He has led over 1,000 impaired driving investigations, trained hundreds of officers, taught numerous classes, and administered the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests more than 500 times in enforcement scenarios.

Outside of law enforcement, Aaron remains active in his community as an Eagle Scout and leader in local scouting—serving as the Cub Master of Pack 999 and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 130G. He also channels his leadership skills into coaching his son’s youth baseball team, further demonstrating his commitment to community and youth development.

About Jermaine Galloway

Officer Galloway, a Texan, known nationally as the Tall Cop, has worked in substance abuse prevention and education for over 20 years. After playing Division I basketball and receiving his BA in Sociology from the University of San Francisco, he worked as a law enforcement officer for 18 years. His various assignments included: alcohol compliance and enforcement, CSI, DUI task force, officer mentoring, and a field training officer.

In 2007, Jermaine started the company known as “Tall Cop Says Stop™”. The Tall Cop has conducted trainings in every US state and Canada, and currently devotes thousands of hours each year to training professionals and communities on drug and alcohol prevention, education, and enforcement. The Tall Cop is unique in that he spends hundreds of hours
with “boots on the ground” highlighting drug culture in various communities. To date, the Tall Cop has trained more than 800,000 professional and community members. He has trained across the U.S and in other countries such as Canada and the Bermuda Isalnds. The Tall Cop has conducted more than 8,400 community scans, identifying the drug culture and climate. His program, “High in Plain Sight”, is a nationally recognized program, that provides training, education, and enforcement strategies for community substance abuse issues.

Additionally, Jermaine Galloway has published articles, been referenced in books, and has been highlighted in many media interviews. The Tall Cop’s fast-paced and high-energy class provides attendees with an unparalleled learning experience! At the end of 2023, Galloway Started a podcast to provide education to everyone. The Tall Cop Says Stop Podcast can be found on both Spotify and Apple platforms. Most recently, at the beginning of 2024, Jermaine has been certified as an International Instructor by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.

Please welcome Jermaine Galloway aka the Tall Cop!