Molly C. Mastoras, MA, LPC

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Molly C. Mastoras is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and Connecticut. She has worked as an assistant program director and probation counselor for the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court and as a social worker for the Fairfax County Office for Women and Arlington County Child Protective Services (CPS). Molly has worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault throughout her career, leading to the creation of Safe Night Active Bystander, a sexual assault prevention and intervention-training program. 

She developed the Proactive Alliance relationship-based approach, which teaches police and enforcement agencies to develop relationships to enhance problem-solving with the community using adapted counseling therapy concepts. She co-authored several articles, including Proactive Alliance in IACP Police Chief Magazine and Productive and Proactive in Sheriff & Deputy Magazine and Proactive Alliance: Combining Policing and Counselling Psychology in the Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being with Dr. Charlotte Gill. 

Molly has presented the Proactive Alliance concept at the American Society of Evidenced-Based Policing (ASEBP) conference, the Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Conference, and the International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH). Molly also serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). 

Molly can be contacted at Molly@safe-night.com.

Dimitrios (Jim) Mastoras served as a Master Police Officer in Arlington County, Virginia, for almost twenty-four years. As Arlington’s first nightlife liaison, he used the relationship-based policing techniques of Proactive Alliance to establish trustful relationships with restaurant owners, providing the foundation to develop and implement strategies aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence. By using this approach, Jim developed the first accreditation program in the U.S. to focus on effective practices and law compliance for bars and restaurants while also increasing safety and economic viability. 

His work for Arlington County has been recognized by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) for saving lives and preventing injuries caused by drunk driving in the Washington, DC Metro area, and he is a recipient of the Kevin E. Quinlan Traffic Safety Award.

Jim has authored and contributed to several publications, articles and toolkits:

• The Arlington Restaurant Initiative - A Nightlife Strategy to Improve Safety and Economic Viability - US DOJ COPS Office
• ARI Observatory Of Public Sector Innovation Case Study - Observatory Of Public Sector Innovation
• Traffic Safety Initiatives: SoberRide-Enhancing Enforcement Efforts Since 1982 - IACP Police Chief Magazine
• Solving Complex Crime Requires Community Relationships  - Policing Insight
• Safe Night Hospitality Resource Guide - Safe Night
• Productive and Proactive - NSA Sheriff & Deputy Magazine
• The Need for Relationship-Based Policing - National Policing Institute
• Safe Night Good Neighbor Initiative Case Study - Safe Night

Jim can be contacted at Jim@safe-night.com

Since 2003, Gregory Abbink has been a senior police officer for the Austin Police Department (APD), TX, and is currently assigned as a Continuing Education Instructor at their Training Academy. Officer Abbink has collaborated in developing courses in writing departmental policy addressing respectful engagement and interaction with all segments of the LGBTQ+ community. Officer Abbink played a role in writing his department’s search policy so that it is in line with national best practices when searching transgender and gender non-binary individuals. He created a unique class to teach cadets and officers how to engage the transgender, gender non-binary, and gender fluid members of the community with respect and dignity. In addition to the transgender class Officer Abbink developed, he teaches other in-service classes such as Police Legitimacy/Procedural Justice, Tactical Report Writing, CPR/First Aid, Community Policing, Resolving Conflict, Surviving and Thriving in a Toxic Work Environment, and police emergency driving and Precision Immobilization Technique.

Over the past several years, Officer Abbink has worked on implementing new policies and procedures within the APD and took part in developing a human resources guidebook to assist City of Austin employers and employees titled, ‘Guidelines Supporting Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Employees’. He has been a driving force in the APD’s continuing efforts to make sure all segments of Austin’s diverse community are treated with the same amount of professionalism, respect and dignity. Officer Abbink discusses the steps that law enforcement can take to better their understanding of people’s individual identities and how our respectful interactions can have a significant impact on gaining trust and legitimacy with members of a community who are still very marginalized.

Before joining APD, Officer Abbink proudly served four years in the United States Army as a linguist. Originally from Upstate NY, Officer Abbink now enjoys spending time with his wife and 12-year-old son on their 17 acres in Lexington, TX, with their dwarf goats and mini donkey.

Greg can be contacted at GAbbink@safe-night.com you'd like to show.

Elena Ameres is an academic professional with a background in forensic science, crime scene analysis and collection, sociology and psychology research methods, including cognitive and humanistic psychology. In her role at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, she has served as administration liaison focused on conducting peer assessment reviews and professional career development for new teachers.

Elena was a DEI committee liaison, leading roundtable discussions to provide policy and program recommendations for the school administration. She is the also the Academic Team Leader for Science & Technology and teaches Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Forensic Science.

Elena earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Montclair State University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Criminal Justice from Siena College.

Elena can be reached at EAmeres@safe-night.com

A native of Rhode Island, Samantha (Sam) Brien moved to Northern Virginia to pursue her career in 2016. She began working at Katz, Marshal & Banks, LLP as a Legal Assistant. Sam wanted to further her career and joined the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) as a Management Intern in 2018. She received a full-time position as a Management Specialist then was promoted to Restaurant and Nightlife Liaison in January 2021. 

Sam leads the Arlington Restaurant Initiative, a national model for managing nightlife and the first accreditation program in the US to improve safety standards. In 2021, Sam was inducted into the exclusive group of night mayors and has taken a leadership role in many strategies that have over the past two years, including, “Ask for Angela”, the #BizStongArlVA campaign, and several outreach events. 

She is a graduate of Westfield State University with a B.A. in History and a concentration in Political Science. Sam also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Administration of Justice from George Mason University in May 2020. She has been awarded the Faithful Servant’s Award for Civilian Employee of the Year for 2018 and the Principles of Government Service Award for Teamwork.

Sam can be contacted at, SBrien@safe-night.com

Siobhan Grayson is a Management Analyst with the Child and Family Services Division of Arlington County, Virginia’s, Department of Human Services. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University (BS) and received her master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Grayson has over 30 years of experience in Child Welfare. 

In Arlington County, Ms. Grayson held various supervisory positions in Child Welfare, including Child Protective Services, Foster Care and Adoption services. Over the years, Ms. Grayson served on a variety of committees and developed the initial (John H. Chaffee) Independent Living program, which supported services for youth in foster care ages 14-21. 

Ms. Grayson served as adjunct professor for George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She holds many certifications including Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Certified First Responder for the National Incident Management Office and is a REVIVE Trainer (Narcan Opioid Response). 

For the last ten years, Ms. Grayson developed and supported the Arlington County Teen Network Board. This youth-led, adult-guided organization employs the Community Youth Engagement model. The pillars of the community-based organization are Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Service. The commission develops and implements data driven projects and events based on a prevention model of intervention practices. 

In her spare time, Ms. Grayson enjoys watching sports and attending movies and live theater. Ms. Grayson also cherishes spending time with her wife and their dog, Hazee. 

Siobhan can be reached at SGrayson@safe-night.com

A native of Seattle, Washington, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy working as a flight deck aircraft director and was later assigned to performing anti-terrorism duties throughout the Middle East. Michael deployed three times during the War on Terror, and responded to NYC on 9/11/2001. Michael left the military and began his career with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately transferring to the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) in 2012, where he has a background in patrol and community outreach. 

During his time as a community outreach officer, Michael proposed and established the ACPD's Homeless Outreach Program, a regional, multi-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary outreach program. Michael led a multi-agency team, comprising of more than ten advocacy and assistance organizations, county and state agencies, and community stakeholders. He is a sought-after speaker and presenter by community organizations and law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their response to people experiencing homelessness.

In 2021, Michael accepted a position performing homeless outreach for the Arlington County Department of Human Services Forensic Jail Diversion Team. Michael earned his B.S. from George Mason University in Criminology, Law, and Society, and lives in Alexandria with his wife, a public-school teacher, and their 13-year-old daughter.

Michael can be contacted at MKeen@safe-night.com

Dustin is a Master Peace Officer with the Austin Police Department in Austin, Texas. For almost two decades of service there, he was assigned to patrol in the south side of Austin as a Field Training Officer and Mental Health Officer, providing a critical service to people in crisis. Seeing this service as a calling, Dustin became a member of Austin’s Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) in 2006 and currently serves as a Team Leader. In addition, he is the HNT Training Cadre Lead Instructor who develops, coordinates, and provides training for Austin’s 25-member team of Negotiators and training officers to become new Negotiators. Dustin has also conducted training for several other departments, including teaching in the FBI Hostage Negotiation School in Texas. 

From 2016 to the present, Dustin has been a Senior Instructor in Austin Police Department’s Advanced Education Unit. He is responsible for training officers in various topics such as verbal communications, de-escalation, leadership, and implicit bias. 

Dustin is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served from 1992-2002 and was deployed twice while onboard the USS Anchorage between 1992 and 1998 (Somalia and the Persian Gulf / Kuwait). In 1998, he transitioned to shore duty as a Military Police Officer, where his love of law enforcement started. Dustin was a Watch Commander during the morning of Sept 11, 2001, and recalls the feeling of duty that drew him back to his home in Central Texas to join the ranks of the Austin Police Department. 

Dustin and his wife enjoy the country life, living among the oaks outside of Lockhart, the BBQ Capital of Texas. They have two adult children who both currently serve as well. Their son is a Weatherman in the Texas Air National Guard, and their daughter is a Mass Communications Specialist in the U.S. Navy. 

Dustin can be contacted at Dlowe@safe-night.com

Bob Wright is a nineteen-year veteran of the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) in Virginia. Throughout his career he has served in a broad range of assignments including the patrol division, criminal investigations division and on the community policing teams. His assignments include crime scene agent, detective in both the auto theft and homicide-robbery units and Critical Accident Team (CAT) investigator. As a sergeant, he was appointed 1st Sergeant in the patrol division, Special Operations Section, Motor Unit, and led the tactical plain clothes unit. After being promoted to Lieutenant he was assigned to the Patrol Division. 

While a member of ACPD’s community policing unit, he was a part of the first, full time, nightlife officer detail. With an in depth understanding of the problems and challenges ACPD faced managing nightlife, he was a valuable resource and passionate advocate for the creation of the Nightlife Liaison position and the first nightlife accreditation model in the U.S., called the Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI). Bob has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Bob leads Safe Night’s Hospitality and Entertainment Division by helping bars and restaurants reduce their liability through policies and training. 

Bob can be contacted at, Rwright@safe-night.com