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Robert had been a Police Officer for over 18 years with a background on SWAT and the past 10 assigned as a full-time instructor. His instructor specializations are in Firearms, Active Shooter Response, Counter Ambush, and Tactical Medicine.  He has been recognized internationally as an expert in Active Shooter Events and Law Enforcement Training.  He serves as the lead Tactical Medical instructor for a federal counter narcotics training agency.  He routinely provides consulting on medical response for tactical trauma events. 
Robert also has spent over 27 years in the United States Air Force.  20 of those years were in Security Forces with the majority of his time working in ground combat instructor assignments.  In 2016, he became a Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC).  He currently has 6 combat deployments and is still assigned to the MS Air National Gaurd.
Robert is the President of Brave Defender Community Services, a registered non-profit, whose mission is conduct Active Shooter Research, Prevention, Preparation, and Education.  He also owns a training company providing Firearms and tactics training to military and law enforcement.
Robert has been published numerous times and routinely speaks at international conferences speaking on Law Enforcement training, Active Shooter Events, and Tactical Medicine.

Adam Kinakin is the Managing Director and founder of ILET Network, a community-based training platform for international Law Enforcement. A former Infantry Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, he held various roles and was awarded instructor qualifications from many Canadian and international organizations. In July 2020 he created the International Law Enforcement Training Summit with annual attendance of over 10,000 from 75 countries. ILET Network has partnered with Federal, State/Provincial and Municipal agencies worldwide to support the evolution of training for Law Enforcement and First Responders. Adam attended the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Psychology and is beginning a Masters/Ph.D. program in Forensic Psychophysiology.

Army vet, retired national security, counterterrorism, intelligence and law enforcement senior executive, EMT, instructor, learner and world traveler.

Suzanna is a retired FBI Special Agent, President of PoliceSpirit LLC, fitness enthusiast and professionally trained dancer. In 2018, she became the first Mindfulness and yoga coach for the FBIs Hostage Rescue Team/Tactical Section, and has since trained over 17 FBI SWAT teams in the field in mindfulness-based strategies for performance and wellbeing via PEAK, a program she co-founded for the FBI. In addition, she has brought her training to hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement officers and professional staff around the country. 

Suzanna holds a B.A. in Dance from the University of Akron, an M.A. in Business from the University of WI-Madison and has postgraduate work in Exercise Science from Cleveland State University.  She is an eRYT 500 yoga teacher and Mindfulness Coach for Law Enforcement and Public Safety via UC-San Diego and Mindful Badge. 

She has served as Adjunct Faculty for Notre Dame College of Ohio and the University of Virginia.

SA Thomas O'Connor worked for 15 years as a Municipal Officer in Massachusetts before joining the FBI in 1997. He specialized in narcotics and violent gang investigations, and worked on both International and Domestic Terrorism cases. He served as program coordinator for investigations involving extremist groups and was Case Agent for both the Pentagon and Family Research Council shootings. He has led forensic teams to multiple terrorist attacks around the world, and is a certified Adjunct Faculty member for the FBI Academy and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. SA O'Connor was a member of the FBI Agents Association's National Executive Board for 10 years and served as Vice President and President. He retired on September 11, 2019, in honor of FBI Agents who passed due to the 9-11 attack and related illnesses.

Donald Soranno is a retired special agent with 30+ yrs of experience in criminal investigations and corporate security. He served in the ATF, beginning in 1990 and worked his way up the ranks to become a Special Agent in Charge (SAC). He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2010 and was a Leadership Fellow with the FBI Leadership Institute in 2012. Don holds a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Ferris State, an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and obtained his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) credentials from ASIS. Don is currently the Senior Product Manager/SME with Evidence IQ and with their Ballistics IQ solution helps law enforcement agencies solve gun crimes quicker. 

So this is a really good question and it's extremely timely with the situation that we as a world, as a country, and as a law enforcement profession are involved in right now. And that's how does the portrayal of first responders and media affect the recruitment into our profession. We have noticed a very, very severe decline in recruitment across the entire industry. And a lot of that is due to a lot of the negative portrayal of the law enforcement industry on the part of a lot of media outlets. And what people see, because it's very sensationalized, is the negative aspects. And you're always going to have negative individuals. We are just a bisect of the American population, which means we have good, we have bad, and we have everybody in the middle. And the majority of us are going to fall in the middle and in the good category. But we're going to have the bad outliers, just like there are in every aspect of society. But those are the ones that get the most attention. Those are the ones that get thrown up constantly in the news media. And so that's what the public sees. And so they're very reluctant to join an industry that is, by perception, very flawed right now. And so that's posed a tremendous recruiting problem.

The negative portrayal of first responders in the media is impacting recruitment into the profession. This is due to public perception being heavily influenced by what they see in the news which tends to focus on negative stories and bad outliers, rather than the majority of law enforcement personnel who are good and in the middle. This has caused a severe decline in recruitment and poses a tremendous problem for the industry.

In your opinion, how does the portrayal of first responders in media affect recruitment into the profession?

The Negative Media Portrayal of First Responders Impacts Recruitment

The portrayal of first responders in media greatly affects recruitment into the profession. Currently, we are experiencing a significant decline in recruitment across the industry, particularly in law enforcement. Much of this decline can be attributed to the negative portrayal of law enforcement in various media outlets. Media tends to sensationalize and focus on the negative aspects, highlighting the actions of a few individuals. It's important to remember that first responders, like any profession, consist of a diverse range of individuals, with both good and bad actors. However, it is often the negative outliers who receive the most attention in the news media, shaping public perception. As a result, potential recruits are hesitant to join an industry that is perceived as deeply flawed. This has created significant challenges in recruiting new talent.

So the question is, are there any potential drawbacks or risks that are associated with having such specialized roles within the criminal justice system? Now, obviously, I'm a fan of specialized units and specialized roles and responsibilities. However, I understand that there is a downside to that, that by being so uniquely specialized, that means that you may not have a good grasp on some of the other critical elements that are within the criminal justice system. Now, this is especially important when you talk about your uniformed patrol patrol officers, the kind of the backbone of the criminal justice system that's out there interacting with the public. They need to be pretty well versed and kind of jack of all trades in majority of the aspects involving criminal justice, because they're the ones that are kind of that front line force. And then you have your specialized units to reinforce and support them that can be more specialized in unique roles because they can be called in as the situation depends. However, for that, that act, that frontline boots on the ground law enforcement officer, they really need to have at least a basic grasp of all of the different elements within the criminal justice career field.

A potential drawback to having specialized roles within the criminal justice system is that officers who are on the front lines may not have a good grasp of all the elements of criminal justice since they aren't as specialized.

Are there any potential drawbacks or risks associated with having such specialized roles within the system?

Balancing Specialization and Versatility in the Criminal Justice System

Having specialized roles within the criminal justice system does have potential drawbacks and risks. While I personally believe in the value of specialized units and responsibilities, it's important to acknowledge that being highly specialized can limit one's understanding of other critical aspects within the system. This is particularly crucial for uniformed patrol officers who interact with the public as they serve as the backbone of the criminal justice system. These officers need to have a well-rounded knowledge and be proficient in various aspects of criminal justice since they are on the front line. Specialized units can then provide additional support and reinforcement in unique roles when needed. However, it is essential for those officers on the ground to possess at least a basic understanding of all different elements within the criminal justice career field.

So what advice would I give somebody that's kind of wanting to start a career in law enforcement? It's a broad question, but I think I would start off with make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Research what this profession really entails and make sure that it's what you want to get into. There's a lot of people that have joined law enforcement for the wrong reasons. And unfortunately, that casts a shadow over those of us that are out here trying to bring honor to this profession. And so we want to make sure that you're here for the right reasons. Then to prepare yourself, I would encourage either get some kind of experience before you join, whether it be military or even going to college. If you go to college, don't get a degree in criminal justice. Everybody has those. Do something that's going to make yourself stand out and is going to give you something not only to fall back on, but just help diversify yourself as an officer. Maybe that's management or economics, something that's going to make give you a unique perspective. And then train. Get yourself in good physical condition. You know, get good at working out and and get involved in defensive tactics or some kind of hands on training program. It'll just give you better ability to deal with the stresses of this industry. Hopefully that kind of answers your question for you.

Make sure you're doing it for the right reasons, research what law enforcement really entails, prepare yourself by getting experience and/or an education, get in good physical condition, and get involved in training programs to give you better ability to deal with the stresses of the industry.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in law enforcement?

Key Advice for Starting a Career in Law Enforcement: Purpose, Preparation, and Training

To someone interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, here's my advice. First and foremost, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Take the time to research and fully understand what this profession entails to ensure it aligns with your goals and aspirations. Unfortunately, there are individuals who join law enforcement for the wrong reasons, which can cast a negative light on the rest of us who strive to bring honor to this field. 

Next, I recommend preparing yourself before entering the profession. Consider gaining relevant experience through avenues such as military service or college education. However, if you choose to pursue a college degree, I suggest avoiding criminal justice as it is a common choice. Instead, opt for something that sets you apart and provides additional skills or perspectives that can benefit you as an officer, such as management or economics.

Training is crucial. Focus on getting yourself in good physical condition and engage in defensive tactics or hands-on training programs. These will enhance your ability to handle the stresses that come with working in law enforcement.

In summary, ensure your motivations are genuine, acquire relevant experiences or education beyond the norm, and invest in physical training and skills development. By following these steps, you'll be better prepared for a career in law enforcement.

It's a really good question about how the length of time between a stressful event and an interview can impact the person's ability to recall information from that event. So there's no set fast rule when it comes to a specific time frame, but traditionally what we want to do is we want to wait at least one sleep cycle, if not three, before we start trying to interview somebody that has been involved in a critical event. Immediately following the event, their memories have yet to reform, they're still trying to go through some consolidation and they're trying to fill some of those gaps in that memory and that's just going to occur over time. Now things like alcohol usage, lack of sleep, things that they do during that time period could protract that and actually cause issues with those memories reforming. Typically what we want to do is we want to wait at least one sleep cycle to allow those memories to reform and more if the situation would allow it.

The length of time between a stressful event and an interview should be at least one sleep cycle, if not three, to allow memories to properly reform. Alcohol usage, lack of sleep, and other activities during this period can prolong the time needed for memories to form.

How does the length of time between the stressful event and the interview impact a person's ability to recall information?

The Impact of Time on Recalling Stressful Events

The impact of the length of time between a stressful event and an interview on a person's ability to recall information is an interesting question. While there isn't a specific timeframe set in stone, it's generally recommended to wait at least one sleep cycle, if not three, before conducting an interview with someone who has experienced a critical event. Immediately after the event, memories are still in the process of reforming and undergoing consolidation. Gaps in memory may exist during this time, and they tend to fill over time. Factors such as alcohol consumption and lack of sleep during this period can prolong the memory consolidation process and potentially hinder memory formation. Ideally, waiting for at least one sleep cycle allows memories to reform more effectively, and if circumstances permit, waiting longer may be beneficial.

So the question of how do I feel about the specialized nature of different roles within the criminal justice system, cops, jails, crime labs, things like that. I actually, I like it because I like the idea of having subject matter experts. I'm not a fan of the jack of all trades approach. You know, you have the jack of all trades, expert in none kind of mindset. When it comes to specialized roles like evidence processing and collection, I want somebody that truly specializes in that. So I want somebody that's very uniquely focused and doesn't have any other job responsibilities or training that they have to keep up with handling that. Same thing with jails. I want somebody that is uniquely trained and psychologically suited to being able to work in that environment. That's not, I would not excel in that capacity in the criminal justice system. And there are other people that do great in it. So again, I like that specialized role where we put officers or individuals where their skills and their aptitudes can be best utilized. And I think that's how we get the best bang for the buck and the best benefit for the public is by doing that, creating those subject matter expertise.

I like the specialized roles within the criminal justice system, such as evidence processing and collection, as well as jails. It allows for individuals to be put in positions where their skills and aptitudes can be best utilized, leading to the best benefit for the public.

How do you feel about the specialized nature of cops, jails, and labs in the criminal justice system?

The Benefits of Specialized Roles in Criminal Justice

I appreciate the specialized nature of different roles within the criminal justice system, such as cops, jails, and crime labs. Having subject matter experts dedicated to specific areas is something I support. I believe in the idea of specialists rather than a jack-of-all-trades approach where someone may lack expertise in any one area. For tasks like evidence processing and collection, it's important to have individuals who solely focus on and excel in those areas without the distractions of other responsibilities or training. Similarly, for jails, I believe it's crucial to have individuals who are uniquely trained and psychologically suited to work in that environment. While it's not a role I would personally excel in, there are people who thrive in that capacity within the criminal justice system. Overall, I believe placing officers or individuals in roles where their skills and aptitudes can be best utilized is essential for achieving the greatest benefit for the public. Specialization allows for subject matter expertise and ensures optimal outcomes.

So the question of are there any common trends or patterns in active shooter events and there definitely are. Everything from some of their psychology and behavior to some of the the tactics and locations that they choose. Typically in active shooters what we see is they feel as though that they have been wrong somehow or that they're part of a persecuted group and so they feel as though they're the victim and so what they're trying to do is get revenge for or set that wrong right. So they kind of have what we call like an Avenger mentality. They also typically work alone very very rarely it does happen that we see multiple shooters but most of the time they're they're pretty solo or independent and a lot of the tactics that they use are very similar. They tend to move very fast. They tend to to target locations that are going to have large concentration of potential victims. Although that location may vary sometimes it's some place that has a intimate knowledge to them like their employment or their school or someplace that's foreign to them like a retail establishment. But also in almost every case they're going to do some form of information gathering or reconnaissance prior to the attack.

Active shooters usually feel as though they have been wronged in some way, and are seeking revenge. They usually work alone, and use tactics such as fast movement and information gathering prior to an attack. They typically target locations with large concentrations of potential victims, which may be places that have an intimate knowledge to them.

Are there any common trends or patterns you've noticed in active shooter incidents?

Key Takeaway: Common Trends and Patterns in Active Shooter Incidents

There are common trends and patterns observed in active shooter incidents. These include the psychological and behavioral aspects of the shooters, as well as their chosen tactics and target locations. Active shooters often perceive themselves as victims or part of a persecuted group, seeking revenge or to address a perceived wrong. They may adopt an Avenger mentality. Typically, active shooters operate alone, although there are rare occurrences of multiple shooters. They employ similar tactics, such as moving quickly and targeting locations with a high concentration of potential victims. These locations can vary, ranging from familiar places like their workplace or school to unfamiliar establishments like retail stores. In almost every case, active shooters engage in some form of information gathering or reconnaissance before carrying out their attack.