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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 the question is, what's the most important thing to consider when choosing a firearm? This is a question that as a firearms instructor I get asked all the time and it's not an easy question because the answer is different for each and every person. So it depends on, you need to look into what are you going to be using this firearm for? Is this for defense? Is this for carrying? Is this for sporting? Is this for hunting? Is this for practice? There's a lot of things you need to ask and you need to figure out what's the firearm that's going to best suit that need. If you're looking at a defensive firearm, where's it going to be used at? Are you going to carry it? Does it need to be small enough to carry on your body? Or is it going to be something you're using in your home? How often are you going to practice with it? If you're not going to be practicing with it a lot, you need a gun that's going to be a little bit more simple, maybe like a revolver. What's the layout of your home? If you're talking a home defense handgun, then what's the layout of your home? Do you need something that can shoot a little bit longer range? Is penetration through walls a factor because of where your kids' bedrooms are? There's a lot of things that you have to take into account, but the most important one is exactly what are you planning on using this firearm for? Because there's no just single magical gun that fits all needs.

When choosing a firearm, the most important thing to consider is what it will be used for and the environment in which it will be used. Factors such as size, range, and penetration should also be taken into consideration.

What is the most important thing to consider when choosing a firearm?

Choosing the Right Firearm: Consider Your Specific Needs

When choosing a firearm, the most important thing to consider is its intended purpose. This varies for each individual and depends on factors such as defense, carrying, sporting, hunting, or practice. Understanding your specific need is crucial in selecting the right firearm. For defensive purposes, consider where it will be used. Will you carry it or use it at home? If carrying, it should be compact enough to carry comfortably. If used at home, consider factors like practicing frequency and the layout of your home. A simpler gun like a revolver may be suitable if practice time is limited. Assessing the layout of your home is important for selecting a home defense handgun. Does it need to shoot longer ranges? Are there concerns about wall penetration near children's bedrooms? There are numerous factors to take into account, but determining the primary purpose of the firearm is paramount as there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

So this is a great question that was asked. What are the elements of negligence? It's going to be kind of hard to answer in such a short period of time. But there's four critical components to define and make up negligence. The first and most critical is that the person committing the negligent act has to have a duty to care, an obligation or a custodial responsibility over the inflicted or victimized person. So some sort of caregiver or legal obligation to render aid or care. Second, they have to have acted outside of that care. They have to have not done whatever they were legally obligated to do. So they have to have breached that legally responsible care. Then the third piece is the person must have suffered some form of harm, physical, mental, emotional, whatever, but there has to be some sort of damage inflicted to the victim. And then the final component is that damage, we have to be able to conclusively prove that that damage was a result of the breach of care that the person had the legal responsibility to provide. So those are those four critical components of defining negligence, especially in a legal aspect.

Negligence is composed of four critical components - a duty to care, a breach of that duty, harm inflicted to the victim, and a causal link between the breach of duty and the harm.

Key Elements of Negligence: Duty, Breach, Harm & Causation

The elements of negligence can be summarized as follows. Firstly, the person committing the negligent act must have a duty to care or an obligation to provide aid or care to the victim. Secondly, they must have acted outside of that duty by breaching their legally responsible care. Thirdly, the victim must have suffered some form of harm, whether physical, mental, or emotional. Lastly, it must be proven conclusively that the damage was a direct result of the breach of care by the person who had the legal responsibility to provide it. These four components are essential when defining negligence, particularly in a legal context.

So the question is, have I ever had to explain to somebody in like significant detail about how true evidence processing works based on some unrealistic expectation that they saw in a TV show? And unfortunately, yes, it's funny. It does happen. It has not happened in quite a while, but when I was on patrol, I did have a couple of occasions where I might have been collecting like fingerprint evidence from a break-in or something like that. And I was having to explain to a homeowner that I was unable to draw a fingerprint because the object had been compromised. It was wet. It had been outside, various, whatever the circumstances were. And they proceeded to tell me that I was wrong because they had seen on NCIS or CSI that they were able to do this. And so as soon as I hear that, well, on NCIS or on CSI, I immediately stopped the conversation because that, you know, it's only happened a handful of times. But yes, I have had to address that, that that's not how real life actually works.

Yes, I have had to explain to someone in detail that the unrealistic expectations they had seen on TV shows about true evidence processing were not how it works in reality.

Have you ever had to explain to someone in detail how evidence processing works due to their unrealistic expectations from TV shows?

Debunking TV Myths: Explaining the Reality of Evidence Processing

Yes, I have had to explain in detail how evidence processing works to someone who had unrealistic expectations from TV shows. It doesn't happen often, but there were a few occasions during my time on patrol where I had to collect fingerprint evidence from a break-in, for example. I would then have to explain to the homeowner that I couldn't draw a fingerprint because the object had been compromised, such as being wet or exposed to certain conditions. In response, they would insist that I was wrong because they had seen it done on shows like NCIS or CSI. Whenever someone brings up TV shows like that, I immediately stop the conversation because it's not an accurate representation of how things work in real life.

So this is a really good question. It's one that actually is an industry that we spend a lot of time talking about and trying to work on. And that's how can members of the public better educate themselves on the realities of first responder jobs? Or in all reality, how can we, as the first responders, better educate the public? Because that's really where the responsibility lies, is it falls on us. So I think as responders, actually getting out and interacting with the community, creating programs to encourage them and draw them in to see the reality of our day-to-day lives. Things like Explorer programs, Citizen Police Academies, those are all great programs, write-alongs. These are all things that citizens and specifically law enforcement, because that's my background, can do to better inform each other about what the realities of the first responder industry are. We really got to get out there and get them engaged. And ultimately that onus falls on us as the responders.

First responders should take initiative in educating the public on the realities of their jobs, such as creating programs like Explorer programs, Citizen Police Academies, and write-alongs, to better inform citizens about what their job entails.

How can members of the public better educate themselves on the realities of first responder jobs beyond what they see in popular media?

The Importance of First Responders Educating the Public

Members of the public can better educate themselves on the realities of first responder jobs by actively engaging with the first responder community. It is crucial for us, as first responders, to take responsibility in educating the public. Creating programs and initiatives that allow citizens to interact with us and experience our day-to-day lives can help bridge the knowledge gap. Explorer programs, Citizen Police Academies, and ride-alongs are excellent examples of initiatives that promote understanding and awareness. By actively engaging with the community, we can better inform them about the realities of the first responder industry. Ultimately, it is our responsibility as responders to reach out and engage with the public in order to foster mutual understanding and education.

How do you stay up to date on changes in the field such as new laws and technology? Great question because everything we do in law enforcement, it's always evolving, especially when it comes to technology. There's so many new things coming out there that are game changers, that make your life easier, make your life safer, and makes the job easier. So, things that I'll look at is with ICP in the magazine, look at what they have in there for advertisers and what people are talking about. ASIS is another great resource that I look at. Talks about upcoming trends and that's focused a lot more on the security world, but also a lot of that can correlate directly into the law enforcement technology. And then going to conferences. We'll go to a lot of conferences with Evidence IQ and we'll expo our Ballistics IQ solution, but I like to get up and walk around and see what other technologies are out there because that's where you're going to see a lot of these new things or at these events. So keeping abreast on those are very important. Being on LinkedIn helps out a lot to see what's being posted on there and what new technology and such. That's what's really good ways to find out about it. Then as it relates to laws, of course, watching court cases and what's happening and what's being changed, you definitely have to keep abreast up on that, depending on what state you're in and what laws have changed there locally. But I think a lot of it is networking and people you know in the industry and in the arena to see what's changing and then see what you think will work best for you and see if you can push to incorporate that. Stay safe out there.

To stay up to date with changes in the field such as new laws and Technology, I look at resources like ICP magazine, ASIS, conferences, LinkedIn, and court cases. Networking with people in the industry is also a great way to stay informed about changes.

How do you stay up-to-date on changes in the field, such as new laws or technology?

Law Enforcement's Secret to Staying Ahead of Change

To stay up-to-date on changes in the field, such as new laws and technology, I utilize various resources. Firstly, I rely on publications like ICP magazine to learn about new technologies and trends through advertisements and discussions. ASIS is another valuable resource that focuses on security but often provides insights applicable to law enforcement technology. Attending conferences is also crucial as they offer opportunities to explore different technologies and stay informed about the latest advancements. While representing Evidence IQ at conferences, I make it a point to walk around and discover other innovative solutions. Additionally, staying active on LinkedIn allows me to keep track of what's being posted about new technologies. Regarding changes in laws, it's important to monitor court cases and legal developments relevant to the jurisdiction I'm in. Networking with individuals in the industry is also key for staying updated on changes and incorporating the most effective strategies.

So, how can officers respond more effectively to active shooter events? This is a real long topic, but I think one of the key components is officers need to train. They need to be proficient in their tactics. They need to be proficient in their firearm skills, and most importantly, they need to be proficient in critical thinking under stress because they're going to have to make a lot of decisions very fast in a very dynamic environment. When it comes to the response, the way we can make that the best is understand that when you get there, if you're the first officer on the scene and it's an active shooter event, you have to go inside. You're not going to be able to wait for backup. You're not going to be able to wait for all these resources to get there and help you out. Most likely as the first officer, you're going to need to go in either with yourself or maybe with just one or two other officers. You need to get in as fast as you can and locate the problem and then do whatever it takes to solve that problem. Then once you have neutralized that threat, instantly start transitioning your role to start rendering medical aid inside of the actual crisis site and trying to keep people from dying.

To respond effectively to active shooter events, officers need to train in their tactics, firearm skills, and critical thinking under stress. The first officer on the scene needs to go inside quickly and locate the problem and do whatever it takes to solve it. After neutralizing the threat, they should transition to providing medical aid and trying to keep people from dying.

How can police officers respond more effectively to active shooter incidents?

Effective Response Tactics for Police in Active Shooter Incidents

To enhance the effectiveness of police officers' response to active shooter incidents, several key factors come into play. First and foremost, officers must undergo thorough and ongoing training. They need to be well-versed in tactics, proficient in firearm skills, and most importantly, capable of critical thinking under high-stress situations. Rapid decision-making is crucial in dynamic environments.

When it comes to the response itself, a critical aspect is understanding that as the first officer on the scene of an active shooter event, waiting for backup or additional resources is not an option. Immediate action is required. The first officer, potentially accompanied by one or two others, must enter the premises swiftly and locate the source of the threat. Their primary objective is to neutralize that threat as quickly as possible.

Once the threat has been eliminated, it is essential for officers to seamlessly transition their role toward providing medical aid within the crisis site. This involves rendering immediate assistance to those injured and doing everything possible to prevent further loss of life.

In summary, effective response to active shooter incidents involves comprehensive training in tactics and critical thinking, immediate engagement by the first responding officers, swift neutralization of the threat, and prompt transition to providing medical aid within the impacted area.