First Responders

Criminal Justice

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job?

Law Enforcement Faces Challenges Amidst Stereotypes and Stigma

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job? I'm gonna address this from the point of view from a first responder in the law enforcement community I would say some of the biggest biggest challenges right now is just the negative stereotypes and the negative stigma That's being put out there falsely on law enforcement as a whole that all law enforcement is is going out there and beating up people and shooting people and Taking people's guns away and taking people's rights away That could be the furthest thing from the truth Everybody that signed up to be in law enforcement is there to help people. It was a calling. That's what they wanted to do so I think it's a big challenge for Individuals who are currently in the law enforcement arena or those who are aspiring to be in that position that Places you go not everybody is going to welcome you not everybody's gonna think that because you're driving on the street that They're welcoming you there There's just a culture that we need to Break down those barriers and work with the community that law enforcement is there to help them. It's not going away It's not gonna be defunded. It's not gonna be disbanded We'd have total chaos and anarchy then so law enforcement has a role in keeping society safe But there is correct ways to do that I think some of the challenges that are out there as relates to this is people are coming up with ideas that you know We need to be more Tactful in the way we do things absolutely agree. We need to have more compassion Absolutely, but we can't handcuff our officers and not let them do the job that they need to do because it is a very dangerous job out there so I think the challenges are getting past all these stigmas and stereotypes and Keeping in a right mind on which roles and duties are out there

One of the biggest challenges for those in law enforcement is overcoming the negative stereotypes and stigma associated with the career. People need to be aware that law enforcement officers are there to help, not hurt, and have to find ways to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. Additionally, officers need to be able to do their job safely, while also showing compassion and tactfulness.

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Some of the biggest challenges I face in my job as a first responder in the law enforcement community are the negative stereotypes and stigma falsely associated with law enforcement. There is a misconception that all law enforcement officers are violent and oppressive, which couldn't be further from the truth. Those who choose this profession are driven by a desire to help people. It can be challenging for individuals currently in law enforcement or those aspiring to join to face hostility and unwelcoming environments. Breaking down these barriers and building trust between law enforcement and the community is crucial. It's important for people to understand that law enforcement plays a vital role in maintaining safety and order in society; defunding or disbanding would lead to chaos. While it's necessary to improve tactics and approach situations with compassion, we must also ensure that officers can effectively carry out their duties without being hindered. The challenges lie in combating stereotypes, promoting understanding, and finding the right balance between maintaining public safety and addressing concerns within law enforcement.

Can you describe a particularly complex emergency response situation that you had to manage, and how you handled it?

Managing a Complex Emergency: Negotiating a Barricaded Gunman in Chicago

Can you describe a particularly complex, emergency response situation that you had to manage and how you handled it. When I was with ATF in Chicago, we obtained, an arrest, warrant for an individual, for firearms violations. And we were going to go pick him up at his place of work. We figured, that would be the simplest way it immediately turned into a barricaded gunman situation. The individual was staying at a little apartment on the complex, we were trying to negotiate with him, he would not Not come out. We knew he had firearms in their ended up setting up a perimeter around the little building that he was in. What compounded, the situation? It was Chicago mid-February, extremely cold, we were not prepared for the weather to be out in the elements that long got with the local SWAT team. They were helping us out. We basically had to rotate individuals through because I had to watch for hypothermia. I had to make sure that my agents and the officers were Safe as well as the individual inside. Several hours went by and the local SWAT team wanted to make a dynamic entry and get this individual. I was adamantly against that I didn't want to put any officers In Harm's Way. I wanted to try to stay as long as we could to try to negotiate and bring this individual out. We tried several tactics, eventually, we were able to convince the individual to come out, but what it really came down to His I had to manage the cold, I had to manage rotating individuals out the safety of my agents, the local SWAT team, the base. He wanted to go in too quick and I basically had to control that and say no, what's there's no rush to go in. We don't need to put anybody in the Harm's Way. So it's all about collaborating with your local officers and agents and most importantly, making sure everybody goes home safe. Even the individual that we arrested.

I managed an emergency response situation where an individual had barricaded themselves in an apartment. I had to manage the cold, rotating individuals out and the safety of my agents and the local SWAT team. Eventually we were able to convince the individual to come out without putting anyone in harm's way.

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During my time with ATF in Chicago, I encountered a complex emergency response situation that required careful management. We had obtained an arrest warrant for an individual involved in firearms violations and planned to apprehend him at his workplace. However, the situation quickly escalated into a barricaded gunman scenario.

The individual had taken refuge in a small apartment within a complex, and despite our attempts to negotiate, he refused to come out. Knowing that he had firearms inside, we established a perimeter around the building. The situation was further complicated by the extreme cold of mid-February in Chicago. We were ill-prepared for prolonged exposure to the elements.

Collaborating with the local SWAT team, we had to rotate individuals to prevent hypothermia and ensure everyone's safety. As hours passed, the SWAT team proposed a dynamic entry to apprehend the individual. However, I strongly opposed this approach, as I prioritized the safety of all officers involved. I advocated for continued negotiation and avoiding unnecessary risks.

We employed various tactics to persuade the individual to surrender, and eventually, he agreed to come out. Throughout the ordeal, my focus was on managing the cold, ensuring the well-being of my agents, the SWAT team, and the suspect. I had to assert control and prioritize safety over haste, emphasizing that there was no need to endanger anyone's life.

This complex emergency response situation highlighted the importance of collaboration with local officers and agents, as well as the paramount goal of ensuring everyone's safety. Even in the arrest of the individual, our primary objective was to ensure that everyone involved went home safely.

Revolutionary Ballistics Solution Links Shootings Instantly

What projects are you working on? I'm currently working on our rapid ballistics solution that provides law enforcement agencies immediate actionable intelligence regarding the shooting scenes they are investigating. Once they use our ballistics IQ solution and scan in all the recovered cartridge cases from the shooting incident, they will receive a crime scene analysis triage report. And that report will be able to tell them of the 20 cartridge casings at the scene, let's say 13 were from one gun and 7 were from a second gun. What they can do now with our rapid ballistics solution is they can send that report to one of our 20 firearms examiners that work for us 24-7, 365. And what they will do is look at that report, they will then compare that against all the other scans that the agency and the surrounding communities have put into the ballistics IQ solution. And then they can provide them a report back that says the shooting you had today was linked to a shooting from yesterday. Or a homicide you just had and a gun you recovered, that gun is linked to that shooting. We're all about getting those investigators that actionable intelligence as quickly as possible so we can get these shooters off the streets.

I am working on a rapid ballistics solution for law enforcement agencies which provides crime scene analysis triage reports and can be used to link shootings to one another or recover guns linked to a shooting.

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Currently, I am working on our rapid ballistics solution, which aims to provide law enforcement agencies with immediate actionable intelligence for shooting investigations. Our ballistics IQ solution allows agencies to scan and analyze recovered cartridge cases from shooting scenes. They receive a crime scene analysis triage report that breaks down the number of cartridge casings from different guns involved in the incident.

With our rapid ballistics solution, agencies can send this report to our team of 20 firearms examiners who are available 24/7. These experts compare the report against all other scans in the ballistics IQ solution from the agency and surrounding communities. They then provide a comprehensive report back to the agency, linking the current shooting to previous incidents or connecting recovered guns to specific crimes.

Our goal is to provide investigators with actionable intelligence as quickly as possible, helping them remove shooters from the streets and enhance public safety.

What has been the most difficult challenge you've faced as a first responder and how did you overcome it?

Battling Stigma: The Difficulties of Being an ATF Agent

What's the most difficult challenge you've faced as a first responder and how did you overcome it? I would say for me, working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has been a difficult challenge. Not because the agency as a whole, but just because the agency is seen in so many areas in this country in such a negative light. Yes, ATF has done some stupid stuff over the years and we've had some agents and employees that have not conducted themselves in the best manner. Several investigations that we've had led to negative results, individuals being killed, just major negative press. I've always said that doesn't define me. As an ATF agent, I've always held myself above bar, done all my investigations top notch. I've never skirted anything. So that's really kept my internal compass has really been true north. But just going in and going around and there are areas that I would go and still being retired for eight years, I really don't say, oh yeah, I'm retired ATF because in certain areas people are automatically going to say, oh, you're a gun grabber or you burn down children and women in a church. So that stigma is very hard to deal with. But I've always tried to say, rise above it and know internally what I've done has been for the greater good and I don't let some bad instances define me.

The most difficult challenge I faced as a first responder was dealing with the negative stigma associated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). To overcome this, I tried to focus on the positive aspects of my job and the good I did rather than letting a few negative instances define me.

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The most difficult challenge I've faced as a first responder, specifically working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), has been the negative perception surrounding the agency. ATF has faced criticism and negative press due to past incidents involving agents and employees who did not conduct themselves appropriately. These incidents have led to tragic outcomes and major public scrutiny.

Overcoming this challenge has required me to stay true to my own values and principles. I have always held myself to the highest standards as an ATF agent, conducting thorough investigations and never compromising on my integrity. Despite the negative reputation associated with the agency, I have maintained my internal compass, knowing that my actions have been for the greater good.

Dealing with the stigma attached to ATF has been difficult, even after retiring for eight years. In certain areas, mentioning my affiliation with the agency can lead to assumptions and negative judgments. However, I have chosen to rise above these perceptions and focus on the positive impact I have made throughout my career.

I refuse to let the actions of a few define me or overshadow the meaningful work I have done. It is important to remember that my dedication and commitment to serving the public should not be overshadowed by the mistakes of others.

What is the most challenging security situation you have helped a business navigate, and what was the outcome?

Confronting Internal Theft: Overcoming the Toughest Security Challenge

Hey everybody. The question I received was what is the most challenging security situation. You have helped a business navigate and what was the outcome? I would say the most challenging when I had was a company I was working with they had some high value items go missing and we weren't sure if it was internal theft or if somebody actually broke into the facility and stole these items or if they just were misplaced and could not be found. So I worked with a company conducted. The investigation interviewed employees, but the biggest thing in challenge it we had to do this. Company was a contractor for a larger Corporation and we had to instill confidence in this corporation that the Contracting team knew what they were doing that, this was a one-off situation that their facilities were secure. They were able to keep track of all of their equipment in everything that they were responsible for. So being able to Provide through the investigation, a framework for moving forward. How they would mitigate anything like this ever happening happening again and be able to make sure the corporation they worked with were fully in tune and had the confidence of the contractor because the last thing they wanted to do was lose the contract because of these items going missing. We were able to provide this information, the company move forward. Put it, put it behind them. The contractors that I worked with. They use this as a learning experience. They re trained all their employees. They retrain the leadership staff on, how to handle internal security procedures almost like, you need something bad to happen to have something good become of it. And actually, that's what it did because they actually really tightened up their overall security posture and their procedures.

I had to help a company investigate the mysterious disappearance of high-value items. We had to ensure the larger corporation they were contracted to had confidence in them and their security posture. We put together a framework for mitigating this situation in the future and the contractor used it as a learning experience, re-training all employees and leadership staff to handle internal security procedures better.

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The most challenging security situation I helped a business navigate was when they experienced the loss of high-value items. We were unsure if it was due to internal theft, a break-in, or simply misplacement. To address this, I conducted an investigation and interviewed employees.

The main challenge was to instill confidence in the larger corporation that the contracting team was capable and that this incident was an isolated occurrence. We needed to assure them that the facilities were secure and that the contractor could effectively track and manage their equipment.

Through the investigation, we provided a framework for moving forward and mitigating similar incidents in the future. It was crucial to regain the corporation's trust and ensure the contractor's confidence. Losing the contract was a significant concern, so we worked to address their concerns and provide reassurance.

The company was able to move forward, putting the incident behind them. The contractors used this as a learning experience and implemented retraining programs for employees and leadership staff to enhance internal security procedures. This challenging situation ultimately led to a positive outcome as the overall security posture and procedures were significantly tightened.

What’s the worst work situation you found yourself in and how did you resolve it?

Conquering adversity: Overcoming work challenges with resilience.

Hey Rob, sorry to hear about your knee. Glad you got it fixed and miss you my friend. Hope you have a speedy recovery and you're back to the front line in no time. Take this time to make sure you get yourself all set. Do the PT, get stronger and hopefully I'll see you at some races and we can do some running together soon. Stay safe my brother.

Sorry to hear about your knee injury, hope you have a speedy recovery. Do the PT and get stronger, looking forward to running with you soon!

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Donald Soranno answers your First Responders questions. See all the advice Donald Soranno has and get answers to your own First Responders questions.

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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. 