Criminal Justice

First Responders

How can I make sure I’m not getting false information from the internet?

Unveiling the Truth: Navigating the Internet's Information Maze

How can I make sure I'm not getting false information from the internet? Great question. And this is an issue that we've been seeing for years. Just because you see it on the internet doesn't mean it's true. I think one thing that you need to do is check your sources. Where are you getting that from? Is it a reputable website? Is it a reputable news organization? Is it some obscure location? Also try to find that source somewhere else. If you're searching for information, just don't go with the first site that you get. Look at several different sources and see if you're getting that same type of information. That's what's important. Just like if you're doing a book report, you're not going to do it, if you're doing a research paper, excuse me, you're not just going to go with one source and write everything on that. You're going to go to several different sources to be able to get that information so you're well informed. And that's the biggest thing with the internet, is make sure that you're well informed. That you're checking your sources, you're seeing if they're a valid and legitimate source, and then you're doing some other fact checking. Looking in other areas to see if this information is only coming up from this one source, or if the same type of information is coming up from several different websites and newspapers, or which would lend more credibility to it, that if several people are reading and talking about it, that may give more credence to it. But just because several people are talking about it, doesn't mean it's actually accurate. You need to look into it and see where it's coming from. So a lot of it can be, you need to do some research on the net, see where you're getting that, and don't just believe everything you see on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram.

To make sure you're not getting false information from the internet, it is important to check your sources, make sure they are reputable websites or news organizations. Additionally, do some research and fact-checking by looking for the same type of information on different sources, like newspapers and other websites. Finally, be aware that not everything on social media sites is necessarily accurate.

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To ensure you're not receiving false information from the internet, it's essential to be vigilant. Just because something is on the internet doesn't make it true. Checking your sources is crucial. Consider if the information is from a reputable website or news organization rather than an obscure source. Moreover, try to find that same information from multiple sources. Don't rely on the first site you encounter; explore different sources to gather a well-rounded understanding. This is similar to conducting research for a paper, where relying on a single source would be insufficient. Being well-informed is vital when navigating the internet. Verify the credibility of your sources and engage in fact-checking. Look for other instances of the same information from various websites and newspapers, as this lends more credibility than a single source. However, keep in mind that just because something is widely discussed doesn't guarantee its accuracy. It's necessary to investigate further and understand the origins of the information. Ultimately, research and verify information from different sources rather than blindly believing everything you come across on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Why might someone's home get raided? The truth about search warrants and probable cause.

Why might someone's home get raided? Interesting question. You know the police aren't just going to come raid someone's house because they want to or because they have a hunch. If they're gonna go in and do a raid or what we'd refer to as a search warrant on someone's house, we actually have to have probable cause. It's not just probable cause that I think of. I've got to take that probable cause, I've got to put it into an affidavit. I have to take that to a judge and then that judge is gonna review that and determine yep I do have enough probable cause to get this search warrant or I do not. If that judge determines yes I have probable cause to let's say it's look for narcotics or something illegal. I've got to say I want to search one two three four five Main Street because Tim Jones is in possession of this illegal substance and it can't just be well because I think he has that. I've got to explain why that illegal substance is there. What's the information that I've gained that allows me to believe I have probable cause that that information is there. What's the probable cause they believe that Tim Jones lives at that address. All that information is gonna go in this affidavit to the judge. That judge is gonna say yay or nay and if he or she signs off on that affidavit meaning yes they're approving my search warrant. Then as a law enforcement officer we'd be able to go in and execute that warrant. But it's all based on having probable cause that some illegal activity or something illegal is in that house and I've confirmed that it's in there and a judge has said yes you are authorized to go in there and get that.

Police need probable cause to get a search warrant to rate someone's home. The probable cause must be detailed in an affidavit and approved by a judge before the search can take place.

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Why might someone's home get raided? A home is not raided just because the police feel like it or have a hunch. To conduct a raid or execute a search warrant, there must be probable cause. It's not just my personal belief in probable cause; I have to document that probable cause in an affidavit and present it to a judge. The judge will review the affidavit to determine if sufficient probable cause exists to issue the search warrant. If the judge determines there is enough probable cause, it could be for reasons like searching for narcotics or other illegal substances. I have to provide specific information about why I believe the illegal substance is at that particular address and how I obtained that information. The affidavit also needs to establish probable cause that the person associated with the illegal activity resides at that address. Once the judge signs off on the search warrant, law enforcement officers can then execute it by entering the premises. So, in summary, a home may be raided based on having confirmed probable cause of illegal activity or contraband inside, with approval from a judge.

What are your "go-to" resources for staying up-to-date with industry best practices?

Unlocking a Toolbox of Industry Best Practices

What are your go to resources for staying up to date with industry best practices? I would say there's a several resources that I use. One would be linked in uh with my network that I follow within the first responder and law enforcement community. And then just um self improvement and leadership, you know, seeing what they post uh be it, articles and then groups that I follow what they're posting and what's happening within their genre associated with that was some of these same groups is getting on their email lists that way you're able to see some of them send out weekly monthly, however often you can get them again. That's just a constant stream of information that you're able to read through and absorb and use the way that you want. I like to read both magazines online and buying magazines of industry as well as books. Some of them may be, you know, may be not as old, but it's good to read those and see what is out there and what you're able to come across and take and put that into your basket of tools. I think one thing that's good too is podcasts. I like to listen to a lot of different podcasts, especially when I'm driving or traveling. You know, those are pretty current and up to date. But I think there's just, there's just so many different opportunities to glean information and to stay up to date with different associations and different genres for you that I think it's something that everybody needs to set up and have that in their tool kit.

I typically stay up to date with industry best practices by using LinkedIn to follow networks within the first responder and law enforcement community, subscribing to email lists, reading magazines and books, and listening to podcasts.

For staying up-to-date with industry best practices, I have several go-to resources. First, I utilize LinkedIn to follow and connect with professionals in my field, specifically within the first responder and law enforcement community. This allows me to stay updated on their posts, articles, and discussions related to industry best practices. Additionally, I join relevant groups on LinkedIn to access a constant stream of information through their email lists. I find it valuable to read both online and print magazines specific to my industry, as well as books that offer insights and ideas. Even if some of the books are not the most recent publications, they still provide valuable knowledge and perspectives. Another resource I enjoy is podcasts. They are a great source of current and up-to-date information, especially when I am driving or traveling. Overall, there are numerous opportunities to gather information and stay updated through different associations and genres within the industry. It's important for everyone to have a toolkit of resources that work best for them in order to stay informed and continuously improve.

How do you think mentorship and shadowing programs can benefit young professionals in developing their leadership skills?

Shadowing and mentorship: Unlocking Leadership Skills

How do you think mentorship and shadowing programs can benefit young professionals in developing their leadership skills? You know, I think these mentoring and shadowing programs are extremely important because as you're developing in your role as a leader, you've got a lot to learn and you're not going to know everything just from reading a book or going through some leadership training. You're going to learn it by actually doing it. And I think what helps out is, you know, shadowing a lot of different people. I did that with my time at ATF because I had several individuals that I shadowed and who were supervisors that I wanted to, you know, see how they were doing things. And what you're able to do is pick up little bits and pieces from each individual. You're not going to emulate one person in everything that they do. You may pick up a few things from this person and a few things from this lady. It just all depends. And one thing I think that's very important is that you're going to pick up things that you don't want to do. And that's what I did. I saw supervisors and I'm like, when I get into that role, that is something that I am not going to do. I'm not going to treat my people this way. I'm not going to talk to individuals in a certain way. So you're able to pick up different traits and skills that you can use. And those can be a combination of hard skills and soft skills and how to deal with individuals and also, you know, their policies and procedures. And I think that's what is very important, is having somebody there that you can go to, that you can bounce questions off of, but then also that you're able to follow them in their career and pick up individual things that can actually help you in your program.

Mentoring and shadowing programs can be extremely beneficial for young professionals looking to develop their leadership skills. By shadowing different people, you can pick up useful traits and skills, such as hard and soft skills, how to effectively communicate with others, and policies and procedures. Through these programs, you have someone to go to for advice and guidance, and can get an inside look into what successful leaders do.

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Mentorship and shadowing programs are invaluable for young professionals in developing their leadership skills. While leadership training and books provide a foundation, true learning comes from hands-on experience. These programs allow individuals to observe and learn from experienced leaders in action.

Shadowing different people can provide a diverse range of perspectives and approaches. By observing multiple supervisors, for example, one can pick up various techniques and insights. It's not about emulating one person entirely, but rather extracting valuable bits and pieces from each individual.

Importantly, these programs also expose young professionals to behaviors or practices they do not want to replicate. Witnessing ineffective leadership styles or poor treatment of others can serve as a lesson in what not to do when they assume leadership roles.

Through mentorship and shadowing, individuals can acquire a combination of hard and soft skills. They learn how to interact with others, navigate policies and procedures, and gain a deeper understanding of effective leadership practices.

Having a mentor or someone to turn to for guidance is also crucial. It provides a support system and a sounding board for questions and concerns. Following someone's career trajectory can offer valuable insights and inspiration for one's own growth.

Overall, mentorship and shadowing programs offer young professionals the opportunity to learn from experienced leaders, gain practical skills, and shape their own leadership style.

In your opinion, what role should law enforcement play in schools beyond teaching programs like GREAT?

Key Takeaway: School resource officers foster positive relationships between students and law enforcement.

In your opinion, what role should law enforcement play in schools beyond teaching programs like GREET? I think one of the biggest roles they should play is a school resource officer. You know, I think it's really sad and unfortunate and, you know, hurts overall students when I see these communities pulling school resource officers out of the schools. You know, those officers are there, yes, to help keep control, keep order, but they're also, one of their roles is to break down that wall between the community and law enforcement. A lot of times in communities, the only time they have interaction with law enforcement is when something goes bad. But if you've got that school resource officer that is making friends with the students, they know the students' names, students know the officers' names, officers sitting having lunch with them or on break or if there's gym class or they're outside for recess, they're out there playing basketball or playing games with them. That builds that camaraderie and that relationship that is so needed right now between the community and the police. Police are not the bad guys. Yes, there are some bad officers out there, but there's bad people and bad traits in every profession. But I think to demonize school resource officers that, oh, you know, they shouldn't be there and it's militarizing the schools and it shows a bad example if an officer is walking around with a gun on their hip. That officer is there if something goes wrong. Somebody, a student has a, you know, goes off the deep end, is going to come into that school and start shooting. That officer could be there to help save lives or a fight breaks out at the school or there's a medical emergency. That officer is there to help and I think having school resource officers more involved in schools is what's necessary. Getting back to that, I think it'll really help stem a lot of the issues we're seeing in schools, maybe stem a lot of issues with kids growing up because they don't have anybody to turn to. So I think it's important to look at how school resource officers have and are being utilized, but I think it'd be very important to put them back into the schools, middle schools, high schools, elementary schools, just to have them have that positive role model and that positive interaction between the students and law enforcement because that's how we're all going to get better. Excuse me, getting choked up over this. All right, thank you. We'll talk to you soon.

Law enforcement should play a role in schools beyond teaching programs like GREET by having school resource officers present. These officers can help build camaraderie and a positive relationship between the community and law enforcement, provide safety in case of an emergency, and serve as positive role models for students.

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In my opinion, beyond teaching programs like GREET, law enforcement should play a significant role in schools as school resource officers. It is unfortunate to see communities removing these officers from schools, as they serve an important purpose. School resource officers not only help maintain order and control but also break down the barriers between the community and law enforcement.

By building relationships with students, knowing their names, and engaging in activities like having lunch together or playing games during breaks, school resource officers foster camaraderie and positive interactions. This is crucial in establishing a much-needed relationship between the community and the police. It is important to remember that police officers are not the enemy. While there may be some bad individuals in every profession, demonizing school resource officers is unfair.

Having school resource officers present in schools is essential for various reasons. They can respond quickly in case of emergencies such as a student going on a rampage or a fight breaking out. They can also provide assistance during medical emergencies. Their presence can help save lives and ensure the safety of students and staff.

I believe that involving school resource officers more actively in schools, from elementary to high school, can help address many of the issues we see in schools today. It can provide students with a positive role model and someone they can turn to for support. By reinstating school resource officers, we can foster positive interactions between students and law enforcement, ultimately leading to a better and safer environment for everyone.

I apologize for getting choked up over this topic. Thank you, and we'll talk to you soon.

What was the most challenging aspect of dealing with bureau headquarters on a regular basis?

Managing Bureau Headquarters: Navigating Micromanagers and Independence

What was the most challenging aspect of dealing with Bureau headquarters on a regular basis? You know, it all depended on who my supervisor was. As the special agent in charge, I reported to a deputy assistant director. And during my time, I had several of those that rotated through the positions. Some were great. Some let me do what I needed to do. Let me run my field division basically the way I wanted to within, of course, the parameters of ATF and the policies and guidelines, of course. But, you know, let me come up with new ideas and let me, you know, implement those. And then I had others that were the quintessential micromanager. Literally every day calling, wanting to know about something. If I wanted to do something or try something new, had to call them, write a paper, provide it to them. Basically do mother may I on even the smallest thing. It wasn't changing policies and procedures. It was, hey, here's something that we're thinking about doing. So that was some of the challenging aspects of it is I was responsible for all of Ohio and half the state of Indiana for ATF. And then wanted to work with those local departments and our agents and investigators that were there and try new ways of handling invest investigations. It just came a little frustrating at times, just that some of the supervisors wanted to have their finger in everything and help make the decisions because they wanted to say that it was their idea and it was their decision. So the biggest thing is that I learned that I had to learn how to manage up, how to manage those in individuals, provide them with just enough information to keep them off my back so I could do what I needed to do.

The most challenging aspect of dealing with Bureau headquarters was learning how to manage up and provide them with enough information to keep them off of my back, so I could do what I needed to do.

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The most challenging aspect of dealing with Bureau headquarters on a regular basis varied depending on my supervisor. As the special agent in charge, I reported to different deputy assistant directors over time. Some supervisors were great, allowing me to run my field division and implement new ideas within the parameters of ATF policies and guidelines. However, there were others who were micromanagers, requiring constant updates and approval even for small decisions. It became frustrating at times, especially when I wanted to collaborate with local departments and explore innovative approaches to investigations across Ohio and parts of Indiana. Some supervisors wanted to be involved in everything to take credit for ideas and decisions. Consequently, I had to learn how to manage up by providing enough information to satisfy them while being able to focus on my responsibilities without unnecessary interference.

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. 