First Responders

Criminal Justice

What do you want people considering a career as a first responder to know?

Realities of a First Responder: Tough, Admirable, and Life-Changing

What do you want? People considering a career as a first responder to know, first and foremost, it's very admirable position. It's a big burden you're taking on your shoulders to scrap on that uniform. Be it a police officer, Corrections firefighter, whatever encompasses. Your first responder role on the law enforcement side. You know, it is, it's a very tough position. You're going to be working nights. It's weekends. You're going to miss birthdays anniversaries kids events, graduations, holidays. No be prepared that you know, your life is going to change both with what your schedule is. But also what you're going to see how people are going to interact with you. You're going to have to develop a little bit of a thick skin because you're going to see people at their worst. When something goes bad, that's when you're going to be called. And unfortunately, a lot of times, you may not be the person that they want to see. You could be yelled at spit at Beyond, you know, viral that this, you know, against law enforcement. So you have to develop a thick skin to that aspect of it. But you also have to realize you need to take care of your mental health and don't hold all that in. You need to be willing to talk to people be open but it's a great profession. And it's very admirable. If you're going to go down that road, I loved it. Especially at ATF, 26 years. Their our agency was not very liked by a lot of individuals, but I loved everything I did. And I think it's a great profession that you can get into and just read a lot about it into a lot of research on where you would like to go.

It is a very admirable position to take on the burden of being a first responder, but you have to be aware that it is a tough job. It involves working nights, weekends and holidays, and you will often encounter people at their worst. You must develop a thick skin and make sure to take care of your mental health. Despite the difficulties, it can be a rewarding career, and it is important to do research and make sure it is the right fit for you.

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For those considering a career as a first responder, there are a few important things to know. First and foremost, it is an admirable position that comes with a significant burden. Whether you become a police officer, firefighter, or work in corrections, being a first responder in law enforcement is tough. You will work nights, weekends, and miss important personal events like birthdays and holidays. Your schedule will change, and you must be prepared for that.

Additionally, as a first responder, you will witness people at their worst. When something goes wrong, you will be called to the scene, and sometimes, you may not be the person they want to see. You may face verbal abuse, spit at, or encounter negativity due to the current climate surrounding law enforcement. It's crucial to develop a thick skin to handle these situations. However, it's equally important to prioritize your mental health and not hold everything in. Be open and willing to talk to others about your experiences.

Despite the challenges, a career as a first responder is rewarding and admirable. I personally loved my 26 years at ATF, even though our agency wasn't always well-liked. It's a profession where you can make a difference. If you choose this path, do thorough research and learn as much as you can about the specific field you are interested in.

What inspired you to pursue a career in criminal justice?

Uncle's Inspiring Mentorship Fuels Passion for Criminal Justice

What inspired you to pursue a career in criminal justice? I would say what inspired me was my Uncle Sam. I was born and raised in Detroit and my uncle was a Detroit police officer. And I was really enthralled with what he was doing and what it was like to be a police officer. I always wanted to pick his brain as a young kid and learn more about it and hear stories of what it entailed and how he liked the job. So he really helped mold me and he was sort of like a mentor for me growing up. So having that mentor and that role model really helped, but also I wanted to serve. I always wanted to give back to my community wherever I was going to be. I felt it was a calling that I had that law enforcement in my blood because it was in my family, but it was something that I wanted to do. I felt that's what I needed to do. I ended up getting involved with the Law Enforcement Explorers as part of the Macomb County Sheriff's Department in Michigan, which was similar to like Boy Scouts, but it's all for individuals who want to get into law enforcement. So really learned a lot there, learned a lot about the positions and what it entailed and opportunities. Ended up applying to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and got my degree there in criminal justice and law enforcement specialist. And from there, I went on to work at Macomb County Sheriff for a short period of time, but then to ATF. But it's all about, I wanted to give back. I had a calling that I felt I wanted to serve. I wanted to protect the community and do what I could to make this world a better place.

My Uncle, a Detroit police officer, was my inspiration to pursue a career in criminal justice. I wanted to give back and serve my community, so I joined the Macomb County Sheriff's Department's Law Enforcement Explorers program and eventually got my degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Specialists from Ferris State University. I went on to work at MaComb County Sheriff and then ATF.

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What inspired me to pursue a career in criminal justice? I would credit my Uncle Sam as the primary inspiration. Growing up in Detroit, my uncle was a police officer, and I was fascinated by his work and wanted to learn more about it. He became my mentor and role model, shaping my desire to serve and give back to my community. I felt a calling to law enforcement, seeing it as a way to make a positive impact. To further explore this path, I got involved with the Law Enforcement Explorers program offered by the Macomb County Sheriff's Department in Michigan. This program provided valuable insights into the various roles and opportunities within law enforcement. I then pursued a degree in criminal justice and law enforcement specialist at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. After obtaining my degree, I began working at the Macomb County Sheriff's Office before eventually transitioning to the ATF. My motivation has always been rooted in serving, protecting, and striving to make this world a better place.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of working in criminal justice?

Rewarding Criminal Justice Career: Helping Communities, Making Safer

For me, the most rewarding aspect of working in criminal justice is being able to help people. I've always been the type that I've wanted to give back to the community and provide that service. I think that's one thing that's really rewarding is helping individuals, but also helping them get out of bad situations and helping those individuals that have been through bad situations throughout my career at ATF   We've always focused on violent crime and being able to identify those individuals that are causing the vast majority of violent crime in the community and removing those from that community. We've seen a reduction in crime in that area. We know through studies that a vast majority of shootings that happen are done by a small number of individuals. And if we're able to through technology and investigations and surveillance and search warrants, whatever aspect we're able to use, when investigative tools, identify those individuals can stop them from shooting. That's going to make communities safer. And that's what I think is really rewarding to me, is making communities safer.

The most rewarding aspect of working in criminal justice is being able to help people by identifying and removing individuals who are causing the majority of violent crime in communities, thereby making them safer.

The most rewarding aspect of working in criminal justice, in my experience, is the ability to help people. Giving back to the community and providing a valuable service has always been important to me. It's truly rewarding to assist individuals in getting out of difficult situations and supporting those who have faced adversity. Throughout my career at ATF, our focus has been on addressing violent crime. We work towards identifying and removing individuals who are responsible for a significant portion of violent crime in the community. By utilizing technology, conducting investigations, surveillance, and executing search warrants, we can identify these individuals and prevent them from causing harm, ultimately making communities safer. Studies have shown that a small number of individuals are responsible for the majority of shootings, so being able to stop them has a tangible impact on reducing crime. Making communities safer is what truly brings me fulfillment in this line of work.

What was some of the most formative times in your career? 

Career Growth: From Rookie to Leader, the Formative Times That Shaped Me.

What was some of the most formative times in your career? Well, I would say one of the first most formative times was when I just got on the job. I was right out of college, working at a local sheriff's department for a very short period of time before ATF called. And then I was brand new to law enforcement. So I was very formative and moldable. And I was a sponge trying to learn as much as I could about the job, what I needed to do, how to become an investigator, all those aspects of what it would take to be a special agent. And then I would say, as I progressed through my career and got into the supervisory role is where I really saw a big change in that I wanted to be not just a supervisor, but more of a leader and take people underneath my wing and help them become better people, better agents, better leaders themselves, because a leader is not just somebody who has the stripes on their shoulder or they're in a supervisory position. Anybody can be a leader. And I really learned that coming up through the ranks. And then I would say once I went to the FBI National Academy that really, that molded me a lot and helped me become who I am, not just finishing up my career at ATF, but at the Department of Energy and where I'm at now, I learned a lot from all of those. So I think the biggest thing that there's not one single aspect or one area that helped form who I am, but there are several pieces of milestones along my 26, now 30 plus year career who'd made me who I am and what I continue to be.

One of the most formative times in my career was when I first started out as a law enforcement officer. As I progressed through my career, I learned how to become a leader and not just a supervisor. Going to the FBI National Academy further molded me into who I am today. There have been many milestones along this 30 plus year career that have helped me become who I am.

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Some of the most formative times in my career were when I first started working in law enforcement right out of college. Being new to the field, I was eager to learn and absorb as much as possible about the job and how to become an investigator. This period was instrumental in shaping my early career.

As I progressed and took on supervisory roles, I experienced a significant shift in my perspective. I realized that being a leader meant more than just holding a supervisory position. I wanted to mentor and guide others, helping them become better agents and leaders themselves. This understanding of leadership developed as I moved up the ranks.

Attending the FBI National Academy was another pivotal moment in my career. It had a profound impact on shaping my professional growth, not only during my time at ATF but also in my subsequent roles at the Department of Energy and my current position. Each milestone and experience along my 26, now 30 plus year career has contributed to who I am today and continues to shape my journey.

What are some of the career advancement opportunities in criminal justice?

Discover a World of Career Advancement in Criminal Justice

What are some of the career advancement opportunities in criminal justice? As it relates to the law enforcement community, you know, there are several career advancement opportunities. It just all depends on what department you're in and what size of that department it is. You know, typically you'll start out as a patrol officer, then you can advance up into be a detective, where you're not patrolling the roads, you're actually doing criminal investigations. Or you could get into a specialty unit like SWAT or negotiations. Or you could get into the homicide unit or crimes against women or crimes against children or the robbery squad. You know, there are a lot of different specialized units that, again, depends on the size and type of the agency that you're with. And then you can get up into supervision if you want to put on that leadership role and that leadership hat. Every department you can advance your way up into sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, however the structure is broken up. So there are a lot of different avenues. I mean, if you're in a harbor town, you know, maybe there's a marine patrol or there's an aviation patrol if you're a pilot. The big thing now we're seeing are drones. Agencies are setting up their own units and getting officers who are drone certified that they can use those. It just all depends on what your niche is, what you would like to get into, what really drives you and gives you purpose. And then you just need to set a goal and say, this is where I want to go, this is where I want to work, and figure out what you need to do to accomplish that.

There are many career advancement opportunities in criminal justice, such as advancing from patrol officer to detective or to a specialized unit like SWAT or negotiations. You can also advance up into supervision, such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major etc. depending on the department. It all depends on what your niche is and setting a goal of where you want to be.

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Career advancement opportunities in criminal justice vary depending on the department and its size. In the law enforcement community, starting as a patrol officer is common, followed by potential advancement to becoming a detective involved in criminal investigations. There are also specialized units like SWAT, negotiations, homicide, crimes against women or children, and the robbery squad. The availability of these units depends on the agency's size and type. Another path is moving into a supervisory role, such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, or major, depending on the department's structure. Specialized units may exist for marine patrol or aviation patrol for those interested in harbor towns or piloting. Moreover, the emergence of drones has opened up opportunities for officers certified in drone operation. Ultimately, finding one's niche and setting specific goals is essential to determine the desired career path within criminal justice.

Was there ever a situation that you look back on that almost claimed your life?

Close Call: ATF Agent's Life Saved by Intuition and a Bulletproof Vest

Was there ever a situation that you look back on that almost claimed your life? Yes, when I was an agent with ATF in Detroit, we had just executed a search warrant on a house Along with an arrest warrant looking for an individual and we knew he was in there Searched around could not find him. So he figured maybe he escaped So being the newer agent, they sent me and my partner upstairs to start searching and it was extremely hot so the first mistake I made was I took my bulletproof vest off and We're searching around the room and I'm searching in a closet and I'm pulling Looking for mail and photos and evidence and anything Well, I get done with the closet and I turn around and a voice inside my head said Don check the closet again. I Stopped dead in my tracks the hair in the back of my neck went up. I turned around Drew my gun drew my flashlight went back into the closet and I missed in the corner. There was a little cutout Looked inside there saw a hand. I'm like, oh shit. I Got a body up here well until the hand starts to move I Draw down my pistol on the hand where the body would be. I start squeezing the trigger as I'm yelling commands to him Individual doesn't stop I can actually see the trigger or excuse me the hammer coming back on my six-hour I say screw this step out of the closet end up Calling my partner over and up getting the individual out and he said that when I Was in the closet searching he had the handgun which we found in there up against the plaster wall and he was gonna shoot me But he knew there was somebody else out there and he'd have to jump out of the third floor To get away. So the story is never ever ever take your bulletproof vest off

I almost lost my life when searching a house with the ATF. I had taken off my bulletproof vest and was searching in a closet when I heard a voice inside my head telling me to check it again. When I did, I found an individual with a handgun, ready to shoot me. I nearly pulled the trigger but luckily my partner was nearby, allowing us to safely apprehend the suspect.

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Yes, there was a situation that I look back on that almost claimed my life. During my time as an agent with ATF in Detroit, we executed a search warrant on a house, looking for an individual with an arrest warrant. We couldn't find him initially, so my partner and I were sent upstairs to continue searching.

It was extremely hot, and in a mistake, I took off my bulletproof vest. As we searched the room, I had a feeling to check the closet again. Something inside me made me stop and turn around. I drew my gun and flashlight, went back into the closet, and noticed a hand in a little cutout corner. I realized there was a person hiding there.

I aimed my pistol at the hand and started giving commands, but the individual didn't stop. I could see the hammer coming back on my firearm. In that moment, I decided to step out of the closet and call my partner over. We were able to apprehend the individual, who later revealed that he had a handgun against the plaster wall and had intended to shoot me. However, he knew there was someone else outside, and escaping would have required jumping from the third floor.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: never, ever take off your bulletproof vest. It's a reminder of the importance of personal safety and being prepared for any situation.

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. 