ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q4-2024

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Zero Knowledge security and end-to-end encryption (E2EE) ensure that data always remains encrypted even while it is being stored or processed in the cloud. With Zero Knowl edge and E2EE, only authenticated and authorized users possess the decryption keys, meaning that the cloud provider cannot access or view the plaintext data, thereby preserving confidentiality and privacy. End-to-end encryption deployed in this way further enhances security by encrypting data from the point of origin to the point of destination, ensuring that it remains protected throughout its lifecycle, including during transit and storage. CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY With cyber espionage at unprecedented levels law enforce ment agencies are at real risk if they do not prioritize the security and privacy of shared, sensitive information. Cloud-based solutions can offer a secure and scalable platform for sharing and storing data, provided they adhere to stringent security standards such as Zero Trust, and Zero Knowledge security that includes end-to-end encryption. If these foundational principles are not met, cloud solutions can be subject to the same level of risk as some on-premises solutions. To conclude on a positive note, the good news is there are solutions on the market that allow agencies to embrace the cloud with complete confidence, law enforcement leaders who are committed to the efficiencies and scalability advantages of the cloud must insist their cloud solution provider offers zero knowledge, end-to-end encryption and zero trust security to ensure their agencies can collaborate securely and continue to uphold the trust and integrity of the communities they serve. 1 International Association of Chiefs of Police, Leveraging the Cloud for Law Enforcement, Exploring Operational, Policy, and Technical Opportunities & Challenges, January 2013, 4, 8. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/all/c/ CloudSurveyResults.pdf 2 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture, Computer Security, August 2020, 6-7. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-207.pdf

high as 70% (FBI, 2021). There have always been concerns about officers and the use of alcohol in their lives and the damage it can cause not only to their bodies but also to their families and jobs. It's estimated that 1 in 4 officers struggle with some cat egory of substance abuse and the rate is 10 to 20% higher than the public (Retreat Behavioral Health, 2023). Law enforcement officers must have an outlet when dealing with day-to-day stress. That outlet to reduce stress comes from daily exercise, eating a proper diet, getting a good night of rest, and having a person you can talk to. I always felt it was most im portant to have one person you can speak to that will not judge you but listen to you. Consider this, an officer gets off work and goes to their daughter's recital and sits with all the other parents and is asked by another parent "How was your day". That can be difficult to explain not only to them but even to your family. You need to be able to vent in a healthy way. Officers tend to not dis cuss their job for many reasons. The "Blue Wall of Silence" is real. Many officers lose trust in the public and tend to only communi cate to other officers which may not always be the best decision. They need to know they can reach out to others without being judged. We all face challenges every single day and an officer's day-to-day challenges can be very dark and not understandable to many of the public and their families. Chiefs and Sheriffs can take several steps to understand and address stress among their officers. Below I have defined seven important steps every Chief and Sheriff should take: • Foster an Open Communication Policy Officers need to know they feel safe to express their mental health without repercussions. • Implement a department Wellness Program Officers need some source of wellness management such as a physical fitness program or stress management classes. Even access to a Dietitian could help. • Provide access to mental health counselors The counselors must understand the duties of a law enforcement office and the risk they take each day. • Evaluate all officer’s mental health status Implement an anonymous survey to gather data on officer's stress levels and primary causes of stress. (Could be provided through mental health counselors) • Review department Scheduling Examine overtime which can be stressful to officers with different shift patterns. Also need to review department policies on overtime which may be mandatory. • Review Agencies Critical Incident Responses The department must maintain a record system that tracks officers' exposure to critical incidents. • Implement mental health post-incident screening This will ensure an officer's psychological well-being to per form their duties. These steps can benefit Chiefs and Sheriffs not only by understanding the stress factors impacting their officers but also by guiding the implementation of supportive measures to improve overall mental health and job satisfaction. This type of action is a win-win for both law enforcement leaders and of ficers when it comes to their mental health and well-being. It's imperative that law enforcement agencies treat stress among police officers seriously. Police administrations must put stress and their officers at the top of the list if they want to

FBINAA.ORG | Q4 2024

About the Author: Max Santiago serves as a Senior Law Enforcement Advisor for DekkoSecure, a leader in providing fully secure collaboration, messaging and file sharing for government and law enforcement. With over 40 years of successful law enforcement experi ence in various agencies and roles, he has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in cyber security, criminal justice, law enforcement operations, evidence, and risk assessment. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and was a distin guished member of the CHP for 30 years. He currently serves as a member of the Deadly Force Review Board

for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, NA Session 214, FBI Law Enforce ment Executive Development Seminar, Quantico, Virginia, and the Law Enforcement Command College of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. He served as the 2015 President of the California Chapter of the FBI Na tional Academy Associates (FBINAA), and currently serves on their Executive Board as the California Chapter Secretary. He served as the Parliamentarian (2020-2021) for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) on their Executive Board.

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