ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q1-2024

FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., National Academy Building 8-102 Quantico, VA 22135

IN SIDE

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

F EATURE S 08 The Resilient HERO: Tapping into the Strength of the Mind-Body Connection – Julie Rumrill, M.S. and MBSR, Eric Murray, Ed.D. 11 Civil Unrest and Protest Issues: Protest Procedures and Actions – Jose Vega 14 Rural Sheriff Leverages Mobile Technology, Improving Operational Capabilities and Saving Money: A spotlight on Monroe County (MO)

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Sheriff’s Office – Dale Stockton

16 The ‘Digital Witness’ and the Fight Against America’s Opioid Epidemic – Desmond Racicot 18 First Responders Get Help From Local Brewery – Doug Muldoon

COLUMNS 04 Association Perspective 07 National Office Update 20 FBINAA Charitable Foundation 23 Historian’s Spotlight 27 A Message from Our Chaplain 31 National Academy Update

EACH ISSUE 06 Strategic / Academic Alliances

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AD INDEX – 5.11

10 T-Mobile 30 CRI-TAC – JFCU

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NATIONAL BOARD Association President / SCOTT RHOAD Chief/Director of Public Safety University of Central Missouri (MO) (Ret.), srhoad@fbinaa.org Past President / TIM BRANIFF Manager-Emergency Management Sound Transit (WA), tbraniff@fbinaa.org

Representative, Section II / LARRY DYESS Captain, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (LA), ldyess@fbinaa.org

Representative, Section III / TIM CANNON Special Agent Supervisor, Florida Lottery (FL), tcannon@fbinaa.org

Representative, Section IV / STEPHEN HRYTZIK Chief, Powell Police Department (OH), shrytzik@fbinaa.org

1st Vice President / CRAIG PETERSEN cpetersen@fbinaa.org

Chaplain / MIKE HARDEE Senior Manager, Covert Investigations Group (FL), mhardee@fbinaa.org

2nd Vice President / WILLIAM J. CARBONE Detective (OSI) NYS. Attorney General's Office, New York City Police Department (Ret.), bcarbone@fbinaa.org 3rd Vice President / JIM GALLAGHER Associate Director, Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, Arizona State University, Phoenix Police Department (Ret.), jgallagher@fbinaa.org

Historian / JOHN SIMMONS Chief of Police (Ret.), Mission (KS) Police Department, jsimmons@fbinaa.org FBI Acting Assistant Director / WAYNE A. JACOBS FBI Training Division (VA) Executive Director / JEFF MCCORMICK FBINAA National Office, jmccormick@fbinaa.org

Representative, Section I / BILL GARDINER Deputy Director, Idaho State Police, bgardiner@fbinaa.org

2024 KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI JULY 20-JULY 23 HOSTED BY THE KANSAS/WESTERN MISSOURI CHAPTER

FBINAA NATIONAL ANNUAL TRAINING CONFERENCE | SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025

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Q1 2024 | Volume 26/Number 1 The National Academy Associate is a publication of the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc.

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

CALL FOR ASSOCIATE MAGAZINE ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Call for Article Submissions on 21st Century contemporary trends, challenges, and issues facing the global law enforcement community. The National Academy Associate Magazine, the official publication of the FBI National Academy Associates, is seeking subject matter experts 21st Century Policing Topics for Consideration: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT TRENDS COMMUNITY POLICING BODY-WORN CAMERAS LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENTATION EXTREME RADICAL GROUPS AND INTERACTIONS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HOMEGROWN RACE = BASED VIOLENT EXTREMISM CIVIL UNREST AND PROTEST ISSUES: PROTEST PROCEDURES/ACTIONS TACTICAL RESPONSE RECRUITING MEDIA RELATIONS FINANCES/BUDGETS DURING TIMES OF CRISIS RECRUITING DIVERSITY OFFICER HEALTH AND WELLNESS RETIRED MEMBER FITNESS to write original, unpublished, continuing law enforcement-related education articles.

Jeff McCormick / Executive Director John Kennedy / Publisher Bridget Ingebrigtsen / Editor Dave Myslinski / Design

© Copyright 2024, the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without express written permission is strictly prohibited.

The National Academy Associate is published quarterly by the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., National Office, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA 22135.

The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization and is not part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or acting on the FBI’s behalf. Email editorial submissions to associate@fbinaa.org. Submissions may vary in length from 500-2000 words, and shall not be submitted simultaneously to other publications. Please see our submission guidelines for more information. The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., the National Board and the editors of the National Academy Associate neither endorse nor guarantee completeness or accuracy of material used that is obtained from sources considered reliable, nor accept liability resulting from the adoption or use of any methods, procedures, recommendations, or statements recommended or implied.

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On the Cover: Resilient Hero.

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ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVE

Scott Rhoad

W e are now well into the new year of 2024, and we are looking forward to what good things it may bring. From a personal perspective 2023 was a monumental year. Being sworn in as your president was definitely a highlight of my life. The following months traveling to various chapters and experienc ing the hospitality of chapter members and the beauty of each location I visited is something every member of this association should and could experience. As most of you know, our association has undergone sig nificant changes during 2023. Perhaps the biggest change in our association has been the transition to a new Executive Director. After a hiring search provided a pool of over 50 applicants that included a lot of very qualified individuals, the search committee and subsequently the National Board selected Jeff McCormick to lead this association. Jeff has hit the ground running and I look forward to his continued leadership during 2024. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the outstanding leadership and com mitment Deputy Executive Director Angela Weir showed during her time as acting executive director. This association was able to maintain our momentum moving forward under her leader ship. Thank you, Angie. The institution of the new Life Member designation for members who have achieved at least 25 years of member ship was finally brought to fruition in 2023. Identifying those members who have been dedicated to this association was an important step that was long overdue. But our most significant advancement of 2023 that will im pact the future of this association was perhaps the purchase and installation of a new database management system. This new system will assist the association as a whole. Not only will the National office see new opportunities and options, but chapters will also have new opportunities as well. Chapters will have new tools to communicate with their members and manage the shar ing of information more effectively. This new system will carry us well into the future. This association is in a very strong and stable position as we move into the future. As our Executive Director Jeff McCormick has been evaluating many of the benefits we provide to our members, the trainings we offer, the network we maintain, and the ability of our staff members to accomplish even more new tasks, I am reminded that behind every great organization is an exceptional staff to help accomplish the goals of the organiza tion. We have been very fortunate over the years to have great personnel working for us. As we all know from our personal and professional lives it is the ”behind the scenes” employees doing their jobs every day that truly makes the organization successful.

I am looking forward to 2024 as it brings new opportunities for this association as we continue to increase our biggest asset, our chapters. Chapters are the key to the success of this associa tion. Help our chapters grow and become even stronger net works of individual members by developing personal relation ships at the local level. If there are multiple national academy graduates in a department, each and every one of them should be members of their chapter. Communication and relationships at the local level are what assist us in our daily job duties. But when that “special” case comes around, it is the global network of this association that we can rely on. Make 2024 a special year by getting more involved in your chapter, giving back to your community, and renewing old friendships that have slipped away over the years. I look forward to seeing you at the 2024 National Annual Training Conference in Kansas City, Mo., July 20-23.

Joining you in Service,

Scott Rhoad FBINAA President FBINA 217

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FBINAA Members... Did you know?

Members will be able to Auto Renew during the 2024 renewal season!

Renew by February 29, 2024 and take advantage of the Early Bird Incentives. Winners will be announced in the March FBINAA Newsletter. 2024 renewals will open January 15.

Visit the FBINAA website Membership Renewal FAQ page to learn more.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES DIAMOND LEVEL

CHAMPION LEVEL

AMBASSADOR LEVEL

PREMIER LEVEL

AFFILIATE LEVEL

ACADEMIC ALLIANCES

MAGNA LEVEL

PLATINUM LEVEL

GOLD LEVEL

A FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

NATIONAL OFFICE UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

Jeff McCormick

I n his article, President Rhoad highlighted several important achievements for our Association in 2023, and articulated a ter rific vision for 2024. A top priority for your National Office in the coming year will continue to be membership. With the suspen sion of seven NA Sessions during the pandemic, and the reduc tion in class sizes since the Sessions began again, we have lost a couple thousand potential new FBINAA Associates. This makes it even more critical for us to ensure our current members renew their membership, and we find ways to encourage NA grads who are not members to rejoin. Being selected to attend the FBI National Academy is one of (if not “the”) pinnacles of any Law Enforcement career, and very few are granted the privilege. As a result, it is a very select group who are eligible to be members of the FBI National Academy As sociates. However, as I remind each student that comes through the NA, your journey as Graduate does not end with graduation. Indeed, the NA Staff and I spend the Sessions ensuring each student realizes the commitment they have to remain engaged after graduation, growing the network of NA Grads dedicated to improving quality of life through law enforcement networking around the world. As a proud member of the FBINAA, I consider it a privilege to belong to such an important and prestigious As sociation and believe maintaining my membership is a responsi bility I owe to those who have come before me, as well as those from future sessions. Thank you to all the National Academy Associates for maintaining your membership! We are now in the middle of our membership renewal sea son. In addition to renewing your own membership, please reach out to some classmates you haven’t spoken to in a while, and ensure they also remain committed to being a part of the World’s Strongest Law Enforcement Leadership Network! Encourage them to connect and engage more with fellow graduates, attend and participate in Chapter activities, take part in our training

opportunities and webinars, and listen to our podcasts. The NAA has something to offer for every member, sworn or retired. Take advantage of the benefits of your Association! Also, let me say “congratulations” to the more than 4,000 NA Associates who have been dedicated members of the NAA for 25 years or more! Thank you “Life Members” for your contributions to the NAA, and setting a tremendous example for us all to follow. Finally, thank you to all our members, partners, and spon sors. By working together and growing our association, we will continue to serve the mission of the FBINAA: “Impacting com munities by providing and promoting law enforcement leadership through training and networking.”

Sincerely,

Jeff McCormick FBINAA Executive Director

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THE RESILIENT HERO: TAPPING INTO THE STRENGTH OF THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

JULIE RUMRILL, M.S., MBSR / ERIC MURRAY, ED.D., NA SESSION 273

In an article published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin in January 2020, Dr. Murray discussed the significance of implementing strategies to develop psychological capi tal (PsyCap) in our public safety workforce 1 . Psychological Capital comprises the four constructs of Hope, Efficacy, Resiliency, and Optimism, referred to as the HERO model. In this related article, we focus specifically on the resiliency component of PsyCap. We explore how mindfulness attention training can increase officer resiliency, which in turn sharpens mental acuity during stressful events and supports recovery afterward. We suggest that mindfulness is an innovative and underutilized tool that has an impor tant place in LE wellness programs.

P illars five and six of the president’s task force on 21st century policing 2 recognize officer mental health and suicide as na tionwide problems. The report calls for training innovation hubs that influence nationwide curricula. It points out that officers in poor mental health are a danger to the community and them selves, and that “supervisors would not allow an officer to go on patrol with… an unserviced duty weapon – but pay little attention to the maintenance of what is all officers’ most valuable resource: their brains” (ibid. p. 61). With the introduction of modern tech nology and equipment, policing is more complex and demanding than ever 3 . Police training, particularly geared towards mental health, must advance at a comparable pace to prepare officers to meet those demands. For too long the emphasis has been on reactive management of stress. Yet high standards in policing are related to the holistic wellness of officers within their agency, particularly with respect to resilience 4,5 . It seems ironic that one of the most effective solu tions to such a complex problem could be as simple as paying attention in the moment, referred to as Mindfulness. Yet that is our working premise, and it is supported by decades of research. BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS A longitudinal study published in 2010 found that police recruits who have higher emotional intelligence and mindful habits are more likely to make a transition into the workplace that

is characterized by lower levels of depressive symptoms and better mental health 6 . Once on the job,

a study of first responders supported the conclusion that mindfulness training improved their capacity to make effective decisions during a crisis 7 .

Research has also shown that mindfulness-based training in law enforcement cohorts may lead to short-term improvement in psychological health, aggression, and stress reactivity 8 . The most recent studies indicated that the benefits of mindfulness-based in terventions persisted for at least three months post-study, indicating the potential to offset long-term consequences of chronic stress 9,10 . These results show that significant rewiring of the stress response is possible, and the underlying science explains why it is critical. THE IMPACTS OF STRESS Stress triggers a complex neurobiochemical cascade that instantaneously activates the sympathetic branch of the nervous system (SNS). Ideally, when the threat passes, the parasympathet ic branch will bring the nervous system back into balance. When stress is chronic however, the nervous system stays in SNS mode, and the ability to manage emotions and respond deliberately is compromised.

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CIVIL UNREST AND PROTEST ISSUES: PROTEST PROCEDURES AND ACTIONS

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

JOSE VEGA, NA Session 253

From the Garner and Ferguson protests that engulfed our country in 2014 and 2015 to the George Floyd protests that occurred in the summer of 2020, to the January 6, 2021 protests and the 2023 protests regard ing the Tyre Nichols ’ death, there are many factors that can affect the response of law enforcement when mitigating these pro tests. One of the major factors that makes it exponentially harder to mitigate these protests is the recent rise of police resent ment in this country. T his resentment has emboldened opportunists to hijack the message from peaceful protestors and create anarchy during these protests. The police are now the very targets of those they are deployed to protect so they must keep the peace, restore order if its lost, and protect themselves from the ire of the crowd. The following are some of my best practices learned from responding and instructing various police agencies in this country. PLANNING – A solid incident action plan (IAP) should minimize surprises for the incident commander. The plan should include a synopsis for the group or groups you are dealing with, your agen cy’s rules of engagement, a brief pre-deployment briefing, the as signments of all resources deployed for the detail, the equipment and vehicles needed for the detail, along with the communication frequency or frequencies to be utilized, phone numbers for all supervisors, and a hospital plan in case of any injuries to mem bers of service. The plan should remove any lack of clarity when it comes to tactics and decision making, ensuring that everyone who needs to know about the plan, knows about the plan. The plan should also consider every stakeholder in the public and

private sector who can contribute to a successful event occurring. The plan becomes more difficult with the rise of two dynamics that are receiving tremendous amount of attention via traditional and social media. The first one is the deliberate targeting of infra structure such as distribution centers and major arterial highways. The targeting of distribution centers can lead to massive looting and the targeting of highways can cause major traffic issues. The second dynamic is the rise of civilian militia, self-styled civilian self-defense groups who take up arms to protect people and prop erty in what they may believe is an absence of law enforcement. This dynamic will put law enforcement in between two groups with radically different agendas, thus placing them in a tough position to protect the people’s right to protest and ensuring that vigilantes do not take the law into their own hands. INTELLIGENCE – Your plan should include dedicated resources to intelligence collection such as trained investigators and supervi sors who can vet intelligence that can be of use to the operation section and incident commander of an event, along with dedicat ed equipment and software that can make your intelligence gath ering more efficient. A fusion center can also be extremely useful if properly utilized. If possible, your intelligence section should have a dedicated area to work out off, away from any distractions that may affect their efficiency. TRAINING – Training should be imperative for every rank, espe cially field commanders. The training should include the under standing of what is constitutionally protected during a protest and what is not. Your training should also include the use of tactics that can de-escalate a situation along with the tactics that can suppress violent acts committed during a riot. Your field com manders should be trained in critical incident decision making, the use of tactics that do not infringe on constitutionally protected rights, command and control, situational awareness and in com munity outreach. Also, the training should incorporate how to best deploy the use of less than lethal devices, and when you should deploy resources suited up in intermediate or advanced crowd control uniforms and equipment. COMMUNITY OUTREACH – With your community outreach efforts, you must be proactive. You must reach out to the community, ask them what’s bothering them and deputize them by asking them for help whenever you need their help and or guidance. You can let them into your huddle with transparency and accountability

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Continued from "Civil Unrest and Social Issues", on page 11

deploying to a protest or when we decide to declare a protest an unlawful assembly. We also must consider liability to ourselves and the protestors during these events. We must understand the restrictions and the rights afforded to us that the Constitution places on the police and the public during protests. THE PERCEPTION OF THE MILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE – Once again we must verbally engage the public in conversation, explain to them why, when and the capabilities of sound amplifi cation devices, armored vehicles, overwatch positions, less than lethal equipment, bomb detecting dogs, bullet resistant helmets and bullet resistant vests. Without explanations, the public and the media will be left to interpret their own perceptions as to why we are using this equipment. The right to protest is Constitutionally protected, allowing us to peaceably assemble to voice our disagreement with our government and to exercise our right to freedom of speech. What the public cannot do is participate in violent actions, riots, looting, arson, or violent criminal actions against people and or property. When that happens, the police have a duty to restore public order, to protect lives, to protect the rights of legal protestors, and to arrest violators of the law, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religious affiliation, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and any other belief you may agree or disagree with. We must remain neu tral in responding and deploying to protests. To quote Sir Robert Peel, “The ability of the police to perform their duties is depen dent upon public approval of police actions”. We must restore the public’s faith, confidence, and trust in our actions. Once this oc curs along with proper training, proper planning, solid intelligence gathering, the proper use of social media, along with addressing police officer health and wellness, and a greater understanding of crowd dynamics, it can all lead to effective, professional, and restrained public order tactics.

from your agency. You can take these relationships you make with community outreach and use that leverage to establish liaisons with protest groups so that you can both work together when a protest occurs, so that the message of the protest is not hijacked by opportunists who wish to engage in violent riotous behavior. Field commanders should also understand that their decisions will affect the community of the people they serve. We must understand that if people are not given the right to protest then eventually it will be like a tea kettle with boiling water that has no way to release the evaporating gas, there will be an explosion. President John F. Kennedy once said, “those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable”. If the government and or the police do not allow peaceful protests to occur, then it is inevitable that violent protest will occur. We must establish those relationships with our community, we do not have to agree with them, but we can understand why they are protest ing, and we can establish healthy conversations with them. SOCIAL MEDIA – You should have a social media presence that enhances your agencies image, enhances your ability to commu nicate with the public and to allow you to receive and disseminate information. Your social media use should help enhance your relationship with community leaders which in turn helps you to expand your communication efforts with the community. These community leaders can help you legitimize your response, your policies, new ordinances, or laws. You can use it to communicate with protestors and or protest leadership, and social media can allow you to address bad rumors or misinformation regarding the protest and your response to said protest. You can also monitor social media to get a better understanding of the crowd’s mood with you and to counter any rhetoric that may lead to the spread of misinformation. CROWD DYNAMICS – A better understanding of the psychology of a crowd is paramount. Understanding the methodology, the demographics, the ideology, the behavior, and the motives of the crowd will allow you to craft plans, policies, and better decisions, when getting ready to mitigate a protest and when meeting with the leaders of protests groups. OFFICER HEALTH AND WELLNESS – Let us not forget the health and well being of officers deployed to protests. When deployed to anti-police protests, officers assigned to these details face tremen dous amounts of stress. You are dealing with individuals who are questioning everything you do, who are angry with your profes sion, and whose thoughts of how you do your job may be radically different with your perception of how policing is done. You may also deal with politicians and media whose opinions of your pro fession may also differ from what you believe your job entails. This can lead to overwhelming amounts of stress along with sleep de privation, fatigue, and poor nutrition from working long hours due to policing these events. So let us not forget to give rest periods to our officers so that they can physically and mentally decompress from long days of keeping the peace during protests. RIGHT TO PROTEST – Let us not forget that we the police must strike a balance between protestors who have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, the right to redress their concerns to their government, and the right to freedom of speech versus people who are not protesting and just want to go about their lives. Do the rights of the protestors supersede the rights of people who just want to go out or go to work or go to school? We must also consider the ramifications of our decisions when it comes to

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

About the Author: Jose Vega , NA Session 253, retired after 25 years in the New York Police Department, and was assigned to Disorder Control Unit, which is the department’s main public order unit, for 19 years. During that time, he responded to more than 4,000 events, providing operational, tactical, and logistical support to the incident commander at these events. He also taught public order in the NYPD and to various departments nationally and around the world. He currently teaches the main public order course for the Center of Domestic Preparedness, is a subject matter expert regarding public order training for the L2 defense corp., and is a member

of a special technical committee under the purview of the National Institute of Justice for the standardization of crowd control tactics, equipment, and training in the United States.

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RURAL SHERIFF LEVERAGES MOBILE TECHNOLOGY , IMPROVING OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND SAVING MONEY: A SPOTLIGHT ON MONROE COUNTY (MO) SHERIFF’S OFFICE

DALE STOCKTON , NA Session 201

Law enforcement agencies across the country are faced with some daunting challenges, includ ing low staffing levels and limited budgets. This was certainly the case when Sheriff Joe Colston took office in early 2021. Responsible for providing law enforcement services across a rural county covering almost 700 square miles, the agency only has nine deputies, equating to one per thousand for the county’s residents.

P rior to assuming the office of sheriff, Colston had served as the agency’s chief deputy and while in that position, he had tried to obtain mobile data terminals so that deputies could more effectively access information and complete reports in the field. Funding always fell short though, and even with the help of grant funds, MCSO was unable to equip all of the agency’s patrol vehicles. GOING MOBILE As chief deputy, Colston had a department issued smart phone and valued the utility that it provided. After reading about an effort by Chicago Police Department (CPD) to use smartphones for in-car computing, he realized this might be a way to cost-effectively leverage mobile technology as a force multiplier. Colston began his due diligence and learned that CPD was using Samsung DeX , which pairs a smartphone with a dedicated display and keyboard to provide the functional equivalent of an in-car computer. DeX could also be used to dock the smartphone in an office environment and deliver a desktop computing experience. “I began checking DeX out on my own to make sure it would work with the apps and programs that we utilize every day,” Colston ex plained, “and once I knew it was functional, I felt it could be a viable solution for deputies in the field.” When Colston became sheriff, he began working to obtain smartphones for each deputy and a DeX setup for each of their take-home vehicles. Each install consisted of a Gamber-Johnson touchscreen and keyboard with a touchpad. The components are mounted so they’re accessible to the deputy like a conventional in-car computing setup. The installations were completed by Colston with assistance from his chief deputy. “We’re a small agency so any way that we can save money is important; we do a lot of this type of work (equipment installation) ourselves,” Colston said. As smartphones were being rolled out to the deputies, MCSO set up three DeX workstations in the area where reports were often completed. “Each has a keyboard, mouse and monitor, and they’re set up in the office,” Colston said. “The deputies had been using outdated laptops that often did not work very well. Now they utilize their phone and DeX to do their re ports and any other kind of computing they might need to do in the station. We do have one Windows PC that is hooked up to a scanner and some other equipment that is Windows-specific, but almost all of what we need can now be done on the DeX setup.” MCSO was able to use grant funding to cover most of the expenses associated with the smartphone rollout and associated vehicle equipment. “We do a lot of grants,” Colston explained. “The local law enforcement block grant is what we used for the vehicle setups. We always watch our dollars and make them go as far as possible.” Colston noted that several years prior, MCSO had used a grant to obtain mobile data computers, but due to the cost of the equipment, the agency was only able to purchase two rugged lap tops. This meant just two of MCSO’s nine deputies had computers, significantly impacting the effective sharing of information.

MCSO’s 911 dispatch center uses Central Square computer aided dispatch (CAD) , and this has meshed well with MCSO’s smartphone efforts. “[Central Square] has an app called Field Ops that allows us to see the calls in real time, and we can do that from our DeX system,” Colston says. “There’s also mapping integrated with call location data so that we can get turn-by-turn directions to the incident.” The records management system (RMS) used by MCSO, is from Caliber Public Safety . Since it is web-based, it also works well with DeX. The net result is that MCSO deputies can now rely on a single device — their smartphone — for full access to the mission-critical information they need from both their CAD and RMS systems. And this access is readily available to them in the car, in the field, and in the station. “From my personal experience doing investigations, it’s been really helpful to be able to log into the system and see pieces of the puzzle that are relevant to what we’re doing,” said Colston. “We’re collect ing more data, and the more information that you have while you’re in the field, the more effective you can be.” Embracing mobile technology is improving community engagement in Monroe County because mobile technology is allowing them to spend more time in the field. Not only are they able to access information that previously required a trip back to the station, they’re also able to complete many of their reports in the field. “Deputies had been completing reports in the office, but this is changing because the in-car setups allow them to do most reports in the car, especially low-level reports without a lot of evidence pro cessing,” Colston explained. “There’s so much paperwork, the more they come into the office, the less they’re out in the field. We want them to be seen, and this absolutely increases their engagement with the community.” Colston noted that deputies still have the benefit and utility of a smartphone in the field. “What’s great is the program (DeX) al lows you to still use the phone to make calls while having a conven tional in-car laptop setup. And we were able to outfit nine vehicles for what it would have cost us to put just two laptops in the fleet.” BODY-WORN CAMERAS MCSO had outdated body-worn cameras (BWCs) and after some research, Colston determined he could leverage the smart phones as effective BWCs by using Visual Labs, an innovative approach that retains full smartphone functionality. “Streamlined processes for evidence management have significantly re duced processing time and the number of cases going to trial,” Colston explained. “A key advantage is the immediate video upload from the field - I’m able to review footage without the deputy having to return to the station. Immediate accessibility is a major benefit,” he said. Analytic capability provided by the Visual Labs software pro vides the ability to quickly review where deputies have traveled and where they have been involved in a contact or incident. “We recently conducted a data search looking at a specific area and we discovered relevant activity to a case that we had been unaware of before the query,” Colston explained.

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THE ‘DIGITAL WITNESS’ AND THE FIGHT AGAINST AMERICA’S OPIOID EPIDEMIC

DESMOND RACICOT, NA Session 199

Every day in cities and small towns across America, an officer responds to the scene of a drug overdose. Our priority is to save lives, but beyond that critical mission, we have a duty to investigate and determine whether a crime occurred. I have personally witnessed the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on our communities. During my 28 years in law enforcement and particularly during my tenure as chief of police, I watched the toll it takes on individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods. As law enforcement professionals, we must tackle this crisis head-on, and in recent years, we have a new and powerful ally in our fight: the “digital witness.”

O verdose investigations have traditionally relied on physical evidence and witness statements, which while essential, are often fraught with subjectivity and the potential for error. However, in the modern digital age, we have access to a wealth of information stored on digital devices such as mobile phones, com puters, tablets, smartwatches, etc. These digital witnesses give us a unique advantage: objective data free from human error or bias. LEVERAGING DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE

At any crime scene, the digital witness provides the most detailed, accurate and extensive information about the victim’s life, helps determine if a crime was committed and often leads investigators to the source of the drugs responsible. While a witness’s memory can be open to different interpretations or misperceptions, data on a device is not. If the deceased bought fentanyl from a dealer, then texts, emails, phone calls, pictures and GPS coordinates can provide the evidence and a clear path to that dealer and, subsequently, the drug trafficking network.

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In a more recent case in Texas, two young teens sadly lost their lives to the opioid epidemic. Text messages on their phones led investigators straight to the dealer. In Connecticut, a 22-year old woman died from heroin laced with fentanyl. The person who called 911 claimed it was an “acquaintance,” yet the data extract ed from the phone showed the two met in rehab, took drugs to gether on more than one occasion and the "acquaintance” – now suspect – provided the drugs that killed the victim. In both cases, the digital evidence proved pivotal in helping law enforcement hold those responsible accountable – bringing a small semblance of closure and justice to the families the victims leave behind. GETTING RELIABLE ANSWERS QUICKLY We have long known about the shortcomings of eyewit ness accounts. Data holds no prejudice nor bias, nor a faulty or incomplete memory. It can efficiently and thoroughly address the fundamental questions that investigators need to know: Who? What? Where? When? And why? With the right digital intelligence solutions and training, the digital witness can rapidly help provide those answers to investigators. Yet manually collecting this data at an overdose scene is not always easy. Often, a person is connected to many devices, such as phones, watches and even appliances. This creates a mountain of data, which can be daunting and without proper tools and training, it can be difficult for investigative teams to manage. Additionally, as devices become more sophisticated, so do the challenges of accessing encrypted or secured data. Beyond technology and tools, agency resources are typi cally scarce. The time needed to sort through and analyze all the digital evidence is overwhelming, if not impossible, particularly in complex cases. Many small agencies are struggling with limited resources and overwhelmed with case backlogs and other duties. PRIORITIZING DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS As a profession, we must overcome these hurdles to deliver justice to those who lose their lives to drug addiction. We must

dismantle the criminal drug trafficking networks that are respon sible for the distribution of narcotics and the deaths that result. The devices left behind by victims serve as invaluable digital wit nesses, and a trail leading to the suppliers. With all of that said, we must balance the investigative needs and the privacy rights of individuals. Access to the data must be handled both legally and ethically. We must engage with legal experts, civil liberties advocates and policymakers to develop guidelines that ensure technology is used in a way that upholds our values and respects the rights of individuals. The opioid epidemic has been a plague on our nation for more than a decade and the lasting damage fentanyl wreaks is heartbreaking. Collecting and analyzing the digital footprint that exists throughout the supply chain – from the source to the inevi table overdose – is urgently needed to begin to put a dent in this problem. The digital witness—both today and in the future—will transform how law enforcement investigates crimes. From my early days as an officer, to my tenure as chief of police and now as a digital intelligence professional, I have come to understand and appreciate the tremendous value of utilizing devices as the stron gest possible witnesses. Our agencies must embrace the power of the digital witness to combat the opioid epidemic; it represents our greatest hope.

About the Author: Desmond Racicot , Sr Director of Business Development at Cellebrite, a retired chief from upstate New York and graduate of FBI National Academy Session 199, now works at Cellebrite to help agencies adopt new technology to make their investigations more efficient and effective. He has witnessed many of the technological challenges that law enforcement faces and endeavors to connect them with solutions to help advance justice.

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FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024 18

FIRST RESPONDERS GET HELP FROM LOCAL BREWERY

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

DOUG MULDOON, NA Session 153

In 2018, Doug and Karen Monda founded Survive First with the primary objective of addressing suicide prevention and pro viding mental health support to the first responder community. D oug Monda 's professional background includes an impres sive career in law enforcement with the Cocoa Police Department and advocacy in the area of mental health and well ness for first responders. With extensive experience as a former undercover narcotics agent and a career-long member of the Special Weapons and Tactics unit, serving as team leader and lead sniper, Doug not only possesses expertise in tactical plan ning and leadership but understands the impact the career can have one’s health and wellness. In 2013, Doug’s own mental health became impacted from the cumulative trauma experienced throughout his career. After a failed suicide attempt, his own chief of police, Mike Cantaloupe , and many of his brothers and sisters at the department rallied behind him, and Doug began the process of healing, returning to the career he loved with a new outlook and mission. As the recipient of the Cocoa Police Department’s 2016 Officer of the Year award, Monda was highly regarded in his profession for ensuring the safety of his team members, contrib uting to the success of many missions, and bringing awareness to the importance of taking care of one’s mental health through normalizing the conversation, breaking down the stigma and providing support to his peers. Today, he and his wife, Karen , fo cus their full efforts on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in the first responder community and providing assis tance to those in need of mental health support through Survive First’s programs. In 2015, Paul Hill , Chris Hughes , and Mark Alderman crossed paths. Each individual brought a distinct professional background to the table. Paul had previously been employed by Burger King Corporation and was concurrently the owner of Merri Cakes. Chris had a role at a local brewery, while Mark had

accumulated experience working with various companies, spe cializing in sound and audio-visual installations. In June 2017, they united to establish the Dirty Oar Beer Company . Their motto "Nobody Has More Fun Than Us!" is not merely a slogan; it is a guiding principle infused into every aspect of their beer, taproom, and personal interactions. They take genuine pleasure in cultivating a warm and cheerful atmosphere for patrons, friends, and family alike. Their extensive 22-tap menu consistently features a dynamic mix of innovative creations and beloved classics. In 2018, at a local golf tournament honoring a fallen law enforcement officer, Doug and Karen encountered the Dirty Oar team. Following a brief conversation about the mission of Survive First, Paul, Chris, and Mark rallied behind the cause to support first responders. Demonstrating their commitment to first responders and frontline workers, they forged a close partnership with Survive First. Their collaborative efforts aim to ensure that those relied upon for our health and safety have access to mental health and wellness resources for themselves and their families. In tribute to individuals displaying courage in aiding others, Dirty Oar crafted the Everyone’s Hero IPA. With each batch created, 100 percent of all sales from this brew are dedicated to Survive First, facilitating ongoing support for those dedicated to our public safety professionals. In 2021, the FBINAA National Conference convened at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Mr. Rosen graciously permitted Dirty Oar to feature their beer in the hospitality room, where it was professionally served by his staff. In a generous gesture, Dirty Oar donated six kegs of their beer and produced 600 com memorative sampler glasses adorned with the FBINAA confer ence logo, Survive First, and Dirty Oar logos — an enduring keepsake for attendees. Paul, Chris, and Mark expressed their readiness in 2022 to travel to any state or national conferences and contribute their beer to FBINAA members, exemplifying their ongoing generosity. Notably, they actively supported the 2022 Florida Conference in Sarasota. In 2022, Paul assumed a role on the Board of Directors for Survive First, following a dedicated five-year tenure on the His toric Cocoa Village Main Street Board.

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FBINAA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THE HEART AND HELPING HANDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Legacy Giving

C onsider the FBINAA Charitable Foundation in your estate planning by making a donation in the form of a bequest or gift of cash, real estate, annuities contracts, securities, assets comprising an IRA or retirement plan account, or the proceeds of a life insurance policy. Legacy giving offers significant tax benefits. For example, the value of the assets you give at death is fully deductible for federal estate tax purposes. By naming FBINAA Charitable Foun dation as the beneficiary of an annuity contract, traditional IRA or qualified retirement plan account, no income tax is payable on the deferred income passing to the Foundation, thereby increas ing the power of that wealth to do good. In terms of lifetime giving, you may also want to consider establishing a charitable lead trust or a charitable remainder trust of which the FBINAA Charitable Foundation is a beneficiary. Those types of tax favored trusts can also be created at death.

Make sure to discuss all types of charitable giving with your own tax advisor. Leave a lasting legacy and start living in the way you want to be remembered. It will allow you to start doing what matters, now. Please contact Board Member Bob Young , BobYoung@FBI NAAFoundation.org or 517-749-2739, for more information about making a gift in your estate plan.

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JANUARY ONLY! Become an Angel at a discounted price!

The Angel Campaign encourages donors to become a Sustaining Partner by annually donating to the Foundation $250 or more.

During the month of January, sign up for our recurring donation program with a monthly donation of $20 (or more), you will become a sustaining member in our Angel Campaign.  Upon receipt of your first monthly donation, you will receive all the benefits of an Angel Donor; • Annual Commemorative Coin • Annual Listing on the Foundation’s Website as a sustaining member  Some of the other benefits to monthly giving include; • Spread-out your charitable giving over the course of the year • No more forgetting to write checks or make an online donation every month • No scrambling at the end of the year to make your end of year contributions to your favorite charity • An automatic acknowledgement letter for tax purposes at the end of the year

For more savings, if you make monthly donations of $25 or more you will also receive 1 entry into 2024’s Virtual YBR.

If you would like to make changes to your current monthly giving plan, please contact our Treasurer John Moran.

FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATES LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

THE STRONGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERSHIP NETWORK IN THE WORLD

Historically Speaking... John Simmons THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT

FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024

T his article will make it to your hands (and eyes) in the first part of 2024 so I hope you’ve enjoyed a safe, rewarding and memorable holiday season! The holidays always bring about thoughts of family and friends so it is most appropriate I share with you a story of reunited friends – “NA style!” Last fall’s article mentioned Ed Ross , 79th Session, his many years of service to the Hawaii Chapter (including 25 years as their Secretary/Treasurer!) and his recent attendance at the Hawaii Chapter Retrainer in Honolulu. Soon after the article hit the street I received a won derful email from Pat Carrol , 65th Session and longtime friend of Ed Ross. Sadly, Pat was under the impression that Ed was no longer with us. My article brought him much welcomed news and provided a pathway for him to reach out to Ed, who is 87 years old and enjoying retirement in Honolulu. The two of them soon con nected and surely had much to share. My personal thanks to Pat, who celebrated his 100th birthday back in April, for sharing this wonderful news with me... and, in turn, with all of you! The National Historian is perceived to be the holder of all things historical. Well, I truly wish I had several filing cabinets filled with class photos, class notes and other items of historical relevance, but that isn’t the case. However, armed with the Inter net, the patience of our amazing National Office staff and the in sight of past Historian Cindy Reed I occasionally hit pay dirt. Take, for example, a call I received from Mike Johnson, 129th Session, regarding our beloved yellow bricks. He attended a recent event where someone said everybody in attendance had one thing in common – they all had yellow bricks. Mike said he wanted to jump up and say, “Now wait a minute! I don’t have one!” Physical fitness during Mike’s session was important but nothing as structured as it is today. And there was no Yellow Brick Road! Mike thought it sounded like a good case for the Historian... so he called me. We talked about all kinds of important things but finally focused on the case of the yellow bricks. I reached out to my predecessor, Cindy Reed, and she found an article in the November/December 2015 edition of “The Associate,” entitled, “Making the Best Better: The FBI National Academy FIT Challenge Program ” written by John Van Vorst . The article stated the first yellow bricks were awarded to the 154th Session in 1989. I reported this back to Mike and he expressed his appreciation for my research. He then asked when the firearms qualification program ceased to exist for NA stu dents... (GREAT question but one I’ll need YOUR help answering!) My thanks to Mike for asking the question, to Cindy for pointing me in the right direction and to John for writing his article! I recently received an email from First Vice President Craig Peterson regarding the annual Navy Tailgate event hosted by the Maryland/Delaware Chapter. This year’s event was the 47th annual event for the chapter. It was started by Bob Emory , 129th Session, back in 1976. Bob was in attendance, as were 12 mem bers of the 288th Session (which was in session at the time). Who won, you ask? Well, Navy romped UAB in a 31-6 win. I am personally aware of one other annual event that is com ing up on its 17th anniversary. This one is hosted by graduates of the 226th Session. Members of that session who had an interest in outdoor sports and firearms training agreed to meet annually for some sort of event. And that event became an annual spring hog hunt in the great state of Texas! Session members travel from across the nation to participate in the hunt, share stories of past

deeds and rekindle old friendships. After attending the national conference in Grapevine, Texas, I was invited to attend this invitation-only event... and have been going back ever since! This raises the question – do other chapters or sessions have a long his tory of hosting annual events? Speaking of noteworthy events, I just ran across note from one of 2023’s Chapter Chats. This came from the New York/East ern Canada Chapter who reported a third generation NA gradu ate joining their membership. Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Chris Barry , 282nd Session, followed in his dad’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Chris’ dad, retired Suffolk County Detec tive Sergeant Richard Barry , graduated from the 99th Session and Chris’ grandfather, retired Suffolk County Police Commissioner John L. Barry , graduated from the 40th Session! (Thank you to Chapter Historian Joe Gannon for this information.) Do any other chapters have a similar trilogy? Sending wishes for a healthy, productive and amazing 2024 to all! I can be reached at jsimmons@fbinaa.org. Please assist me by providing answers to the below questions – thanks in advance for helping me document our Association’s history! 1. When did mandatory firearms training for NA students stop at Quantico and why? 2. What chapters or sessions host noteworthy annual events that have taken place for over 15 years? 3. Are there other three-generation NA graduate family members besides the Barry trilogy in New York? CORRECTION: Last edition’s article contained a misspelled last name! Duke Atkins is in no way related to Duke Adkins. My apologies, Mr. Atkins!

John Simmons FBINAA Historian

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