Our team doesn’t just talk the talk, they’ve walked the walk. A continuation of ‘Behind The Badge’, a blog series interviewing Utility’s team and discussing their experience in Law Enforcement.
Prior to joining the Utility team, Brad Allen began his career with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana as a Correctional Officer before advancing through the ranks to the position of Deputy.
Brad joined the Utility, Inc. team as a Law Enforcement Trainer in 2019. In his current role as Strategic Account Manager he applies his over 20 years of knowledge in the public safety sector and his experience utilizing our life-saving technology to help serve the agencies he once worked alongside!
Brad sat with Utility’s Blog Editor to answer a few questions about his story:
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself Brad.
A: I grew up in a small rural community just south of Indianapolis, Indiana. After high
school, I went on to attend college at the University of Southern Indiana. In 2004, I was
hired on to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and stayed there until July of 2021. Five
years into my career, I married my wife, Joy, and we now have 2 beautiful children that
continue to keep us very active.
Q: What inspired you to choose the path of working in
Law Enforcement?
A: I knew at a very young age that I wanted to get into Law Enforcement in some manner. I have always had a passion for helping people and thought this would be a great way to showcase my passion. I always admired the sharp uniform and polished brass, too.
Q: What were some highlights from working in Law Enforcement?
A: Over my time with the Sheriff’s Office, I experienced many highlights. I worked in several areas including the Sex Offender Registry, Warrants, Gangs, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, but the most impactful highlight was being on our motor unit. I had the distinct honor of escorting many of my fallen brothers and sisters who had unfortunately paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Q: What has been your biggest “lesson learned” that you’d like to share with other Law Enforcement leaders?
A: The biggest lesson I have learned over the years is that for every action, there is a reaction. You should always think of the consequences before you take action. Oftentimes leaders/supervisors are unprepared for your message or fail to respond as you expected. This is why you should always treat your words with caution and remember the
golden rule is to treat others the way you’d like to be treated. By keeping in mind that your actions always have consequences, you can change your life for the better. Instead of judging other people, reaching out and helping them can make a huge difference in their lives and your own. Help people and they’ll be there to help you.
Q: What does Transparency mean to you?
A: Transparency means everything to law enforcement. It is so important to be able to
provide open, honest, and accurate that information to the community. It brings
value, integrity, and trust back into the police law enforcement departments regardless
of the position you hold. Using technology can provide officers with an added
component that promotes transparency not only for the department, but also for the
public and community.
Q: How have you seen Technology aid in Law Enforcement?
Deputy (Ret.) Brad Allen pictured during his time on the STAR Team. Sheriffs Tactical Advanced Response Team
A: Most officers, like most individuals, do not want to hear the word “change”. We just don’t like it. It takes a lot for us to adapt to the environments we are dealt with. And often times an officer will associate the words change and technology together. However, with the advances in technology, officers can focus more on their surroundings, allowing technology to run in the background. This could be in the form of a, body or in-car camera, a license plate reader, or even a GPS locator. All of these are pertinent and current forms of technology that could enhance your work or ultimately save your life.
Q: What advice would you give to an agency that is going through the process of selecting a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS)?
A: Take the time to study what’s out there. Cheaper isn’t always better, especially when it
comes to managing your evidence. Have those discussions with your colleagues,
counselors, prosecutors, and others that will be utilizing your digital evidence. It makes
much more sense to have it in one location than to look for it in other places.
For questions and more information on Utility, Inc. email info@utilty.com
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