Tom is currently a part-time instructor for the Rancho Santiago Community College District after retiring with over 33 years of law enforcement experience with the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department. In his last assignment, he was the supervisor at the department’s Tactical Training Center, one of POST’s 28 Regional Skills Training Centers in California. In the Training Division, he managed and supervised the instruction and training of over 3,000 officers per year in driving simulators, force option simulators, and force-on-force training in a scenario village. Tom has served as an FTO in both patrol and investigation, which has transitioned him to his role as a department instructor, giving him 27 years of classroom experience in such areas as constitutional law, homicide investigation, search warrants, informant handling and development, riot and crowd control, investigative resources, and surveillance. As an instructor, he creates a comfortable learning environment, interspersing his presentation with humor, and encouraging class participation.

After Tom earned a B.A. Degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he graduated as the outstanding officer and the high academic award, from his Basic Academy, and has since successfully completed over 2,700 hours of specialized law enforcement training. His background and training have aided him in his many job assignments such as patrol, traffic, community relations, civil process, robbery, burglary, narcotics, vice, and homicide. Tom also spent 19 years as a member of the SWAT team with assignments in entry and as a sniper, and has been recognized by the State Legislature, the County Board of Supervisors, and the Sheriff’s Department for bravery and valor in the performance of his duties.