Law Enforcement Expert
Journal
By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 18, 2008 - Returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job market. Justin Callahan enlisted in the U.S Army as a combat engineer when he was 18. When he was 21, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he led a squad of 8 men squad leader. During a routine patrol, Justin was hit by an IED and suffered a left leg amputation below the knee.
During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Justin was approached by Bayne Tippins, a businessman who offered him a job as soon as his health returned.
Callahan inspired Tippins to found Hire Heroes USA, an non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled veterans to find the right fit in the civilian job market. Hire Heroes USA is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects individuals, non-profit groups and companies who want to support U.S. military men and women.
"Hire Heroes USA was designed to give other wounded servicemembers like myself the opportunity that I was fortunate to have right out of the hospital," Callahan said during an interview on America Supports You Live BlogTalkRadio. He and Tippins discussed the organization's success during the interview.
Callahan explained that the biggest challenge for many wounded warriors is getting their confidence reestablished after a tragic event.
"It's really to pick them up and point them in the right direction, helping them to re-establish the confidence they've lost going through something traumatic...and the direction to move forward," he said.
Part of re-establishing this confidence is understanding how the skills developed in the military apply to the civilian job market. One skill, Callahan mentioned, is leadership.
"A non-commissioned officer is responsible for 6 to 8 soldiers operating under very stressful situations...they are taught the hard things by the military."
Callahan talked about his day-to-day experience working with countless organizations that see great value in employing those with military experience. Employers notice military experience and benefit from an incredibly motivated group of individuals, Callahan explained.
"These men and women are so motivated to get into a good job that has a steady salary where they have the opportunity to advance."
Now the challenge for Callahan and Tippins is reaching out to the many veterans who might need assistance and do not realize how to best market their skills to a new audience. Callahan explained that the organization places everyone from sales reps to IT professionals, and from security personnel to project managers.
"A lot of servicemembers don't know what's out there. They are used to doing a certain job in the military, and when they get in the civilian world they do not always know how to apply and transfer the skills they have learned making them noticeable to employers," Callahan said.
One example of many such skills is the ability to handle logistics, Tippins said.
"Getting men and troops and supplies from point A to point B is an incredibly transferable skill," he said.
Tippins also said learning new skills easily is a common attribute of veterans.
"They are extremely trainable," he said. "The acquisition of the new skills within a new position comes easily because of their experience in the military."
Tippins explained that the mission Hire Heroes USA is to reach out to candidates, identify their strong qualities and let them know that there are jobs available for them.
"Some servicemembers just need to understand that company XYZ has a need for you.... Hire Heroes USA is designed to be a bridge to get out in front of organizations that are anxious to hire them," Tippins said. "We want to help them adjust to becoming a great member of society that they have already defended so bravely."
EDUCATION

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Doctoral Student,
Touro University International –
Winter 2007
MPA, Public Financial
Management — California State University, Fullerton
4.0 GPA
(Member Phi Kappa Phi) - 2003
BA, Criminal Justice —
The Union Institute — 1999
National Institute for
Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Incident Command System
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Terrorism for First Responders
POST
Courses POST Certificates
West Point Leadership
Program Management
Instructor Development
Course Supervisor
Middle
Manager Advanced Officer
Watch
Commander Intermediate Officer
Supervisory
Development Basic Officer
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
-
“De-briefing Suspects: An Analysis of the Crime Control Tactic of Gathering
Criminal Intelligence from Arrested Person”
(LAPD Intranet, September 1999).
-
-
“Five
Tactics for Taking Civil Service Examinations”
Hi-Tech Criminal Justice Newsletter (April
2004).
-
-
“Police Technology”
(Prentice Hall, July 2004)
-
-
Editor,
“Hi
Tech Criminal Justice Newsletter”
2003 to Present
-
-
“Tailored
Technology”
Mobile
Government, September 2004.
-
-
“Crowded
Airwaves?”
Airbeat Magazine, September 2004.
-
-
“Returning to the Scene of the Crime: High
Definition Survey Technology and Law Enforcement”
Government Technology Magazine, March 2005
-
-
“Homeland
Security and the New Threats of Global Terrorism: From Cold War to Flaming Hot
War”
(Prentice Hall, February 2007)
Co-Authors:
retired Maj. General Dror Itzhaki (Israeli Security Services) and Dr. Reuven
Paz.
-
-
Pre-publication reviewer:
“Introduction to Biometrics”
(Prentice Hall, 2006) by Steve Elliot
-
-
“Small Unit Leadership”
(Policeone.com, April 2006).
-
-
“The Strategy of Preparing for Promotion”
(Policeone.com, April 2006).
-
-
“Terrorism: Crime or
Asymmetrical Warfare”
(Policeone.com, May 2005).
-
-
Technical Grant Reviewer,
Technology Transfer to Rural Communities, Department of Homeland Security
-
-
“An Introduction to Policing: From NYPD to LAPD”
(Prentice Hall, July 2006)” Co-authored
with James O’Keefe, Ph.D.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Police Technology
Computer Crime
Analysis Techniques for
Criminal Justice Managers
Terrorism and Criminal Justice
Homeland Security and Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Supervision
Minorities and Criminal Justice
The Enforcement Function
Principles of Investigations and
Reporting
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON
(Instructor) 2004 - Present
UNION INSTITUTE AND UNIVERISTY
(Faculty
Advisor and Instructor) 2004 – Present
HI TECH CRIMINAL JUSTICE
2003 –
Present – Owner
The mission of this business is to provide
online resources for criminal justice practitioners.
CONNECTION HOUSE
2003 –
Present – Founding Board Chair
The Mission of this organization is to
provide transitional housing, independent living skills and educational
opportunities for emancipated foster youth.
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
1980-2003
·
LIEUTENANT
(1997-- 2003)
Detective Support Division, Fugitive Warrant
Section
Supervise 70 sworn and 5 non-sworn
employees.
Oversaw service of all adult felony
warrants; the prosecution of foreign nationals in their country of origin; and
the location and apprehension of fugitives from other jurisdictions;
Conduct international criminal
investigations at the behest of Interpol. Liaison between Interpol, foreign
consulates and LAPD. Acting Commanding Officer — coordinated all division
activities in absence of superior
Central Traffic Division
Watch Commander—Bureau consisting of 110 sq.
miles with approximately I million residents. Supervised the activities of 20
accident investigators and 44 motorcycle officers. Acting Commanding Officer —
coordinated all division activities in absence of superior
Pacific Area
Administrative Lieutenant reporting to Area
Commanding Officer — prepared and reviewed all paperwork and documentation for
405 personnel. Watch Commander — directed 10 subordinate supervisors and 110
line personnel. Responsible for basic patrol, Venice Beach Detail and LAX
Substation. Oversaw anti gang activities; responded to tactical alerts; and
resolved all management issues. Managed transition from flexible work schedule
to standard 10/80; directed the transition to new public complaint system; and
facilitated transition to improved Community Oriented Policing Model.
·
SERGEANT (1988-1997)
Internal
Affairs Group
Investigated allegations of misconduct
against police officers.
Northeast Area
Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant —
conducted personnel investigations at direction of Commanding Officer.
77th Area
Community Relations — supervised a staff of
8; responded to crisis situations throughout the community; and represented
Department through numerous public speaking engagements. Managed Explorer Post,
Business Booster Association, Police Clergy Council, Reserve Police Officers,
Senior Lead Officer Program, and Neighborhood Watch Program. Participated in
numerous community related activities and events including Open Houses,
Halloween activities and Christmas basket distribution.
Patrol Adjutant — directed all front office
activities including writing management papers, drafting management
correspondence, reviewing time slips and handling all personnel functions.
Communications Division
Floor Supervisor supervised thirty 911
operators and 10 report takers.
Watch Commander — managed emergency
allocation of personnel citywide; and oversaw system crises and breakdowns.
Southwest Area, 77th Area &
Northeast Area
Field Sergeant
·
POLICE OFFICER (1980- 1988)
Newton Area . . . Southwest Area . . Central
Area
Foot beat officer, patrol officer and
training officer
WEINGART CENTER
ASSOCIATION (1986- 1990)
(One-stop Service
Center for Homeless - Concurrent with LAPD Employment)
·
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS (Part-time
& Concurrent with LAPD)
Initially hired as Director of Security,
responsible for 18 security officers and a $1 million budget. Accountable for
the management of security services provided to in-house County agencies;
Advanced to Director of Operations, in charge of 150 employees and a $3 million
budget.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS / COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES
·
Member, Academy of Criminal Justice
Sciences
·
Member, International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP)
·
Member, Author’s Guild
·
Member Rotary Club of San Dimas, Past
President
·
Explorer Post Advisor, Boy Scouts of
America
·
LAPD Code One Toastmasters (Past Vice
President)
·
Assistant Cubmaster, Boy Scouts of
America
·
Member, Peace Officer’s Association
of Los Angeles County
·
Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of
America
·
Chapter Advisor, Order of the Arrow –
Sunset Chapter, Navajo Lodge
·
Phi Kappa Phi – Honors Society
AWARDS & HONORS
·
Police Medal for Heroism
·
Club, District and Regional
Toastmaster Awards
·
Commendations for Outstanding
Performance (200)
·
Numerous community letters of
appreciation
·
Recognized by southern California
Automobile Club for superior vehicle and antitheft enforcement and safe driving
MILITARY SERVICE
·
United States Coast Guard Reserve
(1976-1983)
Honorable Discharge