Sonny Garcia

 awarriorstale.org 

Sonny has over 30 plus years in law enforcement and is currently a senior federal polygraph examiner with the United States Department of Energy. He has served various demanding roles such as: deputy sheriff, special weapons and tactics, bomb technician, international federal criminal investigator, and international federal polygraph examiner. These experiences at the state and federal law enforcement agencies in multiple capacities and disciplines along with obtaining a master’s degree in forensic psychology, have provided him with the expertise to understand the overwhelming press that being a law enforcement officer demand.

 As a Retired Captain with the New Mexico Mounted Patrol, he has used his education and his tragic personal experiences to recognize a need to help fellow officers from across the country to face a growing danger of an officer's mental state, thus leading them to suicide. Captain Garcia developed a curriculum in New Mexico which was introduced in February 2019. It has currently saved over forty law enforcement personnel from suicide and helped countless others to get the help they desperately needed.

The training course is focused on law enforcement personnel who serve and protect the people of this great country and historically have been overlooked when it comes to their mental health. Officers work in their cities, counties, and states 24/7, 365 days a year; in all types of weather and hazardous conditions. They face things that will affect them in ways that surpass their own understanding. The officers will learn statistical information about officer suicide in law enforcement and how to cope with and protect their mental health. They will be provided with the information to recognize and identify signs of a fellow officer in crisis. The officer will learn how to be courageous during the most difficult time helping a fellow officer in crisis and how to approach them to get the help they desperately need. Officers attending the training will also receive information on available resources, and how to obtain those resources in a discreet manner.

Gerald "Jerry" Thompson, Jr.

Sheriff's Executive Officer

William G. Thompson Jr., known as Jerry, is a dedicated law enforcement professional with a distinguished 31-year career in service to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Jerry began his journey as a cadet dispatcher and rose through the ranks to become the Northeast Ohio LCS Unit Commander, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in leadership and public service.

Since retiring, Jerry has continued to impact the law enforcement community through his work with FBI-LEEDA, where he provides leadership-focused instruction across a range of topics. His dedication and expertise have earned him the prestigious designation of Master Instructor, having facilitated over 300 classes.

One of the defining moments of Jerry's career came in 2019 when he had the life-changing opportunity to train law enforcement and military personnel in Uganda—a profound experience that solidified his dedication to service on a global scale.

As the published author of MASCOT Leadership, Jerry teaches classes inspired by his book. He emphasizes the importance of every law enforcement officer recognizing themselves as a MASCOT of their organization. His teachings resonate with line-level and civilian personnel, making leadership accessible and relatable to all.

His unwavering commitment to his family and professional endeavors embodies the values he teaches—leadership, service, and integrity.

Sheriff John Mina

Sheriff John W. Mina has dedicated his life to public safety.   He spent nearly 28 years with the Orlando Police Department, rising through the ranks, and was  appointed Chief of Police in 2014. In 2018, Mina was elected the 29th Sheriff of Orange County  and re-elected in 2020 and 2024.   Prior to entering law enforcement, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army's 82nd  Airborne Division as a Military Police Officer.  Community engagement, trust and transparency are the hallmarks of Sheriff Mina’s leadership  style. Sheriff Mina is a trusted face of law enforcement in Central Florida testifying before the  US Congress and speaking at the White House on law enforcement matters.” 

Ghada Wahdan

National Security Specialist

Ghada Wahdan is a distinguished expert in U.S. national security with over 15 years of experience in intelligence analysis, counterterrorism, and foreign policy. For more than a decade, she has provided law enforcement across the country with in-depth briefings on terrorist groups in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iranian-backed organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and China’s military expansion and the evolving landscape of hybrid warfare.

Her work has reached over 1,000 agencies and thousands of professionals in security and policy fields. Ms. Wahdan holds an MA in Criminology (2012), a BS in Criminal Justice & Criminology (2007) and is fluent in Arabic in eleven different dialects.