During his career Don has developed an excellent reputation and background in both criminal and civil fraud investigation, explosion/fire scene examination and evidence analysis. He has conducted investigations nationally as a law enforcement officer and private investigator.
Don’s career includes 8 years as a city police officer & detective and 22 years as a Senior Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. As a law enforcement officer, Don worked in a variety of specialized assignments, including the U.S. Secret Service and State Department security details for U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents and Foreign Heads of State. Don has been licensed as a private investigator since 1993.
He has received extensive training in various investigative disciplines to include vehicle accident investigation, homicide & narcotics investigation, dignitary protection training, interviewing techniques, explosives and fire scene investigation and insurance fraud investigation.
Don has worked on long-term, deep undercover investigative assignments, as well as complex national investigations of organized criminal groups involving narcotics, gambling, bombings, arson and multiple homicide cases. Don also served ten years as a member and team leader on ATF’s elite National Response Team. He was selected as one of ATF’s first Tactical Operations Officers and later as a Fire & Explosion Specialist.
Don also served on a variety of multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task forces, which gave him the privilege of working with the finest law enforcement and fire personnel from agencies throughout the United States, Canada and South America.
Don is a certified fire investigator and in his capacity as a private investigator has provided investigative and consulting services nationwide to attorneys, insurance companies and corporations.
Don also worked with Major Insurance Company Special Investigations Units and has developed extensive experience in the investigation of insurance claims in the seven years he worked as a Special Investigation Unit Investigator.
He assisted in the development of a Low Velocity Impact (LVI) Accident Investigation program, also known as, Minor Impact Severe Trauma (MIST) investigation program and developed specific equipment for the investigation of these types of accidents. He has also assisted in the development of an investigation protocol for the Insurance Claim unit and a questionnaire for the investigator and adjuster to use during their investigation of these types of claims
His past exposure to a variety of investigative responsibilities as a law enforcement officer and private investigator has permitted him to develop a national network of professional contacts in the law enforcement, fire science and private investigative communities.
Don was appointed by Governor Ventura to serve as a Member of the State of Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board until February 2002.
Don is married and with his wife enjoys fishing, hiking, music, opera & the theater in addition to spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Steve served in the United States Navy from 1966 through 1971. He was a Naval Aviator, and combat section leader, flying the A-7E, Corsair II fighter-bomber in Vietnam. He was assigned to Attack Squadron 27, deployed aboard the USS Enterprise. He was also a flight instructor in the advanced jet training command. His military decorations include six strike-flight air medals and a Presidential Unit Citation.
After expiration of his active duty, Steve joined an advertising agency in Denver as an account executive, charged with client liaison, print and television production, copy writing, as well as still and video photography.
Steve joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1976. His criminal investigative experience includes working fugitives and bank robberies. In addition, he has experience with civil rights and foreign counterintelligence matters with the Bureau. He was assigned to the Minneapolis, Duluth MN Resident Agency, and New York Division during his Bureau career.
During his 23 plus years with the FBI, he participated in high profile aerial surveillance operations in New York and Puerto Rico. In addition, he was chief pilot and Aviation Coordinator during his 18 years in the Minneapolis Division.
Steve's specialty is electronic surveillance, which includes covert video and audio installations, body recorders and body transmitters used for consensual monitoring, court ordered bugs and wiretaps. He was a participant in many covert surveillance operations against foreign intelligence and terrorist organizations. In addition, he participated in numerous operations against New York La Cosa Nostra crime families and other Criminal Organizations in the United States.
In addition, he is a graduate of the FBI's renowned Technical Surveillance Countermeasures School. As such, he is an expert at performing electronic sweeps to locate hidden electronic bugging equipment. He has performed such sweeps for several United States Attorneys General, Directors of the FBI, and several local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as private companies.
Steve retired from the FBI in 1999, and has been doing consulting work since then.
He is married and has one daughter. His hobbies include ultralight flying and instructing in powered parachutes, bow hunting, photography, astronomy, amateur radio, and digital video production.
