PROTECTION SPECIALIST/SENIOR INVESTIGATOR

Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson is a veteran criminal investigator with over 30 years of extensive experience for the Treasury Department, Justice Department and United States Air Force.  While working as a Criminal Investigator in Lander, Wyoming and Des Moines, Iowa, he was responsible for investigating federal violations of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson for prosecution.  As a Violent Crime Coordinator he has worked with Iowa State police posts, sheriff's offices, police departments, US Marshal Service and US Drug Enforcement Administration.  Jay opened the ATF office in Lander, Wyoming, as the senior agent and conducted criminal investigations with police departments, sheriff's offices, state and federal agencies including the US Marshal Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, US Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation and DEA throughout western Wyoming.

In the United States Air Force he served as an investigating agent, second officer and commander while conducting criminal, fraud and counterintelligence investigations as well as dignitary protection in the United States, Korea, Azores and Portugal. Jay has worked in many different assignments during his career to include firearm instructor, firearms nexus expert, certified explosive specialist, tactical medic, and has served as a staff officer in the Wyoming Army National Guard.

PROTECTION SPECIALIST/FIELD SUPERVISOR

Lloyd Funk

Lloyd Funk is a 31 year veteran of law enforcement. Lloyd’s skills have been utilized in a variety of roles in law enforcement beginning as a Detention Officer in 1991. Over the next 31 years he held positions in patrol, investigations, and training. Lloyd spent almost 20 years of his career in supervisory capacities as a sergeant and lieutenant.

Lloyds’s additional appointments include SWAT team leader, Emergency Vehicle Operation Instructor(EVO), Field Training Officer, Operations Branch Manager for large concerts, community events and natural disasters, and Incident Commander for Community Preparedness Events. As a law enforcement officer, he has worked closely with other state and federal agencies including Police Departments, Highway Patrol, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Secret Service, and the FBI. As a law enforcement officer, he has provided security in a variety of situations including Presidential, Vice Presidential and International Dignitaries Visits. This has been done both as uniformed patrol and a SWAT team member.

Lloyd has over 3,000 hours Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in addition to all required academy trainings. He has advanced training in EVO, firearms, SWAT, field training, leadership development, and first line supervision. Outside his role as a law enforcement officer, he has been sought after for security work and his expertise as a firearms instructor. He has provided protection for dignitaries, celebrities and valuable personal property.

In December 2017 Lloyd was awarded the first ever Medal of Honor issued by his department for his life saving role of a fellow human being while off duty. He has been cited as one of the most dedicated, professional leaders in his prior organization.

PROTECTION SPECIALIST/investigator/process server/k-9 handler

John LaBrec

John retired from law enforcement in September of 2017 after 30 total years. He was with US Park Police in the Washington DC area for the first 15. Ten years as a patrol officer and a patrol sergeant; patrolling DC, Maryland and Virginia. Then the final 5 years he was assigned to the Secretary of the Interior Protection Detail. For 15 years John was a patrol deputy for the Teton County Sheriff’s Office in Jackson, Wyoming. Several years he was one of the field training instructors before becoming a K-9 deputy, which he did for seven of those years. John now spends much of his free time training search dogs. John was also an active member of SWAT, assigned to the entry team for six years.

John graduated Magna Cum Laude from Frostburg State University in western Maryland. He competed in Gymnastics where he set school records in five of the seven events. He was inducted into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. John’s athletic prowess continued when he achieved a rare perfect score in the physical fitness testing at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) during his rookie class. Furthermore, he graduated with the highest overall combined score in his class, which included academics, firearms, and fitness scores. When the sheriff’s office starting giving awards for their physical fitness testing in 2008, John won the award with the highest score six out of eight times, despite being older than almost every other deputy.     

When John moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2002, he became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He volunteered as an EMT in Jackson for 11 years. John is an active K-9 handler with his search dog Taz, and travels across the West for search and rescue missions.

Protection specialist/investigator/field supervisor

Slade Ross

Slade Ross is a 20 year law enforcement veteran with extensive experience in almost every area of law enforcement such as patrol, training, drug enforcement and violent offender apprehension to name just a few. Slade’s skills have been utilized in a variety of roles in law enforcement beginning as deputy sheriff assigned to airport security with aircraft rescue responsibility. Over the next 20 years he held positions in Patrol, Investigations, Training and for the last seven years he held the rank of lieutenant and captain. Additional appointments include S.W.A.T., Emergency Vehicle Operations, Field Training Officer, Incident Commander for large concerts, community events and natural disasters, and community preparedness events. As a law enforcement officer, he has worked closely with other state and federal agencies including police departments, highway patrol, National Park Service, National Forest Service, United States Secret Service, and the FBI. As a law enforcement officer, he has provided security in a variety of situations including Presidential, Vice Presidential and International Dignitaries Visits. This has been done both as uniformed patrol and a SWAT team member. Slade was also the main contact for the U.S. Secret Service for five years while the Vice President of the United States lived within his jurisdiction.

Slade has over 3,000 hours Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in addition to all required academy training. He has advanced training in EVO, firearms, SWAT, field training, leadership development, and first line supervision. Outside his role as a law enforcement officer, he has been sought after for security work and his expertise as a firearms instructor. He has provided protection for dignitaries, celebrities and valuable personal property. 

Slade is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has contacts in law enforcement around the world. He is also a certified as an Accident Reconstructionist through Northwestern University in Illinois. He has testified in court as an expert in accident reconstruction and crime scene investigation and reconstruction. Slade has extensive knowledge of the aviation system as well as he is also a certified commercial pilot. 

PROTECTION SPECIALIST/investigator/EXPLOSIVES & BOMB EXPERT

Darrin Bingham

Darrin Bingham retired from law enforcement with over 20 years of service working in both Utah and Wyoming. He worked in many different assignments during his career to include: bike patrol, rescue & recovery diver, search and rescue, field training officer, traffic accident investigator, detective in both local and state capacities, arrest control instructor, SWAT team, bomb technician, bomb squad commander.   While working as a bomb technician, Darrin had the opportunity to work with the 2002 US Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Darrin was one of four law enforcement officers to provide the organization and coordination of all (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) EOD assets in the Salt Lake Olympic theatre. He was also responsible for the creation of a regional bomb squad in northwest Wyoming which still exists today in the Jackson Hole area.

Darrin has also worked with the US Department of State’s Anti-terrorism assistance (ATA) program as an instructor/SME (Subject Matter Expert) for Explosive Incident Countermeasures (EIC) and Advanced Explosive Incident Countermeasures (AEIC).  Darrin has worked with and trained over 30 different countries in this field in both in locations throughout the world.

 Darrin currently works at WMD Tech training and instructing Bomb Squads and bomb technicians in the United States as well as other countries. 

Protection Specialist/investigator/process server

Daniela Barnhill

Daniela Barnhill is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement with extensive experience in patrol and criminal investigations. Her career involved significant work in the fields of interview and interrogation, fraud, hostage negotiation, and staff inspection and accreditation. Daniela is also a certified background investigator. She was with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in Colorado for 13 years, where she worked a variety of assignments to include detention, patrol, staff inspection and accreditation. Throughout her time there she also taught in the law enforcement training academy, worked as a field training officer, and trained outside agencies. She is fluent in German and her skills have come into play in numerous high-profile homicide cases throughout her career in Colorado and California.

Daniela continued her career with the Denver Police Department, where she worked patrol and then transferred to the Traffic Division where she was assigned as a “Traffic accident investigation car.” Daniela moved back to California from 2011 to 2020, where she worked for a local agency on patrol and as a field training officer, before being assigned to the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force. This position gave Daniela the privilege to work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, and other federal and local agencies combating the growing problem of high technology crime and identity theft. 

Daniela has over 3300 hours of training to include Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in addition to advanced training in the fraud field and internet crimes, field training, self-defense (Krav Maga), major case investigation, gang intelligence, active shooter and traffic collision investigations. 

She obtained an Associate’s degree in Business in Germany and is nearing completion of earning her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/Forensic Science.