Amanda Friestad
Mesa,AZ
Summary
As an ambitious and sought after senior Analyst with AZ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), my primary objective is to apply my extensive working knowledge of leadership and training alongside my eight years of experience in criminal justice to foster an environment in which I promote analyst development, enhance traditional analytical methods with cutting edge resources, and prioritize continued excellence in how my team supports internal and external customers.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Criminal Intelligence Analyst - Contractor
AZHIDTA
02.2022 - Current
- Acted as interim supervisor for Phoenix RLT in Supervisor's absence, with responsibilities including approval and signing of documents, distribution of incoming requests, and serving as primary point of contact for team members and customers.
- Collaborated with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and provided expert analytical support and crucial intelligence to over 100 investigations and apprehensions.
- Created useful and timely intelligence products to support field operations and ongoing investigations.
- Supported multiple state and local wiretap investigations through communications analysis, target development, and immediate response support.
- Championed importance of data-driven decision-making within department, promoting a culture of evidence-based policing strategies.
- Established trusted relationships with key stakeholders, including criminal justice organizations, Task Force groups, local and regional HIDTA teams, and other law enforcement counterparts, to facilitate sharing of crucial information.
- Trained junior analysts on best practices for data collection, analysis, and reporting methods, fostering professional development within team.
- Assisted in successful resolution of high-profile cases by providing timely and accurate intelligence insights.
- Developed comprehensive reports that informed decision-making processes within investigative groups.
- Participated in multi-disciplinary teams to address complex criminal issues, offering valuable analytical expertise.
- Improved inter-agency cooperation by facilitating communication between departments and sharing relevant information.
- Accompanied investigators on warrant searches and subject interviews to gather information and build intelligence.
- Enhanced criminal intelligence by conducting thorough research and analysis of complex data sets.
- Evaluated and recommended new software tools to enhance analytical capabilities within department.
Criminal Intelligence Analyst
AZ Department of Public Safety
10.2019 - 02.2022
- Acted as interim supervisor for Phoenix RLT in Supervisor's absence, with responsibilities including the approval and signing of documents, distribution of incoming requests, and serving as primary point of contact for team members and customers.
- Collaborated with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and provided expert analytical support and crucial intelligence to over 100 investigations and apprehensions.
- Created useful and timely intelligence products to support field operations and ongoing investigations.
- Trained junior analysts on best practices for data collection, analysis, and reporting methods, fostering professional development within the team.
- Assisted in the successful resolution of high-profile cases by providing timely and accurate intelligence insights.
- Developed comprehensive reports that informed decision-making processes within investigative groups.
- Improved inter-agency cooperation by facilitating communication between departments and sharing relevant information.
- Accompanied investigators on warrant searches and subject interviews to assist in building intelligence
- Enhanced criminal intelligence by conducting thorough research and analysis of complex data sets.
ACJIS Compliance Specialist
AZ Department of Public Safety
05.2018 - 10.2019
- Implemented and instructed Criminal Justice training programs related to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) use compliance.
- Evaluated existing policies regularly, identifying areas for improvement and recommending revisions as needed and authored updated state manuals guiding use of CJIS systems and compliance.
- Promoted culture of ethical behavior within the organization by underscoring importance of adhering not only to regulations but also to established company values.
- Provided expert guidance to colleagues on matters related to regulatory compliance, solidifying organization-wide understanding of requirements.
- Served as subject matter expert by advising staff and customers and working directly with external agencies throughout audits or to remedy compliance issues.
- Serve as interim supervisor in supervisor's absence.
- Provided expert guidance on compliance matters, instilling confidence in the organization's commitment to regulatory adherence.
- Assisted in preparation of yearly reports for senior management, detailing compliance activities and progress towards established goals.
Fingerprint Technician
AZ Department of Public Safety
05.2016 - 05.2018
- Collaborated with inter-agency partners to share knowledge, resources, and expertise in the field of biometric identification.
- Lead special project to correct fingerprint based criminal history records.
- Enhanced fingerprint identification accuracy by meticulously analyzing and comparing over 1000 tenprint and fingerprint records.
- Safeguarded sensitive information through strict adherence to confidentiality protocols and secure data management practices.
- Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing the collection, storage, and dissemination of biometric data.
- Assisted law enforcement agencies by providing accurate and timely fingerprint analysis for criminal investigations.
Gallery Facilitator Manager
Arizona Science Center
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Oversee daily operations related to customer experience, exhibitions, and guest interactions.
- Hired and mentored team of 9 Gallery Facilitators.
- Fostered inclusive learning environment by addressing diverse needs and adapting facilitation techniques as needed.
- Increased participant engagement by incorporating interactive activities and group discussions into sessions.
- Collected and analyzed participant feedback, consistently implementing suggestions for improvement in subsequent sessions.
- Coordinated staffing and agenda for large-scale private, public, and fundraising events.
- Enhanced program effectiveness by collaborating with colleagues to review and revise curriculum content regularly.
- Supported organizational change initiatives through effective facilitation of targeted employee training programs.
- Delegated projects and tasks to Gallery Facilitator Team Lead.
Police Dispatcher
Gilbert Police Department
12.2014 - 08.2015
- Handled sensitive situations with professionalism, maintaining confidentiality while collecting necessary information from callers for effective intervention.
- Prioritize severity and urgency of calls for service based on details provided by callers and information gathered from research.
- Received 911 and non-emergency calls and dispatched calls to appropriate agencies and officers on duty.
- Managed high-stress situations effectively, utilizing active listening skills and empathy to provide support to those involved in emergencies or traumatic events.
- Supported public safety initiatives by gathering relevant data from callers for accurate dispatching of appropriate resources.
SEA LIFE Entertainment Supervisor
Merlin Entertainments
01.2013 - 08.2014
- Led cross-functional teams in execution of large-scale events and daily operations, ensuring successful outcomes and satisfied clients.
- Directed and supervised team of 12 engaged in entertainment and education development.
- Managed budgets effectively, allocating resources appropriately to prioritize event needs.
- Forge partnerships with external organizations to aid in marketing and on-site programming
- Reviewed performance metrics regularly, identifying opportunities for improvement in operations and programming.
- Coordinated scheduling of performers, maximizing availability while minimizing conflicts.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for team members, providing constructive feedback that supported their growth within organization.
SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER Team Lead
Merlin Entertainments
08.2011 - 01.2013
- Serve as manager on duty while temporarily overseeing site operations and staff management.
- Trained new team members by relaying information on company procedures and safety requirements.
- Led cross-functional teams for successful project execution while maintaining strong collaboration among team members.
- Directed and supervised team of 36 engaged in entertainment and education development.
- Managed schedules, accepted time off requests and found coverage for short shifts.
- Promoted positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and employee recognition initiatives.
SEA LIFE Entertainment Specialist
Merlin Entertainments
04.2010 - 08.2011
- Provided excellent guest service to 200-1600 guests per day through interaction and education.
- Enhanced audience engagement by incorporating interactive elements and multimedia into live events.
- Created tailored entertainment experiences that catered specifically towards target demographic's preferences.
- Cultivated strong relationships with customers to build loyalty and repeat business.
Education
BS in Biological Sciences -
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZSkills
- Networking
- Team Leadership
- Project Management
- Communication
- Training Development
- Collaborative Teamwork
- Research abilities
- Law enforcement knowledge
Accomplishments
- Over 5 years of experience enthusiastically supervising teams of up to 36 members.
- Completed AZDPS Leaders In Training and AZ POST General Instructor School.
- Provided over 100 days of instruction and training for criminal justice personnel.
- Achieved AZDPS safety policy change by conducting a staff study and presenting findings and a proposed General Order to upper management.
- Provided analytical support to hundreds of criminal investigations by local, state, out-of-state, and federal agencies.
Communication Skills
Arizona State ACJIS user manuals, Criminal Justice, Workplace Culture, General Instructor School, FBI Analytical Writing course, Certificate of Effective Writing for Law Enforcement through Police Technical, Between multiple federal and local agencies related to ongoing and branch off cases
Leadership Experience
Influenced AZDPS policy change by successfully completing and presenting a multi-month staff study and authoring an accompanying General Order, Certificate in Public Safety Leadership from Rio Salado College, AZDPS Leaders in Training, AZ HIDTA Leadership for Intel Professionals
Personal Information
Title: Criminal Intelligence Analyst - AZHIDTA Contractor
References
- Anthony Conte, DEA Group Supervisor, 480.522.9837, Anthony.l.conte@dea.gov
- Diana Mondragon, AZDPS Captain and ACTIC Deputy Director, 520.609.1712, dmondragon@azdps.gov
- Sheila Telles, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, 602.803.2124, stelles@azdps.gov
- Paul Sant, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, 928.503.0504, psant@azhidta.org
Timeline
Criminal Intelligence Analyst - Contractor
AZHIDTA
02.2022 - Current
Criminal Intelligence Analyst
AZ Department of Public Safety
10.2019 - 02.2022
ACJIS Compliance Specialist
AZ Department of Public Safety
05.2018 - 10.2019
Fingerprint Technician
AZ Department of Public Safety
05.2016 - 05.2018
Gallery Facilitator Manager
Arizona Science Center
08.2015 - 05.2016
Police Dispatcher
Gilbert Police Department
12.2014 - 08.2015
SEA LIFE Entertainment Supervisor
Merlin Entertainments
01.2013 - 08.2014
SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER Team Lead
Merlin Entertainments
08.2011 - 01.2013
SEA LIFE Entertainment Specialist
Merlin Entertainments
04.2010 - 08.2011
BS in Biological Sciences -
Arizona State University