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MARCH 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 3

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MARCH 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 3

Unsung Heroes: Lesson

Unsung Heroes: Lesson Learned United States Marshals Service: Dominic Guadagnoli To Tina Jaeckle, Ph.D. Crisis and Trauma Consultant, Counselor, and Instructor, Law Enforcement I have always imagined conducting interviews and writing articles on our law enforcement unsung heroes who have dedicated their mission to helping others. I focused not only on their professional careers but hope to offer a deeper look at the person behind the badge. These stories seek to highlight officer humanness, the importance of mental health and balance, and how they have sought to build resiliency in their own lives. These ultimately become our “lessons learned” and can serve as a roadmap for those following in their footsteps. Numerous articles have been previously published on Dominic Guadagnoli; however, a series of questions were provided for this interview with the goal to share a much more personal look at the man behind the marshal’s badge. A Devastating Moment Captured in Time: September 11, 2001 As Deputy United States Marshal Dominic Guadagnoli sat with colleagues to discuss work at their New York City office on the morning of September 11, 2001, our nation was changed forever through multiple devastating acts of terrorism. Their office was located only five blocks from the World Trade Center, so the explosions rocked their building. The first plane hit the north tower at 8:45 a.m. Although not immediately clear on the cause, Dominic and his co-workers ran towards the chaos without hesitation and with the intention to save lives and they certainly succeeded. Donna Spera and her co-workers were attempting to exit the south building as quickly as possible. Although Donna’s office was located on the 101st floor, they were waiting for an express elevator on the 78th floor sky lobby. Eighteen minutes after the first plane hit the north tower, a second plane crashed into the 78th floor of the south tower. With the exception of eleven other people in that lobby, everyone else was killed instantly. Although seriously injured Donna climbed down 78 flights of stairs to the base of the building with the help of a co-worker and then collapsed into Dominic’s arms. DR. TINA JAECKLE This sudden moment of connection was forever memorialized in a now famous Associated Press photograph of Dominic carrying Donna to a triage area. They remain friends to this day and he sends her flowers every year on the anniversary of 9/11. Highlights of a Successful Career with the United States Marshals Service Dominic was hired by the United States Marshals Service (USMS), in 1994, and was employed as a Criminal Investigator for over 25 years. Dominic spent about 20 years of his career assigned to protection details and fugitive task forces and worked thousands of fugitive cases. These included those relatively routine in nature to those more complex and the higher caliber types such as US Marshals Most Wanted, international and high-profile cases and those holding major case status. In 1997, Dominic was the Jury Team Leader for the 12-week high profile trial of US v. Yousef & Ismoil resulting in the convictions of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the WTC Bombing, and Eyad Ismoil, the driver of the van carrying the explosives. As the TL he oversaw a dozen Deputy United States Marshals (DUSMS) on a daily basis, but as it was a rotating detail Dominic supervised over 50 DUSMS. It was Dominic’s responsibility to safeguard the jury by implementing an emergency response plan involving evacuations, emergency transportation, and evasive actions and if needed, retaliation. Again, the nature of the trial and a courtroom filled to capacity with spectators, local and international media it demanded extra security and foresight to prepare accordingly. Because of Dominic’s success in the Yousef & Ismoil trial, he was also assigned as the DIC for US v. Suleiman. Suleiman was associated with Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and ten other co-defendants who were tried and convicted of conspiring to blow up numerous New York City landmarks. During the past 18 years while working in Pensacola, Florida, Dominic served in the capacity of Acting Supervisory Inspector, DIC or Team Leader for USMS Investigative Operations Division fugitive operations not only locally but also statewide. As the Task Force Coordinator for North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force (NFVFTF) for eight years, he supervised nearly a dozen full-time Task Force Officers and up to 60 part-time Task Force Officers from nearly 20 different law enforcement agencies. Simultaneously while running the NFVFTF. Dominic was the N/FL Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator (SOIC). He also served on the USMS Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) for three years and responded to a half a dozen critical incidents in the panhandle. Even after resigning from CIRT, Dominic’s assistance was still requested to Headquarters by other agencies to respond to officer shooting deaths and other crises as well follow up counseling for officers and their families during crisis situations more than a doz- 82 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 83

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