Field to the Future: A Law Enforcement Commander’s Second Mission

When Gary K. Anderson retired as Captain from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department after 26 years of service, he could have stepped away for good. But after a career spent leading teams through critical incidents and complex investigations, walking away entirely didn’t feel right.

In his role as Captain, he served as Division Commander overseeing the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division and Specialized Response Division. He guided personnel through high-stakes situations, managed major cases and led department-wide operations as Incident Commander.

Gary didn’t see retirement as an exit, he saw it as a new beginning. “I didn’t feel like I was done serving,” Gary shared. “I just saw another way I could help.”

That next chapter led him to the world of technology, a role in which he could help agencies solve the same operational challenges he once faced on the job. Today, Gary empowers investigators and law enforcement teams to utilize AI powered solutions that can automate manual processes required for the release of public records, streamlining internal workflows and reducing administrative burden.

With this new perspective on the other side of the badge, he’s helping departments streamline their redaction processes to meet growing demands around public transparency and privacy compliance.

“In today’s world, it’s not just about doing the job, it’s about doing it efficiently, transparently, and in a way the public can trust. That’s why we need solutions that actually keep pace with the mission.” Gary said.

The Reluctance to Change

Law enforcement personnel are often hesitant to adopt new technology and not without reason. “It’s not that people don’t want to be efficient, there’s a lot at stake if something goes wrong.” Gary explains.

Gary saw that resistance firsthand. “I remember the process of submitting evidence was tedious and very time-consuming. Barcoding and digital entry/tracking came later, but even then, adoption took some time.”

Language barriers and documentation created their own challenges. As a Native Spanish Speaker on his Investigation team, Gary frequently assisted with witness interviews and statement translations.

“Everyone did what they could to move investigations forward, but there were days when it felt like we were racing the clock,” Gary said. “I spent hours reviewing and transcribing audio, in addition to translating interviews line by line. That’s just how it was, slow, manual, but necessary.”

Today, that process looks very different. “I introduced CaseGuard’s automated video transcription software to an investigator who later told me he was able to transcribe and translate a 45-minute interview in under ten minutes,” Gary shared. “I remember when that same task would take me over four hours. Multiply that across cases, and it’s a game-changer.” 

The Road Ahead and Its Challenges

Looking back, Gary remembers how easy it was to get caught in the grind, focusing so much on solving cases and moving through the caseload that there was little room to step back and question the process.

“When you’re on the job every day, you’re focused on getting it done. You don’t always take the time to step back and think about how it could be done more efficiently” he said.

But with rising caseloads, limited resources, and increasing public expectations around transparency, Gary believes agencies can’t afford to rely on outdated systems.

“We owe it to ourselves and the communities we serve to find better ways to work, especially when the right solutions already exist.”

For Gary, that’s where CaseGuard makes a difference, reducing hours of manual work into minutes, protecting sensitive information, and giving teams the time and clarity to focus on what matters most.

Serving Through Solutions

Gary understands that adopting new technology in law enforcement isn’t just about the solution, it’s about building trust in what that solution can do.

“In this field, you’re focused on the job in front of you, on moving cases forward, protecting your community, clearing your caseload. You don’t always have the time or space to question the process,” Gary said. “But sometimes it’s the process that needs to change.”

Through conversations with law enforcement professionals across the country, Gary is helping agencies realize that investing in the right technology isn’t about replacing people, it’s about giving them the solutions to do their jobs better, faster, and with less strain.

“In law enforcement, change can feel like a risk. But if you give people a chance to try new tools, if you show them it saves time, and helps them serve the public more effectively, they start to get on board,” he said.

That’s why Gary brings real-world experience to every conversation. He knows what it’s like to manage caseloads, prioritize responsibilities, and try to stay efficient with limited resources.

“Being able to share how CaseGuard can help agencies clear years of redaction backlog, transcribe interviews in minutes, and simplify translation workflows is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Because I’ve worked in the field, I understand the pressure and that helps me connect the dots between the challenges teams face and the solutions that can actually make a difference.”

Whether it’s improving redaction to protect identities or simplifying transcription to move cases forward faster, Gary’s mission hasn’t changed, he’s still serving, just in a new way.

About Gary K. Anderson:

Gary is a retired captain from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona, with over 26 years of service and extensive experience managing complex investigations and critical incidents. He is an esteemed member of CaseGuard as a Privacy Expert bringing his expertise in law enforcement as a valuable asset to the team.