Behind the Scenes of Public Trust From a Former Deputy Sheriff

Tom Peine’s path to law enforcement began with a dream he carried from Germany to the U.S., a deep desire to serve the public and protect the communities around him. In 2006, that dream became reality when he pinned on the badge of a Deputy Sheriff at the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona.

Over the next ten years, Tom served both in the field and as a Public Information Officer, the voice the public heard during critical incidents. He worked on mass casualty events, major rescue operations, criminal investigations, and conducted press briefings under the weight of public scrutiny. But behind the scenes, he often faced a different kind of pressure: outdated tools, manual workflows, and redaction delays that added pressure to already intense moments.

Today, he’s addressing that problem from the other side. As a Privacy Expert at CaseGuard, Tom helps the very agencies he once represented, solving the same redaction and workflow bottlenecks he once endured. His story is one of trust, time, and transformation, proving that when systems work, people can too.

A Mission Rooted in Firsthand Experience

During his time with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tom worked both in the field and behind the scenes, patrolling metro and rural areas, serving as a detective on financial and sex crimes cases, and later managing high-stakes media relations for a department of 1,500 employees. He was the on-record spokesperson during breaking news incidents and a trusted bridge between law enforcement and the public.

In that role, access to accurate, timely, and redacted information was often the difference between a smooth response and a communications bottleneck. But behind the scenes, the tools used to prepare information for public release weren’t always built for the urgency of those moments. Redaction processes were often manual and time-consuming, requiring teams to scrub video footage frame by frame or blur sensitive information in documents line by line. Even when the message was ready, getting it out safely and responsibly could be delayed.

“Public trust is either built or lost in moments of pressure,” Tom says. “And in those moments, redaction is not just about compliance. It is about getting the facts out fast, responsibly, and with integrity.”

Later, in Bexar County, Texas, he served as the primary spokesperson for multiple departments, including the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Office of Emergency Management, during mass casualty events, natural disasters, and other high-profile incidents. The pressure to communicate quickly and accurately remained just as critical. In those situations, delays weren’t just operational setbacks; they could impact public perception, fuel misinformation, or erode trust in real time.

“When you’re responsible for the message in moments that matter,” he says, “the tools you have or don’t have can shape how a community experiences an event, and whether they trust what comes next.”

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When Tools Fail, People Pay the Price

Redaction delays. Manual tools. Long waits for transcripts. These weren’t just technical issues; they were recurring challenges Tom encountered when time and clarity were critical. Whether working with video, documents, PDFs, or images, redaction processes often required hours of detailed, manual work that slowed down the ability to release information efficiently.

“I’ve been in situations where every minute mattered,” Tom says. “And while we used the best tools available at the time, the process was still slow and demanding. That’s when I realized the workflow wasn’t just inefficient, it was unfair to the professionals working hard to serve the public.”

Tom recalls days spent manually redacting thousands of images, PDFs, and documents, meticulously reviewing each file while working under the pressure of meeting expectations from the media, the public, and those directly impacted.

“It is not just about hitting deadlines,” he emphasizes. “It’s about getting it right for the people depending on you- internally and externally.”

From Redaction Burden to Redaction Breakthrough

After years in uniform and behind microphones, Tom made a shift. But not away from service, just toward solving the problems he used to face himself.

His move back into the tech space was not accidental. At CaseGuard, he saw a solution that could do what he had once wished for: automate redaction for law enforcement, protect privacy, and give agencies their time back- all in one platform. No switching between tools for video, audio, or documents. No manual processes that eat into already limited hours. Just one AI-powered system designed to simplify redaction across file types and help teams stay ahead of the pressure.

“I have been buried in time-consuming work before; that is why this is not just another tool. It’s the kind of thing I used to wish for when I was buried in redactions and out of time. CaseGuard automates what used to take me hours, even days. That kind of shift matters when teams are already stretched thin.”

Advice for Decision-Makers: Don’t Wait Until It Breaks

Tom’s message to agency leaders is direct: Do not wait until your systems fail in a crisis to realize they are outdated.

“I’ve been in the room when everything’s moving fast: the media’s calling, families want answers, and you’re trying to pull redacted files together by hand. That’s not just stressful, it’s risky. If your systems can’t keep up in calm times, they’ll fail you in a crisis. And by then, it’s too late.”

His advice? Prepare before the pressure hits.

“This isn’t just about redaction software. It’s about giving your people the technology to respond quickly and responsibly, without burning out. That’s how you protect your reputation and your team. Because in a crisis, trust is not built with just promises. It is built with preparation.”

Final Thoughts: Leading Through Experience

Tom’s journey from immigrant to law enforcement officer, from public servant to privacy advocate, is marked by resilience, vision, and an unwavering belief in doing the right thing, even when it is challenging.

His award-winning memoir, Deputy While Immigrant, tells the story of that path, a lifelong mission to serve with integrity. That mission continues today in his work with agencies across the country.

In Tom’s view, redaction is not just a task to check off. It’s a safeguard. A promise. And when done right, it becomes one more way law enforcement can earn and keep the trust of the people they serve.

Tom doesn’t see redaction as a barrier to transparency; he sees it as the very solution that makes transparency possible. “It’s what lets us get the facts out timely while still respecting privacy, protecting victims, and preserving the integrity of active investigations,” Tom says. “That balance is what allows agencies to respond with speed and integrity, especially when the public is watching.”

About Tom Peine

With nearly 20 years of experience in law enforcement, public affairs, and strategic communications, Tom has served as a Deputy Sheriff, Detective, Public Information Officer, and government spokesperson. His career spans roles in Arizona, Oregon, Germany, and Texas, covering everything from FOIA compliance to emergency crisis response.

Now, as a Privacy Expert at CaseGuard, Tom helps agencies find better, faster, and more secure ways to meet the demands of modern public service.

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