Sandoval County Sheriff’s lieutenant forges global law enforcement collaboration

VERONA, Italy — Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Soden is once again preparing for a trip to Italy. But this is hardly a European vacation for Soden; it’s a work trip.

Since 2014, Soden has traveled overseas as a guest instructor in an effort to bridge international law enforcement collaboration between the United States and Italy.

With a career marked by extensive experience in Prince George’s County in Maryland, Soden has earned a reputation for his decisiveness in complex operations and dynamic approach to training.

That experience has led Soden to Italy, where he has worked to train Italian police on active shooter incidents, comparing experiences from both the U.S. and Italy. Soden said the trips show the importance of rigorous training and robust cooperation between law enforcement agencies. His role as a guest instructor for Italian police forces since 2014 underscores Soden’s commitment to enhancing global policing strategies.

Soden’s training doesn’t focus on “active shooters,” which is an all-too-common phrase in America.

"Italy doesn’t face the same frequency of active shooter incidents as the U.S., but the training we provide is crucial for their preparedness," Soden said. “We’re even working to broaden the terminology to ‘active threats’ to better encompass the variety of scenarios officers might face.”

Soden’s work on "active threats" includes training sessions on high-risk tactics, such as vehicle assaults and counter-piracy measures, which Soden said are vital for law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Soden’s international influence extends beyond Italy, as he has collaborated with various European law enforcement agencies and advocates for a global network to share intelligence and tactical strategies. Despite logistical challenges, including rising flight costs, Soden remains dedicated to his goal of creating joint training programs between U.S. and Italian officers. His next work trip to Italy is set for September and, eventually, he wants to bring Italian officers to Sandoval County.

“It's been quite a success over there,” Soden said. “My end goal is to bring, and I keep getting close to this but it keeps on kind of faltering for economic reasons, a team of officers out here to teach, kind of like an exchange program.”

Reflecting on his time with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and his previous service in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Soden noted the stark differences in operational environments but praised Sandoval County. He also said it’s important to showcase the positive aspects of law enforcement amid challenging public perceptions.

“Prince George's County borders Washington D.C. I think for 10 years straight it is the most violent county in the nation,” Soden said. “There's not a comparison. I mean, our high for homicides, when we're at peak, was 172 for the county. Here, this is a great place to work. This is the easiest job in the world, and I get paid to do it. There's a lot of bad stuff in the world, but this is not a hard job. One percent of the time it’s tough, but it's a fantastic job.”

Soden landed his "fantastic job" after spending more than two decades fighting crime in Prince George's County, which has a population of well over a million. He came to Sandoval County in 2006.

“They sent me out here for training, and I got off the plane with a buddy of mine in Albuquerque; 'I'm like, ‘Man, I'm gonna retire out here. This is beautiful.’ And here I am,” Soden said.

After Soden retired, he still felt that itch to serve his new community, which was great news for Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and Italy.

“Professional engagement with international law enforcement agencies provides an exchange of tactical intelligence and in-field experience that can be used to strengthen local operations,” Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Allen Mills said. “We have access to this global resource because Sandoval County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Michael Soden guest lectures and trains Italian police groups. All of Sandoval County benefits from his work in Italy."