Dave Jenson has worked in law enforcement for 24 years. He is currently a sergeant with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Dave has worked in several different assignments over his career including being a DEA Task Force Officer and Detective assigned to the Salt Lake Metro Gang Unit. Dave has previously served as the president for the Utah Narcotics Officers Association, and brings a lot of experience to our organization. Dave has been a part of the UGIA board for a few years handling sponsor and vendor coordination. Dave is excited to help UGIA grow and help the law enforcement community become more familiar with gang issues and trends within the state of Utah.

Derek Thorstenson has been a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) since 2018. During that time SA Thorstenson has become an expert in privately made firearms and firearms interstate nexus. SA Thorstenson was assigned to the Salt Lake County Metro Gang Unit from 2022 until 2024. In that time he attended multiple trainings pertaining to gangs and conducted or assisted in the conduction of numerous investigations into criminal organizations. Prior to his time as a special agent with the ATF, SA Thorstenson was in the United States Army. SA Thorstenson’s assignments in the US Army were Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Logistics Planner, Assistant Brigade Operations Planner, Company Commander, Battalion Operations Planner, Ground Force Commander, and Division Liaison Officer. SA Thorstenson retired from the US Army in January 2025. SA Thorstenson is currently assigned to conduct firearms trafficking investigations in the Salt Lake City Field Office.

Jeff Bird started his career with the Utah County Sheriff's Office in 1999 in the community services division. In 2002 he transitioned to the Utah County jail as systems specialist and went on to become a Deputy Sheriff in 2008 where he served as a gang investigator for seven years. Looking to his expertise in gangs with other agencies in Utah County, Jeff transitioned to the enforcement bureau of the Utah County Sheriff's Office and in 2019 joined Utah County Major Crimes Task Force as a detective where he worked as part of FBI's Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Gang Task Force. Throughout his career, Jeff has demonstrated a passion for gang investigation and suppression. He has been paramount in many investigations including narcotics trafficking and distribution, homicides, violent crimes, and countless gang involved crimes. Jeff still serves the residents of Utah County as a Deputy Sheriff and is the Vice President of the Utah Gang Investigators Association.

Isaac is a retired Salt Lake City Police officer. He started his career with the Salt Lake City Police Department in 1989 and retired at the rank of Deputy Chief in October 2016 after almost 27 years of service. At the time of retirement, Isaac was the Chief of the Investigations Bureau. Isaac is proud to have worked his way up the ranks by building his resume through various assignments at SLCPD. Isaac worked in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Community Action Teams, Solo Motor Squad, Investigations, S.W.A.T., Gang Suppression and Gang Investigations. His goal in working various assignments during the first 15 years of his career, was to gain the knowledge and experience he felt were essential to be a knowledgeable leader. Isaac promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2004 and served as a Patrol Sergeant. He was later assigned as Sergeant over Community Action Teams and then as Sergeant over Gang Investigations where the Utah Gang Association recognized his Unit as Gang Unit of the Year as well as SLC Police Chiefs Unit of the Year. In 2007 Isaac was promoted to Lieutenant where he served as Patrol Watch Commander, Assistant Bureau Commander in Special Operations and Investigations where he could continue his work with Gang Suppression and Investigations. Isaac was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief in January 2014. He was assigned to Command the Patrol Bureau, later moving to Special Operations and then Investigations. During his career, Isaac was a member of the S.W.A.T. team working as an Operator, Team Leader, Tactical Commander, and Commander. Isaac’s passion throughout his career was in Community Education and Awareness and the time he spent working on anything to do with Gangs, especially Gang Suppression and Investigations. In 2008, The SLC mayor's office sent a committee to Orlando Florida to attend the OJJDP Gang Conference. Isaac along with other members of the Mayors Task Force on Gang Crime Reduction attended the conference which outlined a new approach to dealing with Gangs and Gang members that focused on “Best Practices” in the area of Intervention, Prevention, and Suppression. Upon return, Isaac was part of the Mayors Task Force and was instrumental in creating a new Gang Initiative for Salt Lake City, in the form of an Intervention/Prevention Program that changed the way SLC dealt with gangs during that time. The program was called I-CAT (Intervention Community Action Teams). Although retired, Isaac’s passion for the work officers continue to do to Intervene, Prevent and Suppress Gang Crime is his reason to continue to be part of the Utah Gang Investigators Association.

Mike Botelho has worked in law enforcement since 2019. He currently works for the West Valley City Police Department as a detective, and is assigned to the Special Investigations Section as a member of the Street Crimes Unit. Mike is an ATF Task Force Officer specializing in narcotics, firearms, gangs, fugitive apprehension, and violent crime investigations. Before his current assignment, Mike was assigned to the Special Operations Bureau as a member of the Violent Crimes Unit investigating violent crimes against persons.

Bree Eller has been working with at risk youth over the last 8 years. She began her career working at ARTEC (Adolescent Residential Treatment & Education Center) as a head counselor for youth struggling with drug, alcohol, and mental health. After the program closed Bree joined the Choose Gang Free Team in 2017. She began her career teaching Choose Gang Free’s 5th grade prevention program and mentoring students 1 on 1 in Murray School District. In 2018 Bree moved into the Program Supervisor role where she was able to use her skills and knowledge to help grow the program, coordinating events, and holiday meal drives with her team. As a Program Supervisor, Bree is servicing youth through Juvenile Justice Services, Probation, DCFS, and taking the overflow of referrals from our school districts.