LEO
Experience
Hi there! I'm E.L. Forestal, and I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome you to Outside The Badge!
As the founder of this site and the creator of Hero Helper AI, one of the most effective AI recruitment tools for law enforcement agencies, I couldn't be happier that you're here.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website, and I'm excited to share our story with you.
Our blog, Outside the Badge, is dedicated to supporting and educating law enforcement professionals, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in the field.
We offer a wealth of valuable resources, including career guidance, recruitment tips, professional development and training, health and wellness support, and community collaboration opportunities.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive support and guidance to individuals within the law enforcement community, helping them thrive in their careers and make a positive impact in their communities.
Stay ahead of sudden threats with our AI-powered safety alerts. Receive real-time updates on an active shooter incident, mass shootings, police shootings, and even school shootings to keep yourself and your community safe.
We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in law enforcement and providing resources for agencies to improve their recruitment effort through effective marketing strategies.
We advocate for policies that promote transparency, accountability, and justice, and believe that law enforcement plays a vital role in building strong and safe communities.
We provide valuable resources and insights on professional development and training for law enforcement professionals at all levels to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques, technology, and best practices.
We believe that a successful career in law enforcement begins with education and preparation. Our blog provides valuable resources for those considering a career in the field.
Our articles offer insights on stress management, nutrition, and fitness, as well as mental health support and resources for law enforcement professionals.
I was born in the Caribbean and raised in Miami, Florida. After completing my college degree, I moved to the Midwest where I currently reside with my wife, Tanika, our two children, Destiny and Gabriel, and our furry friend, Cocoa.
My career journey is quite unique, which I believe sets me apart from others in the industry.
Over the last 20+ years, I have served in the law enforcement profession, started a digital marketing agency, launched several successful online businesses, and even owned a restaurant and 2 retail stores.
As someone with 15+ years of digital marketing experience and two years of experience in the recruiting unit, I am the definition of “outside the badge” in terms of my career, lifestyle, and experience.
I created Outside The Badge to make a positive impact on public safety agencies. My mission is to help these agencies improve their recruitment process, address diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace, and support the mental health and wellness of first responders.
At Outside The Badge, we are committed to several core values. These include:
In addition to Outside The Badge, I’ve also developed Hero Helper AI, an innovative marketing tool designed specifically for law enforcement agencies.
This AI-powered solution allows recruiters to leverage technology and efficiently attract top talent.
Hero Helper AI streamlines various aspects of recruitment marketing, such as content creation, social media management, video marketing, hashtag creation, email marketing, and more.
By automating these mundane tasks, recruiters can focus on building relationships with potential candidates and promoting their organization’s unique value proposition.
Recognizing the significance of utilizing an applicant tracking system, I took the initiative to develop the Perfect Rookie (ATS) – an innovative and comprehensive applicant tracking system for law enforcement agencies.
The Perfect Rookie provides real-time updates on the status of applications, which enables recruiters to monitor the hiring process closely and take corrective action when necessary.
Additionally, the system improves communication between recruiters and applicants as it provides a platform for two-way messaging, enabling recruiters to respond quickly to applicants’ queries.
The Perfect Rookie offers a centralized database that stores all applicant information, making it easy for recruiters to access relevant candidate data and keep track of every stage of the recruitment process.
My mission is to establish a robust platform that enables agencies to effectively implement and streamline recruitment processes, while simultaneously fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace that prioritizes diversity.
I strongly believe that public safety organizations should be reflective of the communities they serve, as diversity within police ranks can create better relationships between officers and citizens. I’m confident that Outside The Badge is taking steps to make this vision a reality.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and my brand. Outside The Badge is committed to providing exceptional services to help law enforcement agencies improve their recruitment process, promote diversity and inclusion, and support the mental health and wellness of first responders. I look forward to working with you.
If you have any other questions, email me, find me on Facebook or add @forestal360 on Instagram.
I have a few guiding principles to keep myself grounded and focused on the right things. After all, it can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day hustle.
These four principles will help guide my decisions and keep me focused on the things that really matter: growth, development, balance and humility.
