Our Team

DASS Security Officers

All DASS Security officers hired are vetted and screened prior to employment by the co-owners, FBI/BCI and Ohio Homeland Security. DASS covers all officers with a multi-million dollar liability Insurance specific to their contracts, well above the State of Ohio’s minimums for liability and all BWC claims relieving the clients of these liabilities.

All officers are current or retired law enforcement officers hired by DASS for this specific detail, non- agency affiliation, former law enforcement held in good standing upon leaving their respective agencies, or military that were honorably discharged. DASS Officers have been vetted and trained to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy or like agency State of Ohio approved training standards, such as the Ohio Peace Officer Training Course for Security Officers and will undergo a 3-month probationary period once employed by DASS. They are also trained to respond to medical emergencies and are certified in Emergency First Aid/CPR and the use of defibrillators.

About The Owners

Co-Owners Steve Rosta and Brandon Cruz are current commissioned Police Officers and retired State Troopers from the Ohio State Patrol Special Response Team who worked in command positions, for numerous years on the Divisions full-time Tactical Unit until retirement. Both individuals have an extensive background in policing operations with emphasis on Special Weapons and Tactics, excelling in the roles and rank they were positioned in. Combined both have over 55+ years of real-world operational experience.

Steve Rosta

Staff Lieutenant Steve Rosta (retired) is a 27-year veteran of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He served as the Tactical Commander for his agency’s full-time SWAT unit for 16 years. He has been involved with his agency’s tactical team since 1991. Steve has held the positions of: Sniper, Operator, and Team Leader and was assigned as the Tactical Commander in 2000. Prior to joining the law enforcement ranks, Steve served over 13 years with the U.S. Army Special
Forces Green Berets 10th and 11th Groups, serving on operational detachment alpha’s (ODA’s) in numerous countries around the world. He is a decorated veteran and member of Special Forces Association Chapter 45.

Steve served as the Liaison for the Ohio Association Chiefs of Police, Intelligence Liaison to Ohio Homeland Security for many years after his retirement, as well as a former guest lead instructor for the Colorado-based leadership corporation, Mission-Centered Solutions from 2010-2022.

Steve had held his LE commission with Shawnee Hills Police Department until 2023 for a total of 33 years in law enforcement. He serves on the Motts Military Museum as Chairman of the Board.

Steve is the founder, and co-owner of Direct Approach Tactical Solutions, Inc., and its subsidiary, Direct Approach Security Service. Along with friend and business partner, Brandon Cruz, the company contracts over 55 first responders in the private security field to include residential, corporate and personal protection.

He is a 1994 Alumni of the University of Louisville., and a former National Tactical Officer Association award winner and Ohio Tactical Officer Association member.

Brandon Cruz

Brandon Cruz is a twenty-seven-year Law Enforcement veteran of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and The Ohio State University Police Division. He served on his agencies’ SWAT Team for fifteen years. He has held the positions of: Operator, Sniper, Assistant Team Leader, Sniper Team Leader and Team Leader. Brandon has been involved in countless high-risk tactical situations with his agency. He has been deployed multiple times during civil unrest, protected Federal, State and local dignitaries. He has been trusted to instruct private sector employees, law enforcement officers at the Federal, State, local level and current military personnel.

Currently, he continues to serve The Ohio State University Community as a Police Officer. Brandon is the co-owner of Direct Approach Tactical Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiary Direct Approach Security Services along with his friend and former tactical team commander Steve Rosta.