Criminalistics / Criminology Expert Witnesses

Emanuel Kapelsohn is an internationally recognized Firearms Training and Use of Force consultant who has instructed thousands of police and security officers, federal agents and others throughout the U.S. and abroad since 1980. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, he is a practicing attorney in addition to his consulting work. 

As vice president of the Internat’l Assoc. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Mr. Kapelsohn is a certified in force science and shooting scene reconstruction, and as an instructor in numerous law enforcement disciplines. He is a featured presenter at national and international instructor conferences. He has authored over 130 published articles, is Associate Editor of "Standards & Practices Guide for Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors," and principal author of "Firearms Training Standards for Law Enforcement Personnel," and "Guidelines for Simulation Training Safety." 

Mr. Kapelsohn testifies as an expert witness in civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts nationwide, and has testified by invitation before both houses of Congress. 

Testimony on the Following Subjects:

Gun Accidents Firearms Safety Gun Handling Procedures Gun Storage Firearms Design Operability Trajectories Velocities Ballistics Ejection Patterns - Ricochets Proximity Testing Gunshot Evidence

Bullet Wounds Reconstruction of Shooting Scenes Bullet Penetration Shooting Range Safety Hunting Accidents Holsters and other Shooting Products Self Defense Knives and other Weapons Involuntary Muscular Contraction and Accidental Discharge Police and Security Firearms Training Tactics and Procedures Use of Force

View Emanuel Kapelsohn's Consulting Profile.

Roy G. Taylor is a current Chief of Police with over 40 years of experience in a wide-range of federal, state, local, and private criminal justice positions. Mr. Taylor specializes as an expert witness in Police Practices and Procedures and Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Current Positions:

• Chief of Police Blue Ridge Public Safety (2014)
• President/CEO Signal 88 Security of Charlotte (2012)
• President/CEO Capitol Special Patrol (2012)
• Chief of Police Capitol Special Police (2002)
• Lt. Colonel – Provost Marshal, Army National Guard (2000)
• Antiterrorism / Emergency Management Branch Chief DoD (2007)
• Provost Marshal Joint Civil Support Task Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2014)

Litigation Support - Mr. Taylor is called upon to analyze cases from both defense and plaintiff perspectives. His services include case review, written reports, deposition, and trial testimony as needed. Areas of Expertise:

Police Standards & Practices Use of Force & Deadly Force Electronic Control Devices Standards of Conduct High Speed Vehicle Pursuits & Chases Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures

Failure to Train Law Enforcement Malpractice Failure to Supervise Violations of §1983 Civil Rights Personnel Selection & Retention Police K-9

View Roy Taylor's Consulting Profile.

James Gannalo is a former NYPD Detective and Forensic Consultant with twenty-three years experience in Firearms Identification. He has assisted attorneys and law enforcement agencies with hundreds of firearms related criminal and civil casework in addition to training dozens of individuals in firearms operability and microscopic analysis of ballistics evidence. He has testified as an expert witness in six hundred trials since 1989.

Areas of Expertise:

Firearms Operability Examination

Microscopic Analysis of Ballistic Evidence

Shooting Incident Reconstruction

Laser Trajectory Analysis of Bullet Paths

Gunshot Residue Distance Determination

Operability and Microscopic Report Review and Evaluation

Trial Preparation and Presentation

Expert Witness Testimony

Witness Interviews and Witness Statement Evaluation

Walter P. Signorelli, Esq., has over 30 years of experience in the field of Police Policy and Procedure and Police Liability.

Background - During his tenure in the NYPD, Mr. Signorelli held the ranks of Police Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Inspector, and Inspector, and served in numerous capacities. In these positions, he conducted or supervised 1,000s of undercover and overt investigations, applications for warrants, the execution of warrants, and arrests. He has also been responsible for the supervision of undercover training, and oversaw activities at the High-Intensity-Drug-Trafficking-Area (HIDTA) training center.

Regarding vehicle-related issues, Mr. Signorelli conducted or supervised numerous investigations of vehicle accidents, police emergency vehicles accidents, police vehicle pursuits, and was a member of various Accident Review Boards. His experience also includes responding to hostage situations, barricaded suspect situations, emotionally disturbed persons, and any police-related shootings.

Mr. Signorelli is currently a practicing attorney, an adjunct professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and an author. He has published three books: The Crisis of Police Liability Lawsuits, 2006; The Constable Has Blundered, 2010 (Carolina Academic Press); Criminal Law, Procedure, and Evidence, 2011 (Taylor&Francis, CRC Press).

Litigation Support - Walter Signorelli has been retained as a consultant by both plaintiffs and defense in a number of police liability cases, and has testified as a police procedures expert in both State and Federal courts. He has been prociding expert witness services for over 17 years.

Mr. Signorelli has been retained as an expert approximately 150 times and testified before an arbitrator approximately 25 times. His areas of expertise include:

Deadly Force / Excessive Force Drug Enforcement

Law Enforcement Police Procedures

George Schiro is a DNA Technical Leader - Forensic Scientist. His duties include incorporating the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) standards, accountability for the technical operations of the lab, conducting DNA analysis using the 13 STR core loci and Y STR in casework, DNA research, forensic science training and crime scene investigation.

Mr. Schiro has worked over 3500 cases and has qualified as an expert over 175 times in 31 Louisiana parish courts, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Texas, West Virginia, federal court, U.S. court-martial, and two Louisiana city courts. Has also consulted on cases in 29 states.

Qualified as an Expert in the Following Areas:

Latent Fingerprint Development

Serology

Crime Scene Investigation

Forensic Science

Trajectory Reconstruction

Shoeprint Identification

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

DNA Analysis

Fracture Match Analysis

Hair Comparison

Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP Founder and President of SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc., is considered one of the nation's leading authorities on Security Procedures; Security & Vulnerability Assessments; Police Procedures, including Use of Force; High-Risk Workplace and Human Resource Issues; and Substance Abuse Issues.

He has over 30 years experience in security matters in both the public and private sectors. He is a renowned speaker, expert witness, trainer, and author appearing on national media including Dateline, NBC, CNN, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Dimoff is the author of six books, including How to Recognize Substance Abuse, The YOU in Business and Life Rage, a chilling examination of societal rage and safeguards against it.

Areas of Expertise: Security Policies and Procedures; Use of Force; Human Resource Issues; Police Procedures; High Threat and Security Vulnerability Analysis, Drugs and Substance Abuse; Law Enforcement Procedures.

Contact: Mart Saferin & Associates - 440-669-6325

View Consulting Profile.

R. Paul McCauley, Ph.D. assists plaintiff and defense attorneys in police, security, and jail related issues. He is Emeritus Professor of Criminology and former police trainer, security manager and faculty of the National Crime Prevention Institute and the Southern Police Institute. He has qualified in state and/or federal courts in more than thirty states and Canada. Dr. McCauley was an advisor to three national, presidential and congressional crime committees. He was a Fulbright Senior Scholar to Australia--police security interactions. Dr. McCauley is a noted consultant and published author. 

John C. Villines is a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist and a Board Certified Security Manager. He has been a Security Consultant, Author, Seminar Presenter and Expert Witness since 1979. Mr. Villines' clients include Fortune 100 corporations.

Education: M.S. Security Management (08); Georgia State University: College of Law (82-85); B.S. Crim Justice (82) 

Areas of Expertise:

Security Negligence Foreseeability Negligent Investigations Policies Procedures Standard of Care

Management and Supervision Training Personal Safety Threat Assessment Access Controls Crime Prevention

Venues: Malls, Office Buildings, Hotels/Motels, Apartments, Retail, Parking Lots, Government Buildings, other. 

Member:

• International Association of Crime Analysts
• International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners
• American Society of Criminology

Daniel G. O'Kelly has over 40 years of experience as a range instructor, a builder, and collector of Firearms and Ammunition. Mr. O'Kelly is currently Director at the International Firearm Specialist Academy (IFSA), a guild of award winning experts, former Federal Agents, Investigators, Police Officers, and Medical Doctors, in the firearm and forensics field. Background Experience - An Armorer for thirteen gun companies, including Beretta, Colt, DS Arms, FN, Glock, H&K, Kimber, Remington, Ruger, SIG, S&W, and Springfield Armory, Mr. O'Kelly has toured and done research at numerous firearm and ammunition factories and firearm reference collections across the U.S., Europe, and Africa. He regularly presents seminars worldwide on firearm enforcement, ID & technology, and ammunition to law enforcement and the firearm industry. Mr. O'Kelly served for 11 years as a Police Officer and for 23 years as a Special Agent for the Bureau of ATF where he was Lead Instructor of Firearm Technology at the ATF National Academy

Litigation Support - Daniel O'Kelly has provided litigation support as an Expert Firearm Witness in federal court since 1990. He has testified in numerous trials for over 30 years and has been lauded as an "unshakable witness". A qualified Subject Matter Expert with exceptional knowledge in firearms and investigative protocol, he is recognized as the “go to” person regarding technical firearm issues.

Areas of Expertise:

Firearms Firearm Forensics Tool Marks Firearm ID & Comparisons Ammunition Firearms Product Liability

Shooting Accidents Crime Scene Reconstructions Forensic Pathology ATF Compliance / Firearm Technology Gunshot Residues & Distance Determinations Ballistics Issues

View Daniel O'Kelly's Consulting Profile.

Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I³) is recognized as an industry leader for biometric examination services, including expert fingerprint identification, latent print identification comparisons, data base system administration, information technologies, Automated Biometric Information System support and biometric data enrollment services.

Litigation Support - I³ strives to provide unbiased support for any request for comparison of facial images. They offer subject matter expertise in the area of consultation services for Facial Comparisons. Their Subject Matter Experts are key members of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences, the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG), and the International Association for Identification (IAI) Facial Identification Subcommittee.

 I³ has supported requests for attorneys (both prosecution and defense), historical photograph examinations, and missing children. They also offer expert witness testimony services regarding comparisons conducted by I³ personnel.

Areas of Expertise:

Latent Print Processing and Examination Tenprint Examination Facial Identification DNA Collection and Analysis Firearms and Toolmark Analysis Explosives and Drug Chemistry

Document & Media Exploitation (DOMEX) Footwear Examination Handwriting Forensic Photography Case File Management Evidence Handling

Lora S. Sims, CTPE currently serves as the Director of the Facial Identification Training and a Biometrics SME. In this position, Ms. Sims coordinates all training classes as well as many other Face related activities within the company and also provides subject matter expertise on Biometrics for contracts and consulting/expert witness work. 

Ms. Sims is an IAI Certified Tenprint Examiner and is the current chair of both the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) and the Facial Identification Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences. She also sits on the IAI Facial Identification Subcommittee.

Ms. Sims joined Ideal Innovations, Inc. in 2008 as a Tenprint Examiner at the DoD DFBA, which transitioned into a Sr. Biometric Examiner comparing multiple biometrics (fingerprints, faces, and irises). In this position, she co-authored a training to competency program on facial identification & comparisons and is responsible for mentoring and training new employees through the tenprint and facial training program while integrating them into an operational environment

Steven Lee Johnson joined the I³ Advisory Board after 13 years of service to the company as Senior Vice President. Mr. Johnson is the current Chair of the Forensics Science Standards Board (FSSB) of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) entity dedicated to strengthening the nation’s use of forensic science by facilitating the development of technically sound forensic science standards and by promoting the adoption of those standards by the forensic science community. 

Mr. Johnson served in the past as President and Chair of the IAI, secretary and chair of the IAI Forensic Art Certification Board, past chair of the IAI Science and Practices Committee, chair of the IAI Biometric Information Systems Committee and the chair of the IAI Facial Identification provisional sub-committee. In addition to his affiliation with the IAI, Mr. Johnson is an Associate Member of the International Association of Cranio-Facial Identifiers.

Mr. Johnson worked numerous forensic/biometric support contracts for the Department of Defense (DoD) and was actively involved in the development of DoD forensics and biometric standards. He is an International Association for Identification (IAI) Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE) and Forensic Artist. Prior to coming to I3, Steve served 20 years in the law enforcement community providing leadership and expertise in criminal investigation and forensic sciences at the municipal and state levels.

View Ideal Innovations, Inc.'s Consulting Profile.

Charles H. Heller, PhD, is a Forensic Psychology Expert with over 35 years of experience in his field. Dr. Heller is currently on staff at Rutgers University Biomedical Health service, specializing in criminal behavior and risk assessment. He also serves as a forensic psychologist consultant for the Rockland County (NY) court evaluation service, where he has performed hundreds of child custody, as well as criminal competency and child abuse/neglect evaluations.

Litigation Support - Dr. Heller specializes in conducting custody evaluations, providing the review and analysis of potentially mitigating circumstances in connection with criminal behavior, and providing consultation to attorneys regarding civil litigation. He has extensive court experience in Civil, Criminal, and Family Court cases. Dr. Heller is a fully vetted and approved forensic psychologist for the NJ Office of the Public Defender as well as other Public Defender offices. (Federal Public Defender, Legal Aid in Manhattan, Bronx, Kings and the NYC assigned counsel program). He often travels throughout the US as a forensic consultant in important court cases including military Court Martials, death row assessment, sexual abuse, assault and multiple homicides. He is well known and respected among his colleagues as a clinician and as a forensic psychologist/expert witness.

Civil Litigation - (Emotional and Mental Injury) - Dr. Heller is retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel to assess plaintiffs for emotional and mental injury. He takes an unbiased, ethical approach to assessments and is not "a hired gun." He is an expert in objective evaluations that assess the probability the plaintiff is suffering PTSD, other emotional injuries, or if there is exaggeration of symptoms based upon psychological testing and other data. He has expertise in cases that involve group home / residential schools, provider negligence, and assaults.

Criminal Litigation - Dr. Heller is experienced in providing successful rebuttal testimony explaining the scientific issues related to the problems of validity, reliability, and usefulness of "Syndrome evidence" such as "Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome" and "Rape Trauma Syndrome." He testifies in child sexual abuse cases and explains research related to false allegations, recantations, memory, suggestibility, child testimony, interview protocols, and "Believed-In Imaginings" in children and adults. He has expertise in domestic violence and has assessed women who have been victims of intimate partner violence and "Battered Women Syndrome" that contributed to homicides, assaults, and other felonies by the victims of abuse.

Manhattan: (Mailing Address) Two Park Avenue, 20th Floor New York, NY 10016 Phone: 212-880-3789 Alt. Phone: 845-354-0535 Fax: 845-354-1287

New Jersey: (Alternate Mailing Address 140 East Ridgewood Avenue South Tower, Suite 415 Paramus, NJ 07652 Phone: 201-262-0331 Fax: 845-354-1287

Westchester County: (Not for Mail Service) 520 White Plains Road, Suite 500 Tarrytown, NY 10591 Phone: 845-354-0535 Fax: 845-354-1287

View Dr. Heller's Consulting Profile.

Jeffrey C. Fox, PhD, MBA, MS, BLS, AAS, CHPA IV, CHS IV, served for 32 years in the field of Public Safety, 21 of which were with the VA State Police. He has over 20 years of personnel, administrative, and program management experience. Dr. Fox was a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute where he holds a Level 4 Homeland Security Certification. He has completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency Professional Development Courses and was certified through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as a trainer for incident command system training courses. As a practitioner, he was involved in the response and management of all types of events such as major disasters including floods, hurricanes, snow/ice storms, and the largest traffic crash in Virginia history. He has also managed and responded to civil unrests, protests, a sniper attack, dignitary protection, special event planning, and many major crimes.

Background - Dr. Fox began his law enforcement career as a military policeman in the U.S. Army and served as a town police officer, trooper, sergeant, first sergeant, and lieutenant. He served as a field lieutenant with the VSP and served as the assistant training officer where he managed the daily operations of the training academy. He also served as the statewide incident management program manager for the VA Department of Transportation in the operations and security division. 

Teaching / Speaking Experience - Dr. Fox retired from state service as the Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor for the Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness and Criminal Justice Cohort Programs for VA Commonwealth University. He served as an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Public Safety Adult Degree Completion Programs (Bachelors) [Criminal Justice and Homeland Security & Emergency Management] for Bluefield College. While the assistant training officer for the VSP, Dr. Fox collaborated with the University of Virginia and together they created the National Criminal Justice Command College. Having spent 20 years instructing at various criminal justice academies in a plethora of criminal justice, instructor development, and leadership courses, Dr. Fox has taught over 560 criminal justice and homeland security / emergency preparedness courses, and management / leadership courses which include over 18,000 classroom hours. He has taught over 85 criminal justice topics in police academies, which include over 4,000 hours of classroom instruction. Dr. Fox has served on over 35 boards or committees relating to criminal justice, homeland security, or training issues. He was tasked with overseeing the implementation of NIMS compliance issues for two large state agencies totaling approximately 6,000 employees. He has also overseen the development of several large distance-learning programs. Dr. Fox served as chairperson and committee member for many doctoral students in the public service leadership discipline. During his public service career, he earned over 167 commendations, awards, and honors for enforcement and service work, public speaking and instructing, and his academic achievements. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Fox serves as an expert witness for attorneys representing Plaintiff and Defendant. His services include case review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Public Safety Expertise:

Leadership and Management Ethics Instructor Development / Training Basic Police Training In-service Training Field Training Officer Training / Development National Incident Management Incident Command Training Emergency Management Training Emergency Preparedness / Response Crisis Management Traffic Safety Traffic Incident Management Training

General Criminal Justice Procedure and Policies Patrol Criminal Interdiction Search and Seizure Use of Force DUI / DWI and Drug Enforcement Drug User Recognition Investigations Criminal Behavior Homeland Security / Terrorism Risk Assessments NIMS Compliance / Implementation Agency Policy Development or Review

Daniel B. Kennedy, Ph.D., is FCA’s principal consultant and is Board Certified in Security Management. Dr. Kennedy has had extensive specialized training in various aspects of Criminal Behavior, Policing Operations, Corrections Operations, and Private Sector Security Management. He specializes in crime foreseeability issues, appropriate standards of care in the security industry, and analyses of the behavioral aspects of proximate causation.

Dr. Kennedy has testified in cases involving the appropriate standards of care for the use of deadly force, vehicle pursuits, emergency psychiatric evaluations, prisoner health care, prevention of prisoner suicide, positional asphyxia/excited delirium, and “suicide by cop.” He also evaluates numerous lawsuits concerning premises liability for negligent security in the private sector involving properties both in the U.S. and overseas.

Dr. Ron Martinelli, is a nationally renowned forensic criminologist and a federal/state courts qualified law enforcement and premises liability expert who is also a Certified Medical Investigator (physician's level) accredited by the MO State Medical Association. He is also a Certified Suicide Investigator. Dr. Martinelli directs the nation's only Forensic Death Investigations & Independent Review Team and specializes in officer-involved death cases, civilian self-defense shooting cases and premises liability/security cases.

Dr. Martinelli is a forensic/law enforcement expert to the U.S. Department of Justice, several State Attorney Generals' Offices, numerous major municipalities and nationally prominent private law firms specializing in wrongful death, civil rights and premises liability.

Dr. Martinelli is the prevailing expert in over 90% of his retained cases. He has saved defendants over $200M and earned plaintiffs over $60 million in jury verdicts and settlements since 2004. He is the media's go-to forensic expert for FOX News, One America News Network, CNN, HLN, Sky News, BBC, NPR, and the History & Discovery Channels. Dr. Martinelli is skilled in crime scene reconstruction, forensics, applied sciences and psycho-medical emergencies. His unique and extensive field experience, combined his academic and scientific credentials, excellent written reports and persuasive testimony, make him a very appealing expert to attorneys and juries alike.

Areas of Expertise:

• Arrests
• Search & Seizure
• Use of Force / Excessive Force - All Levels and Weaponry
• Officer Involved Shootings(OIS)
• In-Custody Deaths
• Criminal Investigations
• Police Practices, Training & Supervision
• Adult & Juvenile Corrections
• Law Enforcement Negligence
• Civilian Self-Defense, Security, Foreseeable Harm
• Insurance Cases.

Richard J. Brzeczek, Attorney at Law, Chicago Police Department Superintendent (Retired) has over 45 years of experience in the criminal justice system. He is a noted Expert and Consultant in the area of Police Policy and Procedure.

Background - Mr. Brzeczek has 19 years of experience as a police officer and police official, and over 25 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney. From 1973-1980, he served as General Counsel for the Chicago Police Department. Prior to that, Mr. Brzeczek was a partner at Levy & Erens, a commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and commercial real estate firm. He has 28 years experience teaching law enforcement seminars on the subjects of police misconduct, internal affairs procedures / investigations, and use of deadly and non-deadly force. This includes several years teaching at the FBI Academy (FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute).

Attorney Services - Mr. Brzeczek is currently in the private practice of law concentrating primarily on Federal and State Criminal Defense with experience in civil litigation and administrative hearings. He argues cases on appeal at the Federal and State levels.

Litigation Support Richard J. Brzeczek has almost 30 years of experience as an opinion/expert witness. He has provided his expertise in a Wrongful Conviction Litigation which resulted in a multi-million dollar award for plaintiff. He also served as an expert witness involving Proper Police Procedures regarding the handling of a suicide threat and traffic safety.

Areas of Expertise:

• Police Administration & Procedures - Policy Development, Review, and Implementation
• Police Misconduct Issues - Improper Procedures, Wanton and Willful Conduct and Wrongful Convictions
• Internal Affairs Issues - Examining Competency of Investigations