Criminalistics / Criminology Expert Witnesses

Richard T. Picciochi is a Questioned Document Examiner with over thirty five years of experience in the New York City Police Department Crime Laboratory and in private practice. He is retired from the NYPD Forensic Investigation Division where he was a Detective, Document Examiner and the Technical Supervisor of the Questioned Document Unit. In the course of his career he has examined thousands of disputed signature, handwriting and document cases, participated in numerous high profile investigations and testified in trials including the "Zodiac" homicides and the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Mr. Picciochi possesses a background that integrates the natural sciences, forensic sciences and law enforcement investigations. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science and has received extensive specialized training in questioned document analysis by the NYPD, the FBI and the United States Secret Service.

Mr. Picciochi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE) and was awarded certification upon completion of comprehensive written, practical and oral examinations. He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Association for Identification.

Mr. Picciochi specializes in the examination of signatures and has testified in state, federal and international courts. He will accept civil, criminal and administrative cases and offers his services to both Plaintiff and Defense attorneys.

Richard Ernest is an award winning Forensic Scientist and Consultant who has over 31 years of Experience in Analytical Criminalistics and Forensic Ballistics. During his career he has worked literally thousands of forensic cases, and testified hundreds of times. Mr. Ernest is one of a very few private forensic ballistics consultants in the United States. He also owns and operates his own independent forensic firearms laboratory. He has worked cases all across the United States. His clients include law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, civil and criminal case lawyers, private individuals, journalists, writers, educators and students. 

Mr. Ernest has performed work on such notable cases as the Atlanta Murdered and Missing Children (Georgia vs. Wayne Williams), the Branch Davidian cases from Waco, the Texas Cadets Murder (Texas vs. David Graham and Dianne Zamora), the Miami SWAT case (USA vs. Acuna, et. al. - the Richard Brown case), and the Jayson Williams case (NJ vs. Jayson Williams). 

Areas of Expertise:

• Firearm Examination and Testing
• Bullet and Cartridge Case Examinations and Comparisons
• Ammunition Evaluation and Testing
• Shooting Scene Reconstructions
• Shooting Accident Reconstructions
• Shooting Scene Re-enactments
• Distance Determinations from Gunshot Wounds and Clothing
• Gunshot Residue Analysis (GSR) and GSR Consultation
• Tool Mark Examinations and Comparisons
• Gun Safety and Design Issues
• Serial Number Restorations
• Crime Scene Examinations and Consultations
• Footwear Identification
• Tire Track Identification

Steven Howard provides a wide range of Consulting and Expert Witness Services to the legal professional in an ample variety of Firearms, Ammunition, Knives, Blades, Explosive Devices and many other related subjects. His Primary Area of Experience is Gunsmithing and Certified Police Armorer. Mr. Howard has a college degree in Gunsmithing and is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan. He is a former Federal Agent with the U.S. Border Patrol and a former Federal Police Officer with the Department of Defense. He has 50 years of Gunsmithing experience and is a Certified Police Armorer.

Services Include:

• All Standard Firearms
• Firearms & Ammunition Failures
• Accidental Discharges
• Almost all Machine Guns
• Silencers
• Testing
• Shooting Scene Reconstruction
• Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Knives
• Explosive Devices
• Assistance in Trial Preparation
• Firearms Identification
• Gunshot Residue Interpretation & Cross Contamination

Francis T. "Jay" Jarvis has over 35 years of experience as a Forensic Scientist, specializing in Forensic Ballistics and Firearms Analysis.

During his career, Mr. Jarvis either performed casework in or was a supervisor for most of the forensic disciplines. Between 1982 and 1997, he wore a multitude of hats, performing casework in:

Firearms and Tool Marks Hair Fibers Glass Comparisons Footwear Tread Examinations Tire Tread Examinations

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis Latent Fingerprint Processing Marijuana Identification Presumptive Blood Testing Crime Scene Analysis Filament Analysis

Following his retirement from the Georgia State Crime Lab, Jay Jarvis started Arma Forensics to provide personalized, timely and unbiased forensic services for clients. He has testified as an expert in Federal Court and the courts of Georgia and several other states over 750 times. Mr. Jarvis' specialty is firearms identification and ballistics but he also has casework experience in trace evidence. Mr. Jarvis has extensive experience in crime laboratory accreditation, having served as an accreditation assessor and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), including one year as the Board Chair.

View Jay Jarvis' Consulting Profile.

Dr. Randall Atlas AIA , CPP is a Registered Architect, NCARB certified, and he practices Criminal Justice Architecture and Environmental Security Design. Atlas is a certified protection professional (CPP) with the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), and is an appointed member of the ASIS Security Architecture and Engineering Committee. Atlas has his doctorate in criminology and a masters of architecture. Dr Atlas is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture for Justice Committee.

Dr. Atlas has taught CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) and criminal justice courses at Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Miami, Keiser University, and he is a trainer with the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville. Dr. Atlas has been a technical Assistance consultant with the National Institute of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, and the Florida Department of Corrections and U.S. HUD Drug Elimination CPTED Program.

He has conducted ADA accessibility compliance audits for private and public sector clients, and served as an expert witness on over 200 premises liability lawsuits.

Dr. Atlas has been a speaker and trainer at security conferences from New Delhi, India to Seattle, Washington and has written over 200 articles in various publications on security, safety, and counter terrorism issues.

Adam Bercovici has almost 40 years of experience in the Police and Security field. Mr. Bercovici spent 30 of those years with the LAPD, 20 as a supervisor and manager. He is currently a retired LAPD lieutenant and former security company CEO.

Background: Mr. Bercovici's leadership assignments included the Criminal Investigation Section- Major Crimes Division-The Joint Terrorism Task Force, The FBI Violent Crime Task Force ( where he supervised the FBI Fugitive Task Force), The Special Investigation Section, and Homicide Special Section. 

Since 2012, Mr. Bercovici has worked as a licensed private investigator and subject matter expert and consultant in areas of Police Practices and Complex Police Investigations. His clients have included major law firms, insurance companies and corporations.

In the entertainment industry, Mr. Bercovici has been an on-air talent, producer, and script and story consultant.  He was the Co-Talent on The History Channel Series JFK Declassified-Tracking Oswald. He is currently the Technical Consultant for the ABC Network series Stumptown. His cases have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, and on the CBS Network.

Litigation Support: Adam Bercovici splits his work between defense and plaintiff. He has been retained by major civil rights firms, major municipalities and their legal counsel, plaintiff attorneys, city attorneys, and criminal defense attorneys. Mr. Bercovici accepts work based on the merits of the individual case.

Areas of Expertise: 

Police Use of Force Security Guard Operations Police Pursuit Policy Crowd Control Wrongful Death Criminal Conspiracy Public Safety Employment Private Investigator Best Practices

Active Shooter / Terror Incidence Kidnapping Special Undercover Tactics Complex Police Investigations Homicide Investigations K9 Operations Premises Liability Brady Issues

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

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
• COVID Detentions & Arrests

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.