Police - Law Enforcement Expert Witnesses

Aaron T. Olson, has decades of experience In Human Resources and Human Resources Training. Mr. Olson's company, A.T. Olson Consulting, LLC,  is certified by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) as a Verified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); and the State of Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) as a Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) and Emerging Small Business (ESB). Background Experience: Mr. Olson has over 26 years of police experience managing assignments in communications, recruitment, and patrol. He supervised and evaluated both police and non-police employees. He was a member of the OSP Procedures and Rules Advisory Committee and worked with Oregon's Department of Justice in rewriting and validating OSP's trooper and cadet applicant hiring process. Mr. Olson had the honor of being a member of the first Oregon State Police Affirmative Action Recruiting Team.

 As a patrol supervisor, Mr. Olson directed major crime scenes and traffic crash investigations. He reviewed and approved administrative, police, and use of force reports. He also investigated allegations of police officer misconduct, conducted background checks, and participated in specialized tasks in community policing, dignitary protection with the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies. In reaching out to new immigrants and refugees, Mr. Olson initiated the "Police and Emergency Services" workshops at the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) in Portland, Oregon. 

Mr. Olson is regular adjunct professor at Portland Community College (PCC), Portland, Oregon, and Eastern Oregon University (EOU), La Grande, Oregon. At PCC, Mr. Olson currently teaches cultural diversity online and campus criminal justice classes. He also teaches an online class on civil liability in criminal justice. At EOU, he teaches an online multiculturalism in emergency services course. He established history by designing the first cultural diversity courses and curricula for PCC's criminal justice program in 2001, fire protection program in 2009, and EOU's fire service administration program in 2011.

Mr. Olson is a published co-writer of Multicultural Law Enforcement: Strategies for Peacekeeping in a Diverse Society, 7th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, and Multicultural and Diversity Strategies for the Fire Service, Pearson Prentice Hall.

Litigation Support: Mr. Olson meets the criteria of an expert witness as outlined in the Federal Rules of Evidence. He also meets the criteria of an expert witness as outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes. He has been deposed as an expert witness several times. Mr. Olson's services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include diagnostics, thorough reporting, depositions, arbitration hearings, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Communications: Basic, Advanced and Cross Cultural Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Problem Solving Cultural Diversity Awareness and Competency Employee Performance, Evaluations and Work Plans Review Employer, Government and Media Investigations

Review of Government Policies and Procedures Review of Police Procedures and Investigations Review of Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Complaints Review of Workforce Policies, Investigations, and Reports Risk Management Analysis

View Aaron T. Olson's Consulting Profile.

Chief Chet Epperson (Ret.), MBA, has over 38 years of experience as a Law Enforcement / Police Professional for the Rockford Police Department in Rockford, Illinois. Chief Epperson spent 33 years as an active law enforcement officer and 10 of those years as Chief of Police. 

Chief Epperson maintains practical experience as a municipal police chief, implementing several police reforms in his police agency along with accountability processes. He was instrumental in reforming the Rockford Police Department by enhancing its relationship with the community and providing internal and external transparency. Chief Epperson assisted in the formulation of a multi-jurisdictional task force to investigate officer-involved police shootings, in-custody police deaths, and serious uses of force.

Litigation Support - Since 2016, Chief Epperson has been serving as a Police Practices consultant, providing court-appointed expertise in police agency Federal District Court Consent Decrees. He is an expert in applying Constitutional Standards, State Law, policy, and practice to police incidents. Having Instructed courses on police use of force, internal affairs, and discipline, Chief Epperson is qualified to opine on cases of this nature for both plaintiffs and defendants. His police and jail litigation services include thorough reporting, deposition, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Police Officer Involved Shootings Police / Jail Use of Force Excessive Use of Force Internal Affairs Supervision

Police Training Police Practice & Policy Police Discipline Police Mental Health Police Auditing

View AGR Police Practice Group's Consulting Profile.

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 D. Morman, CPP, CSSP, PPS, is a career Public Safety veteran. He served with The Ohio State University Police Division for over 29 years, retiring as the Deputy Chief of Police, a position he held for 10 years. Mr. Morman has been involved in all facets of Law Enforcement, including management and supervision, having a total of twenty two years in supervision and management. In 2010, he was selected as The Ohio State University Department of Public Safety Employee of the Year. Mr. Morman holds three professional certifications, Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation from ASIS, Certified Sports Security Professional (CSSP) as designated by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), and certified Personal Protection Specialist (PPS) as designated by the Executive Protection Institute. 

Mr. Morman has vast Sports and Special Event Security planning and management experience, he is considered a subject matter expert in celebratory rioting, crowd management, sports and special event security planning and management, venue security planning and management and executive protection. In December 2011, he was invited by the US Department of Criminal Justice to present to a group of his peers in Best Practices for Large Venue Security. Mr. Morman has contributed to the Bureau of Justice Assistance publication: Practitioners’ Thoughts on Promising Practices for Securing College and University Spectator Events From Criminal Extremist Attacks and participated in developing the NCS4 Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Best Practices Guide. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Morman provides expert witness services to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant which include written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Security and Police Practices & Procedures Specialty Focus:

Premises Liability Security  Inadequate or Wrongful Security Wrongful Law Enforcement Act Higher Education Safety and Security Sports Event & Venue Security Special Event Security

Crowd Management Executive Protection Work Place Violence Higher Education Law Enforcement Threat Assessment Teams

View Richard D. Morman's Consulting Profile.

Donald L. Leach, II, is a Jail / Corrections Management expert with over 30 years of experience. He has 20 years of consulting experience on jail management issues nationally, focusing on Risk Management for jails and jail operational methodology. Mr. Leach has extensive supervisory experience, having overseen up to 402 employees (indirectly). He also supervised internal affairs investigations, experienced in interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, motivating, evaluating, and dismissing personnel. He is experienced in administering and managing a large detention facility, developing and administering programs, budgeting, contract development and monitoring, conducting research, monitoring compliance with policies and procedures, community relations, public speaking, controlling costs, problem-solving, and preparing reports.

Litigation Support - Mr. Leach has served as an expert witness for 5 years, in both State and Federal court. His services are available to counsel for both Plaintiff and Defense and include case review, testimony, and consultation for jail and prison issues.

Areas of Expertise:

Jail Management Use of Force In-custody Death Security / Operations Medical and Mental Health Services

Classification Contract Management for Privatized Services Management Information Systems Strip Search Gang and STG

View Donald Leach's Consulting Profile.

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

Areas of Expertise: Retired New York City Police Department Captain of Detectives with 40 years experience, Captain Mamet is an Expert in investigations, tactics, operations, conduct, training, procedures, use of force, high-speed chases and other forms of police liability, as well as security matters. He has testified as an Expert Witness in numerous cases, federal, state and local, for Defense and Plaintiff.

Profile: Retired Captain Mamet founded ECJM Consultants, Inc., in 1998, after completing forty years service in police work. His group provides high quality, cost effective police and security practices expertise to clients on a variety of law enforcement and security related issues. ECJM specializes in law enforcement and security liability matters, supporting both plaintiff and defense attorneys. Before deciding to assign a case to one of our experts, we will take the time to have a full discussion with potential clients, free of charge.

Professional Experience: Most ECJM experts are retired New York City Police Department command officers whose combined experience exceeds 125 years in law enforcement and security. Upon analysis of the materials supplied, the reviewing expert will offer a fair, impartial and clearly explained evaluation. A written report, if required, will be prepared. Should the opinion be helpful, the expert will also be available for deposition and trial.

Services: At the client's request, ECJM experts will provide an early assessment of a case, regardless of review time required, for a predetermined fee or bill by the hour. This innovative service means early, initial consultation with experts in a manner previously unavailable at such low cost. Early case assessment facilitates better client decision making regarding whether and how to proceed.

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.

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

Robert T. Johnson is a Law Enforcement Veteran with 32 years of active service. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Illinois State Police, Mr. Johnson continues to serve as a private consultant and expert witness regarding Law Enforcement Policies and Practices most frequently for Use of Force and Police Pursuits but has also testified regarding other police policy & practices issues. He also conducts Sensitive Internal Investigations as an independent investigator for municipalities regarding allegations of Police Misconduct.

Mr. Johnson has extensive experience in Police Administration, Management and Supervision, Criminal Investigations, Use of Force and Officer Invoved Shooting Investigations,Patrol Procedures, Complaint/Internal Investigations and Task Force Operations. Robert Johnson has been qualified as an expert witness in state and federal court. He has consulted and testified for numerous police agencies as well as plaintiffs in litigation regarding the use of force/deadly force, pursuits, emergency vehicle response, and other policy issues. Mr. Johnson has been retained as an expert in well over 150 cases and has testified at several civil trials, State & Federal.

Areas of Expertise:

• Agency Policies, Practices and Customs
• Batons, Flashlights and other Impact Weapons
• Chemical Irritants & Electrical Weapons
• Deadly Force; Shooting Avoidance and Alternatives
• Employee Dishonesty Investigations
• Neck Restraints and Similar Defensive Tactics
• Positional Restraint Asphyxia
• Prisoner Transport, Restraints, Handcuffing and Hog-tying
• Retention of a Known Unfit Employee or Negligent Entrustment of a Weapon
• Search and Seizure
• Standards for Discipline, Internal Affairs Procedures, (In)Adequate Punishment
• Use/Protection of Confidential Informants
• Vehicle Pursuit & Emergency Response Policies & Techniques

View Consulting Profile.

Victor Lofgreen, PhD has over 30 years of experience and education in the fields of Corrections and Community Development. He is a prison and jail consultant who conducts cases analysis and develops reports to support litigation on prison and jail issues. Experience - Dr. Lofgreen has served as the CEO of a State Adult Correctional Institution and the Division Chief of a State Planning Agency for Corrections. He has authored numerous professional papers and articles on topics within his area of expertise as well as Agency Policy and Procedure Manuals and training materials. Litigation Support - Dr. Lofgreen's expertise is in Jail and Prison Policy and Procedures related to the standard of care for inmates by local, State, and Federal correctional agencies. His services are available to counsel representing plaintiff and defendant and include case review, case study and data analysis, report of Expert Opinion based on the evidence included in the case study, deposition, and trial testimony as needed. Areas of Expertise:

Death in Custody/ Inmate Suicide Use of Force Proper Booking Procedure Prison Searches Deliberate Indifference

Inmate Work Supervision Inmate Assault Staff Assault on Inmates Conditions of Confinement Prisoner Medical Care Standards

Harry C. McCann, MPA, is recognized as an expert in Policy, Procedure, and Training by the Federal Courts in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Northern District of Georgia, the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania and has provided consultation, expert testimony or reports to law firms, police departments, correctional institutions, and municipalities throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Arizona,New Mexico and Delaware in the areas of the use of force, in custody death claims, special response teams, arrest procedures, Tasers, training, PREA, classification and legal issues. Background Experience - Throughout his law enforcement career, Mr. McCann has been responsible for the writing and implementation of policy and procedure relating to the Use of Force, Emergency Procedures, Prison Rape Elimination Act, Special Response Team protocols, Staff Training, Patrol Procedures, and Legal Issues. As the prior Director of Law Enforcement / Police Training in Bucks County (PA), the fourth largest county in Pennsylvania, he has been responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementation training programs to approximately 800 police officers representing 42 police departments.

Litigation Support - With 37 years of law enforcement expertise in the federal, state and county level, Harry McCann offers a unique perspective of knowledge and expertise in all facets of training, policy, procedure, and case review. Mr. McCann has continually demonstrated his ability to evaluate the issues and present himself in a clear, concise, thorough, and professional manner. His preparation has been acknowledged among his peers and has been honed by 35 years of college teaching and staff development instruction. He offers guidance and expert reports in matters dealing with:

• Correctional / Police Practices and Procedures
• Police, Correctional, Court Document Interpretation
• Use of Force
• Training Issues and Standards
• DUI Checkpoint Operations
• Wrongful Imprisonment and False Arrest
• Emergency Procedures
• PREA
• Correctional classification
• Police/Correctional Standards

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. 

David W. O`Laughlin is an experienced, innovative leader in the world of Law Enforcement Training. Having been directly involved in the training of police officers for more than 35 years, he has obtained certifications in a multitude of disciplines and has become a Master Use of Force Instructor and Force Science Analyst.

Mr. O'Laughlin has recently retired from the Brookline Police Department. As President of the Massachusetts Police Training Officers Association, he was appointed to serve on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council by Governor Weld and later appointed to the Committee for Law Enforcement Training and Education by Governor Romney.

As Director of Training for MPI, Mr. O'Laughlin oversees the development and implementation of all training programs and other interests produced by MPI. He is a certified expert in the Use of Force and is a recognized consultant in that discipline.

Litigation Support: David W. O'Laughlin provides expert incident analysis and testifies in both court and deposition in matters of police use of force, up to and including deadly force. His services are available to police agencies, insurance companies, and attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Use of Force Deadly Force

Law Enforcement Training Police Practices & Procedures

View David O'Laughlin's Consulting Profile.