Security (Private & Public) Expert Witnesses

Expertise: Internationally recognized expert on the benefits of Crisis Management etc. Currently engaged by 7th largest organisation in the USA. Author of the new UK Government guide Preventing Chaos in a Crisis. Primary author of present UK Police command methodology Gold, Silver & Bronze. Senior Scotland Yard background, including setting up the multi agency operational management structure at the London Kings Cross major subway fire, secondment to the Anti Terrorist Branch. University lecturer. Highly entertaining / humorous global facilitator & presenter. Key motivator able to stimulate and focus wide audiences. Outstanding authoritative & skilled public speaker. Occasional TV appearances. Much quoted elsewhere. Member of the Guild of Freeman of the City of London.

Seminars & Speaking Topics:

• Crisis Management: Preventing Chaos in a Crisis.
• Avoiding Catastrophe: Human Behavior – Good or Bad.
• The People Factor: Factoring in How People Will React.
• Business Continuity (BC): No Longer a "Grudge Purchase" - More Profit!
• Understanding Risk: Knitting with Fog, or Drawing the Strands Together?
• Best Practice from the UK Govt: Why the UK & Europe Have Changed Focus.
• Don’t Make a Drama out of a Crisis: The Benefits of Effective Incident Management.
• Regulations 600 Years Old: Why Be a Freeman of the City of London?
• New Scotland Yard: A Behind the Curtain Look at Current Issues.

Company Background: Visor Consultants specializes in helping domestic and global organizations get the very best from their staff in times of possible disaster. We quantify your various risks and hazards; advise you on which pose the greatest threats; assist you to eliminate or contain them; and help develop your Crisis Management skills. We can then guide you in Risk Mitigation, in resolving any security issues, and in designing Crisis & Business Continuity Management strategies.

See Visor website for more information.

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, PhD, is a prominent scholar, practitioner, and entrepreneur, described by The International Herald Tribune as “a rising star in the counterterrorism community.” His career has focused on understanding how terrorist groups and other violent non-state actors (VNSAs) are changing the world, and helping governments and private clients fashion creative solutions to save lives and safeguard their interests.  Background Experience - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross is the founder and CEO of Valens Global and Valens Labs. He is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague. Previous positions he has held include senior advisor to the director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Community Partnerships, fellow with Google’s think tank Jigsaw, and adjunct assistant professor in Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.

As a practitioner, some of Dr. Gartenstein-Ross' recent projects have included: 

• Delivering regular briefings and assessments to U.S. government agencies on such topics as ISIS’s European attack network, the implications of the failed coup in Turkey on counterterrorism efforts, and the strategic implications of the Libyan civil war.
• Organizing and facilitating a conference in Nigeria as an EU-appointed Strategic Communication Expert, helping civil society activists understand militant groups’ use of social media.
• Mapping the online counter-ISIS narrative space for Jigsaw/Google’s Redirect Method, which was designed to divert users who may be susceptible to the jihadist group’s propaganda.

Litigation Support - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross has testified on his areas of core competency before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives over a dozen times, as well as before the Canadian House of Commons. He has also served as an expert witness on terrorism and sub-state violence in numerous federal legal cases, including criminal, civil, and asylum cases. 

Dr. Gartenstein Ross on Russian Hacking in the U.S. on CNN News

Speaking Engagements - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross is frequently a featured speaker at events throughout the globe, including delivering keynote speeches at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Commander’s Conference, the University of Southern California’s National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), and the Global Futures Forum. Other venues where he has spoken include the Royal United Services Institute (London), the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (Kazakhstan), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

View Valens Global's Consulting Profile

Michael J. Canaan, CPP CFLC, is a Premises Liability Expert Witness with over 45 years of experience in military and civil law enforcement, as well as corporate and private sector security and investigative positions.

Assignments have taken him from the Bering Sea to Southeast Alaska, across Canada and the United States, to countries in Central and South American in case venues ranging from educational settings, amphitheaters and stadiums, nightclubs and sports bars, ships, casinos, retail environments, food processing facilities, malls, and shopping centers.

Expert cases have involved evaluating failure to meet best practices, duty or standard of care in areas such as:

• Inadequate or negligent hiring, retention, training, supervision, staffing, and terminations
• Use of force or excessive force, threats, harassment, and intimidation
• Inadequate or non-non-existent policies and procedures, post orders
• Assaults, voyeurism, rape, sexual assault, robbery, shootings, stabbing, and homicide
• Security technology integration, improper or inadequate physical security infrastructure or systems installation
• Workplace violence

Mr. Canaan has worked over 35 expert cases, with testimony experience in both deposition and trial.

He is Board Certified in Security Management by the American Society for Industrial Security, International. ASIS is the largest professional security practitioner association with over 38,000 members worldwide, of which only 2200 have received this prestigious certification. Mr. Canaan is also a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant with the Forensic Expert Witness Association.

View Michael Canaan'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.

Robert J. Coventry, Jr., CPP, CHS (III), has over 25 years of experience in the Security, Protection, and investigations field. He has been the Chief Operations Officer, (COO) of Starside Security and Investigation, Inc. (Starside) since 1991. Mr. Coventry is Board Certified in Security Management and a Certified Protection Professional, (CPP) with the American Society for Industrial Security, International. He is a Licensed Private Investigator, holds a Private Patrol Operator License in Arizona and California, and is a Private Investigator Security Manager in Florida. He is also a California Registered Locksmith.

Starside, under Mr. Coventry, has provided Armed and Unarmed Detention Security Officers and Transportation Officers for numerous Governmental agencies and provides security for the financial, entertainment and other commercial industries. He has nationwide and international security consultant experience in Durban South Africa prior to the World Cup, and numerous times in Mexico, France, United Kingdom, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. He has provided executive protection as well as armed and unarmed uniformed security and patrol services in both the public and private sectors. Recognized for his expertise, Mr. Coventry sits on Advisory Boards for California State University, Fullerton's Private Investigation and Security Program and Grossmont College Adult Corrections Academy.

Litigation Support - Mr. Coventry has been serving as a Security / Use of Force expert witness throughout his career. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include consulting, investigations, case Review, arbitration, and testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Bank Security Bars / Lounges / Night Clubs Deadly / Excessive Force Hospital Security Inadequate / Negligent Security

Private Investigators Security Guards Security Management Special Event Security Workplace Violence

View Robert Coventry's Consulting Profile.

Setec Investigations offers unparalleled expertise in computer forensics and electronic discovery, providing highly personalized, case-specific forensic analysis and litigation support services to assist in the investigation, handling, and prosecution of computer-related crimes or misuse.

Setec Investigations combines today's most advanced computer forensics and litigation support expertise with a business- and legal-friendly approach, resulting in a sound analytical foundation that carefully balances critical investigative requirements with vital legal and evidentiary needs.

Setec Investigations incorporates a cross-disciplinary team comprised of computer forensic investigators, attorneys, law enforcement specialists, and seasoned business professionals who have established a proven track record of success since 1997.

Services Overview

Setec Investigations possesses the necessary combination of technical expertise, understanding of the legal system, and specialized tools and processes enabling the discovery, collection, investigation, and production of electronic information for investigating and handling computer-related crimes or misuse.

Explore our range of service offerings:

Computer Forensic Investigations

Computer forensics and enterprise investigation services identify, gather, analyze, and preserve electronic evidence to establish a sustainable posture for internal or legal action.

Electronic Discovery

Manage large volumes of electronic data and quickly identify and isolate electronic evidence that is critical to the success of a litigation.

Litigation Support

Legal consultants and attorneys translate litigation issues into strong case strategies that effectively utilize electronic evidence.

Expert Witness

Supports the resolution of security incidents and active litigations by offering impartial and independent expert testimony, opinions, and customized reports in legal proceedings.

Profile: Mr. Foster has over 25 years experience in corporate security management, law enforcement and security consulting, including physical security, security guard operations,regulatory compliance, security training, and the purchase and maintenance of security equipment. As a consultant, he has developed and/or audited security programs involving financial institutions, multi-unit residential properties, hotels/motels, retail stores, high rise office buildings, shopping malls, parking facilities, college campuses, lounges, jewelry stores, truck stops and other commercial properties. He is frequently retained as a litigation consultant by law firms representing plaintiffs and defendants in negligent security lawsuits. He has testified at trial as an Expert Witness in the field of security on numerous occasions.

Mr. Foster has served as a detective with assignments in burglary, auto theft, and homicide and as the Vice President for security for a state-wide bank. He has been an adjunct instructor at two colleges teaching courses in criminology, criminalistics, criminal justice management and computer fraud. He has made numerous presentations to national security, banking, business and consulting associations and groups on a variety of security-related topics, including negligent security and risk analysis.

Services: Risk Assessments; Security Surveys and Assessment; Financial Institutions Security (ATMs, after-hour depositories); Litigation Avoidance; Litigation Consulting / Expert Witness Services.

Michael S. D’Angelo, CPP, CSC,CHPA is the founder of Secure Direction Consulting, LLC. He has been in the public safety and private security industries for over 25 years. 

Background - Before transitioning into security management, Mr. D’Angelo was a Police Captain, serving 23 years with the South Miami Florida Police Department. During his law enforcement career, he served in a variety of specialized units and gained significant managerial experience as a supervisor, middle manager, and senior commanding officer. Upon transitioning to the private security profession, Mr. D’Angelo was hired as the Corporate Security Manager for Baptist Health South Florida, where he served as an internal consultant for security and emergency preparedness to six hospitals and a multitude of outpatient/non- hospital facilities. D'Angelo achieved both Board Certification in Security Management (CPP) and Board Certification in Security Consulting (CSC). Expanding his expertise in the healthcare sector, he went on to achieve both the Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA) and Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) designations. 

Litigation Support - Michael S. D’Angelo provides forensic litigation support for cases involving security negligence and premises liability. Mr. D'Angelo's services include case review, expert testimony, and consultation on security standards and best practices. *Please contact for Mr. D'Angelo's CV. 

View Michael D'Angelo's Consulting Profile.

Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP, founder and president of SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc. a leading security consulting firm, has over 40 years of experience in Law Enforcement and Security matters for both the public and private sectors. He is multi-certified in the security field and is considered one of the nation's leading authorities on negligent security procedures; security & vulnerability issues; police procedures and operations including use of force; high-risk workplace and human resource issues; narcotics investigations and enforcement.  Mr. Dimoff is board certified by ASIS as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP?) which is internationally recognized as the “gold standard” certification for security management professionals, demonstrating their knowledge and competency in seven key domains of security.

Litigation Support - Mr. Dimoff has over 20 years of experience in testifying and consulting as an expert witness in over 500 cases and trials for both the plaintiff and the defense sides. His expert witness experience includes law enforcement procedures, security negligence of business or physical premises, human resources issues, meeting standards of practice in hiring and termination, employment practices, proper documentation, training, supervision, policies and procedures, harassment, discrimination, internal investigations, threats and excessive use of force.

Mr. Dimoff is a renowned speaker, trainer, and author who has offered expert commentary to national media including Dateline, NBC, CNN, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.  He is the author of four books, including How to Recognize Substance Abuse, The YOU in Business, and Life Rage, a chilling examination of societal rage and safeguards against it.

Mr. Dimoff holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology from Denison University.

Areas of Expertise: 

Security Policies and Procedures Use of Force Human Resource Issues including Hiring and Firing Terminated Employee Risks, and Policies Police Procedures Physical Security  Assessments

Negligence Determinations for Businesses Houses of Worship, and Schools High Threat and Security Vulnerability Analysis Drugs and Substance Abuse Issues Lone Wolf , Active Shooters, and Hate Groups Law Enforcement Procedures and Operations

View Timoth A. Dimoff's Consulting Profile.

Alan J.  Robinson brings over 35 years of Security / Law Enforcement experience to the  security, safety, fire safety, emergency management field. Mr. Robinson is a former Supervisor, Protection Services for Disney-ABC, Inc. in New York, where he coordinated the security of millions of dollars in equipment for both Reagan Presidential Inaugurations. While at Disney-ABC, he was credited with creating the first hostage negotiation training class after an incident at ABC News in Washington, D.C.

Background Experience: For  the past 25 years, Mr. Robinson has been the Director of Protection and Security Services/Emergency  Management for Atlantic Health System; a hospital system based in New Jersey where he manages: Public Safety and Security, Fire/Life Safety, Emergency  Management, Investigations, and Special Events for a healthcare system that approximately 10 million square feet of physical plant and campus, spread  throughout New Jersey.

Mr. Robinson directly and indirectly manages over one-hundred (100) security  officers, investigators, fire safety officers, emergency management officers, and contract law  enforcement officers. He has successfully navigated numerous external agency regulatory compliance  surveys including those from the “Joint Commission,” State Department of Health, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, and New Jersey Office of  Counter-Terrorism.

Litigation Support: Mr. Robinson has been retained to provide consultation, security analysis, and security expert witness testimony by plaintiff and  defendant in a wide variety of civil suits. He is available to consult and testify in matters concerning:

Premises Liability Inadequate Security Negligent Security

Crime Foreseeability Private Security Officer Training Security Industry Standards

Areas of Expertise

Workplace Violence Prevention and Investigation · Public Safety & Security · Emergency Management · Preventing Infant Abduction · Child Predator Protection · Narcotic Diversion Investigations · Multi-Facility Management · Asset Protection · Hospital Security · Continuous Process Improvement · Crisis Event Management

View Risk and Threat Analysis Management, LLC's Consulting Profile.

Gregory D. Lilyhorn, BSCrJ, CFC, LPI, CPP, CAS, CHS-V - Accredited practitioner with extensive broad-based knowledge in management and consulting, with over forty years of diverse service and participation in Law Enforcement, Private Security and Emergency Management.

Substantial experience in various pubic and business sectors including commercial and residential properties and unique environments such as high-risk or high-profile properties including banks, high-rise buildings, hospitals, drug clinics, and homeless shelters. Trusted and knowledgeable with extensive and diverse contacts in national corporations, healthcare, commercial property, criminal justice, government, non-profits, law enforcement, legal, religious and educational fields.

Accredited court-qualified expert with “successful court case experience” in (premise liability and personal injury cases) offering formal reviews and detail written opinions on civil and criminal matters involving lengthy reviews of negligent property security or security responses. Practiced public speaker, knowledgeable and experienced educator, certified security professional and licensed instructor in police and private security training.

Core Specialties: Expert Witness Opinions, Security Management, Crime Risk Vulnerability Evaluations, Site or Operations Security Assessments,  Crime Prevention Programs, H.R. Investigations, Case & Opinion Presentations/Reports, Source Intelligence, Law Enforcement Liaison, Public Speaking, Continuing Education Training, Business Crisis Preparedness-Response, Media Relations, and Complex Private Investigations.

Corporate Security Background - Mr. Lilyhorn served in corporate security for Tenet Healthcare Corp., one of the nation's largest for-profit healthcare organizations, where he was responsible for corporate security strategy, programs, and support of operations. Some of the most pressing duties were in the protection of newborn infants from kidnapping and in fraud, drug and identity/records theft investigations. While employed with the Tenet, he was also involved in massive evacuation operations for the 2008 Houston Texas Hurricane Ike and in the 2005 Hurricane Katrina and Rita disaster response operations for five seriously damaged hospitals.

Law Enforcement Background - Mr. Lilyhorn has also had a successful law enforcement career covering thirty years of practical state and federal law enforcement experience, finishing out his career as a Senior Federal Law Enforcement & Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Federal Protective Services being honorably retired after twenty years of federal law enforcement service in 2004.

Military Background - Gregory is a proud patriot and decorated veteran having served in the United States Air Force Security Police in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

View Gregory Lilyhorn's Consulting Profile.

John M. White, CPP, CHPA is Board Certified in Security Management; Certified Protection Professional (CPP); Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA); and a Published Author.

Mr. White has been a professional security practitioner, security consultant, and expert witness since 1999. He has over 40 years of experience in Corporate Security Management and Law Enforcement and Security consulting, including physical security, security operations, regulatory compliance, & security training. Prior to forming Protection Management, LLC, Mr. White served a distinguished career in law enforcement, corporate security, and the military.

As a security consultant, Mr. White has developed and/or assessed security programs involving multi-unit residential properties, hotels/motels, homeless shelters, tourism services, places of worship, retail stores, high rise office/residential buildings, food services, entertainment services, healthcare services, hospitals, long-term care facilities/assisted living, parking facilities, college campuses, lounges, and other commercial properties.

In 2013, Mr. White was approached by publisher Butterworth-Heinemann and asked to write a book on security risk assessments. That book, titled: Security Risk Assessment – Managing Physical and Operational Security was published in July 2014 and is available online through numerous bookstores.

Litigation Support - Mr. White has been retained by law firms representing plaintiffs and defendants in negligent security, premises liability, and use of force lawsuits in the field of security. His services include case consultation, document review and analysis, deposition, arbitration and mediation, and trial testimony when necessary.

Areas of Expertise:

Crime Prevention Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Security Premises Security Issues Security Risk Assessments Security Audits

Security Training Security Management Security Program Development Security Policies Use of Force Workplace Violence

View John White's Consulting Profile.

Riki Ellison, one of the top Missile Defense Experts in the World, is Founder and Chairman of MDAA. He received his degree from the University of Southern California, including a Certificate in Defense and Strategic Studies. Mr. Ellison has more than twenty five years of experience as an advocate for the Deployment and Development of a Missile Defense System for missiles of all ranges. He has become an expert on the issue and is the Premier Spokesperson on the Nation’s Missile Defense Program.

Mr. Ellison was hired by the United Missile Defense Company in 1997, and was responsible for marketing and the business development for the lead systems integrator of the National Missile Defense System which was a requirement of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.

During the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, in 2001, Ellison founded and developed the business strategy that would later become Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance in conjunction with the United States withdrawal from the anti-ballistic missile treaty and the decision by the President of the United States to deploy missile defense systems.

Mr. Ellison is a former NFL Football Player and three-time Super Bowl Champion who is a seasoned Public Speaker on the topics of Missile Defense, Defense, Football and Motivation.

David Wolowitz, JD is an Education Law Attorney with 40 years of extensive experience advising schools on the current and past standard of
care for protection of students from harm by other students, educators, and third parties.

Mr. Wolowitz advises independent schools nationwide and internationally on all aspects of risk prevention and crisis response, with a focus on promoting healthy relationships through the management and oversight of a healthy school culture. He is a pioneer in applying behavioral risk management concepts, including  training on healthy teacher – student boundaries and the establishment of standards of conduct, to promote safe school cultures. He specializes in k-12 but also provides representation to churches, camps, and other organizations that work with children and vulnerable populations.

Litigation Support: Mr. Wolowitz has significant civil and criminal trial experience in federal and state trial and appellate courts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He was an invited guest faculty member of the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Harvard Law School for 29 years.

 Mr. Wolowitz has been qualified as an expert witness and testified on the adequacy of independent school policies, procedures, investigations, remediation, and training relating to the protection of students in multiple environments. He has served as an expert witness in cases in New Jersey, South Carolina, District of Columbia, Florida, and New York.

Areas of Expertise  

Schools Safety Standard of Care School Administration / Governance Educator / Peer Misconduct Hazing Harassment Bullying Sexual Assault

Molestation Grooming Athletics / Sports Misconduct Title IX School Supervision School Trips Camps

 

View David Wolowitz's 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.