Training is the 13th Juror!

Before a police officer performs a lawful seizure, he/she must know the law. Each Liability law disc contains the full case review of over 5,300 Police Procedures and Practices cases from the United States Judicial Court Systems. The United States Supreme Court, Federal Courts, and State Courts are represented. Link to "Coplaw CD" in the left column to purchase your disc. (13thjuror Brochure)

In determining whether expert testimony on the use of force by a police officer is properly admissible under the appropriate standard, we note that "[a]s a general proposition, the 'objective reasonableness' standard may be comprehensible to a lay juror. On the other hand, any 'objective' test implies the existence of a standard of conduct, and, where the standard is not defined by the generic--a reasonable person--but rather by the specific--a reasonable officer--it is more likely that [federal rule of evidence] 702's line between common and specialized knowledge has been crossed." Kopf v. Skyrm, 993 F.2d 374, 378 (4th Cir. 1993) (analyzing plaintiff's claim that court improperly excluded expert testimony concerning defendant's use of non-deadly force in effecting arrest). In Kopf, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit stated that "[w]here force is reduced to its most primitive form--the bare hands--expert testimony might not be helpful. Add handcuffs, a gun, a slapjack, [M]ace, or some other tool, and the jury may start to ask itself: What is [M]ace? What is an officer's training on using a gun? How much damage can a slapjack do? Answering these questions may often be assisted by expert testimony." State v. Smith, 73 Conn.App. 173, 807 A.2d 500 (Conn.App. 10/22/2002)...We conclude that the test for evaluating self-defense claims pursuant to CGS § 53a-22 is a subjective-objective test.

34 years of Police Experience.
Masters degree in Criminal Justice.
Police Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Connecticut Police Academy Training Instructor (Ret)

Business Description - Police Procedures & Practices Expert Witness
Less Lethal Force and Lethal Use of Force; Domestic Violence Arrest protocols. State Court and Federal Court qualified expert on the standard of duty of care necessary for the use of justified and necessary constitutional counter force. Use of Force Policy Design for Shooting Decisions, Arrest Tactics, Baton Use, OC aerosol tactical use, Police Pursuits, safe prisoner custody, restraint , and transport, and Jail Suicide prevention. Auditing of Law Enforcement Agency Policies & Practices for " Best Practices" litigation inoculation.

The "Cardinal Principle of Police Use of Force restraint" is that "if it is not necessary to use more force, it is necessary not to use more force."