THE USE OF FORCE EXPERT CONFERENCE
May 2-5, 2023
Virtual and in-person delivery options
The Law Enforcement Training Association, in partnership with the Justice Institute of BC and the Vancouver Police Department Force Options Training Unit, is pleased to announce the 2023 Use of Force Expert Conference:
Registration:
Please email the filled-out PDF registration form to
Charlotte Oxbury
coxbury@jibc.ca
604-802-8243
Dates: May 2-5, 2023
Time: 0800-1600 daily (Pacific Time)
Venue: Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) – and Virtual via Zoom
715 McBride Blvd, New Westminster, British Columbia, V3L 5T4 (map)
The purpose of the Use of Force Expert Conference (UFEC) is to develop Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the use of force by law enforcement. Our presenters are SMEs in the fields of use of force by law enforcement and include trainers for police in use of force in both physical skills and firearms. There will be presentations related to the prosecution and defence in case studies involving use of force experts in trials, which includes structuring a use of force opinion report. Also included will be presentations related to the oversight agencies, expert video analysis on use of force, and the biomechanics of use of force. Academics with specialized knowledge are provided with an opportunity to inform participants of current research which may assist in understanding a use of force incident.
One of the drivers for the Use of Force Expert Conference is the need for competent experts identified by Canadian courts and members of the prosecution service. It is hoped that this conference will provide participants with foundational information and suggest the next steps for their development in the area.
The 2023 UFEC will use a hybrid delivery model (online and in-person) in order to accommodate as many participants as possible and to provide opportunities for presenters who may not have the time in their schedules to present in person. Both presenters and participants unable to attend in person will be able to do so virtually.
Brad Fawcett – 2023 Use of Force Expert Chair
Law Enforcement Training Association
Presenters
John Daly
Master of Ceremonies
Director, Odd Squad Productions
John Daly has 40 years working experience in print, radio, and TV news as a reporter, assignment editor, newscast producer, and talk show host. His expertise lies broadly and extensively in TV news reporting. He has been tasked with general investigative assignments focusing on all kinds of crimes, scams, cover-ups, government and agency incompetence, and official malfeasance. He has covered many man-made and natural disasters including air crashes, train crashes, forest fires, landslides, floods, and earthquakes.
He has also reported on Royal Commissions involving Taser deaths, police in-custody deaths, serial murders, and money laundering. He has sat in on and reported on cases heard in many courts: Supreme, Appeal, County & Provincial, Family, and Federal. Security Commission hearings, inquests, prison riots, jail and prison, arsons, kidnappings, mysterious disappearances adults and children, bail hearings, commercial frauds, investment scams, medical malpractices, and police corruption have all been subjects of his scrutiny.
John is very familiar with all aspects of news scripting, media formats, software, production, equipment, lighting, sets, studio and remote broadcasting. Now retired from daily TV News, he is currently doing a weekly talk show for Global News/CKNW Radio Back on the Beat. He is a member of IRE: Investigative Reporters & Editors.
Elder Caroline Buckshot
Opening and Closing Remarks
JIBC, Office of Indigenization
Elder Caroline Buckshot, whose traditional name is KaNigan a Pit meaning “Woman who teaches”, is an Elder and community member from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation of the Algonquin Nation in Maniwaki, Quebec.
Elder Buckshot’s career led to Provincial Corrections as an addiction counsellor and Native Liaison for ten years, four years in the community as an addiction counsellor and since 2007, has provided elder services in Federal Corrections. In addition, Elder Buckshot is a Gladue writer since 2011 for Legal Services Society (LSS) and presently for British Columbia First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC). She has written over 3,000 Elder Review Initials, which captures the social history of the individual and develops healing plans and makes recommendations.
Most important, she is an Elder to young women in the community, providing spiritual guidance, and she is a proud mother of her son Andrew and grandmother to Brandon.
Superintendent Jennifer Keyes
Director, JIBC Police Academy
Superintendent Jennifer Keyes was appointed Director of the Police Academy in October 2022, joining JIBC on secondment from the Vancouver Police Department where she has served since 1999. Prior to her policing career, Supt. Keyes was a lawyer, working both in private practice and as Crown with the Public Prosecution Service of British Columbia. She is a former graduate of the Police Academy, as well as a former instructor in JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma program.
Her service with the VPD has allowed her to excel in the delivery of training as well as financial and administrative competencies. She has served the VPD as its legal training officer and later was its project manager for the implementation of the Ecomm-911 $60-million public-safety communications technology initiative.
Supt. Keyes has held positions in the VPD’s Operations Division and prior to her role with JIBC, was a Discipline Authority with the VPD Professional Standards Section where she was responsible for the disposition of Police Act conduct complaints. Her policing background includes a career focused on VPD members’ professional development, and in joining the JIBC Police Academy she aims to bring that wealth of knowledge and experience to the provincial level.
Presentation Topic: Role Player Training - Case Study
Retired Sergeant Brad Fawcett
Vancouver Police Department
Brad Fawcett retired as the Sgt. i/c of Research and Special Projects for the VPD Force Options Training Unit. He is a 31-year police veteran and has worked in patrol, jail, crowd control, and training. He was a staff member at the provincial police academy for over seven years where he instructed use of force, physical fitness, drill, and tactical courses involving high-risk vehicle stops, building containment and searching, active shooter, and mental preparedness. Brad is also a master hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist working with athletes to improve their performances. He is a court-qualified use-of-force and non-firearms prohibited weapons expert. He has provided opinion evidence in Coroners’ Inquests, civil trials, criminal trials up to and including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, labour relations hearings, public hearings, and a commission of inquiry. Brad has been a faculty member of three Law of Policing Conferences (Canada) and The International Law Enforcement Forum in Northern Ireland. He was a faculty member at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Chicago where he presented with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and has been a staff instructor at several international use of force conferences. Brad has an extensive resume related to use of force. He has developed manuals and courses from conception through provincial approval. He has been a sessional instructor at a post-secondary institution where has instructed Ethics for a Law Enforcement Environment and Professional Communications and was the Canadian director of the International Association of Ethics Trainers (IAET) for ten years.
Presentation Topics:
Video and Use of Force Expert Opinion
Use of Force Expert Evidence at Coroner’s Inquests
The presentation will discuss the various utilizations of use of force experts at Coroners’ Inquests. Use of force expertise may be sought by Coroner’s Counsel, an involved agency, or counsel for the family of the deceased. The role of the use of force expert will be contextualised within legislated purpose of a Coroner’s Inquest.
Geoffrey Desmoulin, Ph.D. RKin PLEng
Principal of GTD Scientific Inc.
Dr. Desmoulin is the Principal of GTD Scientific Inc. GTD offers Biomechanical Consulting Services on behalf of clients throughout North America. Focused practice areas include Injury Biomechanics, Incident Reconstruction, and Physical Testing with a sub-specialty in the Science of Violence®. GTD has been retained in significant complex injury litigation cases involving municipal police department use of force, violent encounters, and TASER International to name just a few examples. Furthermore, landmark testing and shooting reconstruction methodology developed by Dr. Desmoulin was recently upheld as reliable and admissible by the U.S. Federal District Court for the 9th District of California. This methodology has now been published in Force Science News in magazine format and in the International Journal of Forensic Engineering in the scientific literature.
Also, Dr. Desmoulin was selected from an international pool of applicants to be the science and engineering host for Viacom Networks’ hit television show “Deadliest Warrior”. In this high-profile position, he assessed engineering aspects, injury potential, and overall battlefield effectiveness of weapons used by warriors throughout history. The series filmed thirty-three episodes (1-hour format) and highlighted sixty-four warriors. Deadliest Warrior continues to air throughout the world in over sixteen countries, thirty-two different languages, and is available in over 96 million homes in the United States alone.
Presentation Topics:
Physics applied to Use of Force; Investigative Methodology and Instrumentation; Free Body Diagrams: Seeing Is Believing; Early Scene Documentation; Advanced Scene Documentation
Ravi Hira K.C.
Hira Rowan LLP
Ravi Hira K.C., is a partner at Hira Rowan LLP. Prior to founding Hira Rowan LLP in April 2016, Ravi was a partner at another boutique litigation firm in downtown Vancouver.
Ravi was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 1998. He was Crown Counsel from 1982 to 1988 and a Commissioner with the British Columbia Securities Commission from 1992 to 1994. Ravi was a Director of the British Columbia Law Institute from 1997 to 2004 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Criminal Law and Reform and Criminal Justice Policy as well as an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association National and Provincial Council. He was appointed by the Attorney General of British Columbia and the Law Society of British Columbia to the List of Special Prosecutors from 2007 to 2015.
Ravi’s practice consists exclusively of counsel work. It includes complex commercial litigation cases, criminal defence cases, prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney General of British Columbia, and administrative law cases relating to professional discipline, political ethics, public inquiries, and other regulatory matters. Ravi has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Presentation Topic:
Expert Evidence Qualification
Ravi and Ryan will discuss the ins and outs of expert witness qualification and the duty to the court.
Ryan Hira
Hira Rowan LLP
Ryan is an associate at Hira Rowan LLP. Prior to being called to the British Columbia bar in 2018, Ryan completed his articles at the firm.
Ryan maintains a broad litigation practice including civil litigation, commercial litigation and criminal law. He has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and has also appeared in the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories.
Ryan is a graduate from the Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba, where he was the director and founding member of the Robson Hall Racquets Club. Prior to law school, Ryan attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in history.
Outside of work, Ryan is an avid tennis player and has also been known to test his luck at golf and soccer.
Presentation Topic:
Expert Evidence Qualification
Ravi and Ryan will discuss the ins and outs of expert witness qualification and the duty to the court.
David Butcher K.C.
Wilson Butcher Barristers
David Butcher began his career as a prosecutor with the Federal Department of Justice in 1986. After 14 years in a mid-sized Vancouver firm, he joined Peter Wilson, Q.C. in 2003 and founded the firm Wilson Butcher. He has prosecuted and defended a wide variety of criminal cases at every level of court. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010. Today, most of his practice involves the defence of police officers charged with on-duty offences, and serious violent, sexual, and white-collar crimes. He also acts as a Special Prosecutor, and as counsel at professional Discipline Hearings and Commissions of Inquiry.
Presentation Topic: Use of Force Case Study
Cait Fleck
Wilson Butcher Barristers
Cait attended law school at the University of British Columbia and received her J.D. in 2018. She first joined Wilson Butcher as a summer student in 2017, then completed her articles with the firm and was called to the BC bar in 2019. Cait completed her undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus and received a B.A. in Spanish and Political Science. Prior to law school Cait spent five years living and working in South America, and she is fluent in Spanish.
Since coming to Wilson Butcher, Cait has conducted a number of use of force trials alongside David Butcher, K.C. She frequently consults use of force experts, retains reports, and works with experts to provide testimony in court. In addition, Cait has experience working on a broad range of criminal, civil, and administrative matters, including defence of Criminal Code charges, police and professional discipline, and civil litigation involving police agencies.
Presentation Topic: Use of Force Case Study
Constable John Irving
Vancouver Police Department
John Irving joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1990. In the 31 years since he has been actively engaged in training police officers not only in the VPD but from all over North America and other areas of the world. He redesigned the Basic Municipal Officer training program for the Province of British Columbia as well as the four Maritimes Provinces. Designed and delivered the Use of Force Transitional training program and Close Quarters Combat Shooting program for the creation of the GVTAPS (Transit) police force. He is a TASER Master Instructor, and was the first Canadian instructor for the Karbon Arms MPID. He assisted in the creation of the VPD Role Player Program and has grown the program from a dozen role players to over one hundred, and has assisted numerous other agencies in adopting the program around the province as well as the implementation of a role players program at the JIBC. He has presented internationally about the role player program to agencies around North America. John has been an expert witness on the Use of Force in BC Coroners Court, BC Provincial Court and BC Supreme Court. He has also been used as an expert witness on non-firearm prohibited weapons in BC Provincial Court and has taught about prohibited weapons and legislation to BC Crown Counsel.
Presentation Topic: Role Player Training - Case Study
Constable Brendon Frick
Vancouver Police Department
Brendon began training Police Judo in 2014 when he was subsequently hired as a role-player with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). As a volunteer with Odd Squad Productions Society, Brendon was a videographer and editor on The Odd Squad Beat: Understanding Fentanyl series and The Odd Squad Beat: Understanding Police Use of Force. In 2017, Brendon was hired as a Special Municipal Constable with the VPD, working part-time as a Traffic Authority member, and in the following year Brendon was cross trained as a Jail Guard and a Community Safety Officer. Working full time in the Vancouver Jail, Brendon began assisting as a part-time Use of Force Instructor at the Tactical Training Centre with the Force Options Training Unit.
In 2020, Brendon began his training as a police recruit at the BC Police Academy and was assigned to the Northeast district of Vancouver in May 2022. After Brendon’s first year in patrol, he was assigned to the Beat Enforcement Team and received his Police Judo blackbelt and currently runs the daytime police judo training at the Tactical Training Centre for police officers, special constables, and role players.
Presentation Topic: Role Player Training - Case Study
Paul Taylor, Ph.D.
Association of Force Investigators
Dr. Paul Taylor’s research focuses on police decision-making, human factors, and system safety in the context of potential use-of-force encounters with an eye toward improving outcomes.
He has over 10 years of practical law enforcement experience, including time as an in-service instructor, field-training officer, patrol sergeant and department training manager. Paul is the founder of the Association of Force Investigators and is actively engaged in police research and training across the country.
His early research received awards from the American Society of Criminology and the Division of Policing at the American Society of Criminology. Paul works closely with a number of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a wide range of consulting and training roles.
Presentation Topics:
Introduction to Interviews for Force Investigations
One of the most important and controversial aspects of any use of force investigation is the interview with the involved officer(s). Most law enforcement investigators are trained and regularly use deductive interview techniques – techniques designed to prove/disprove the investigators’ theories about a case. While these techniques are very effective at determining whether or not a crime was committed and eliciting confessions from people who are trying to conceal wrongdoing; they have been shown to unnecessarily introduce investigator bias and contaminate the memory of interviewees who are providing voluntary statements. This is particularly true when the interview data is needed to understand and assess decision-making. On the other hand, inductive interview techniques have been shown to reduce in influence of investigator bias, improve recall along with data quality and quantity, while at the same time inoculating against forgetting and memory contamination. This presentation will examine the who, what, where, when, and why of use of force interviews while demonstrating the merits, both to the quality of the data collect and to officer wellness, of taking an inductive approach.
Use of Force Investigation and Analysis Errors and How to Avoid Them
Police use of force has become one of the most visible and controversial aspects of many Western criminal justice systems. In the aftermath of a high-level use of force event most law agencies conduct extensive investigations into the surrounding circumstances and the immediate actions of the involved officer(s). These investigations are often conducted under intense public scrutiny and significant internal and external pressures. To compound matters, high level use of force events are relatively rare and even very experienced investigators can find themselves in unfamiliar territory while conducting these highly specialized and often politically charged investigations. Investigators, like everyone else, are subject to human factors, decision-making processes, and biases. This presentation will explore how these factors can negatively impact both the integrity the data/evidence collected and the analysis of that data/evidence. It will then present strategies and processes to minimize the likelihood for and impact of investigative errors.
Retired Constable Al Arsenault
Vancouver Police Department
Al Arsenault proudly served as a career constable with the Vancouver Police Department (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) from 1979 – 2006, retiring as Police Officer of the Year. He is the recipient of more than 20 commendations, including the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.), from Canada’s Governor General in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (2016).
Al Arsenault started martial arts training in Shotokan Dharma: Goshin Jitsu Karate, North Bay Ontario, Canada (1971). Al has earned his 3rd degree black belt in Nisei Karate-do under Dr. Yuwa Wong (1986), his black belt Instructor rank in Judo (2002) under Brian Shipper, as well as his honourary 7th degree black belt (as a Co-Founder) in International Wushu Sanshou Dao Association under Grand Master Shou-Yu Liang (2004).
He is a life-long teacher who started his own company, “Attactics Consulting and Training” (ACT) in 1992. He was the national tactical communications instructor for Parks Canada (1992–2003). His interest in martial arts weaponry led him to become a non-firearm prohibited weapons, street weapons, and concealed weapons expert in all levels of court in B.C. (1981–1998).
Al became a V.P.D. use-of-force instructor in the Tactical Trainers’ Group Member under Sgt. Joel Johnston (1992–1998), and later at the J.I.B.C. Police Academy with Sgt. Brad Fawcett (2008– 2009). Al also created and taught the Applied Policing courses in the Law Enforcement Studies Diploma program, also at the JIBC (2009–2014). One of the founding members of Odd Squad Productions Society (1997) and Police Judo, Al has dedicated much of his retirement life to these organizations while doing continuous writing on the Police Judo book series. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book Chin Na in Ground Fighting—Principles, Theory, and Submission Holds for All Martial Styles (2003), as well as Comprehensive Joint-Locking Techniques for Law Enforcement (2021). Al will present on the H-CUFF system of handcuffing.
Al is devoting this next decade of his life to completing the Police Judo book series as well as to grow Police Judo nationally and internationally.
Presentation Topic: Working Lunch – HCUFF – Video Review of Physical Control to Handcuffing
Chris Lawrence
Police Research Lab Affiliate,
Department of Psychology, Carleton University
Chris Lawrence is a retired instructor (2017) having trained police officers at one of North America’s largest police training facilities where his experience included police skills and procedures, specializing in Defensive Tactics, Officer Safety, and Firearms. Chris began his police career in 1979 as a foot patrol officer in a small department. In 1983 he joined a major police service where his assignments included General Patrol, Booking Officer, Underwater Search & Recovery, Marine Patrol, Tactical & Rescue Unit, Criminal Investigation Bureau and Training.
Chris’ police training experience began in 1983 and includes training related to his assignments as well as 4 years as adjunct faculty at the College level and over 25 years as a consultant to security and police services. He became a full-time police instructor in 1996. Chris has a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in British Columbia, was a Technical Advisor to the Force Science Institute, and was a former instructor on the Force Science Certification Course. Chris was also seconded to a national research entity as a research project manager for nearly 3 years. He has consulted as an expert at the local, state, national, and international levels and testified in Canada and the US regarding police use of force events; police training, practices, and procedures; subject control; officer-involved shootings; and sudden in-custody deaths.
Presentation Topic:
A Reasonable Officer: Examining the Relationships Among Stress, Training, and Performance
The presentation will describe an empirical study using Canadian police officers responding to a complaint scenario that resulted in an officer-involved-shooting. The study was conducted under the aegis of a Canadian university where the lead researcher was pursuing a psychology doctorate. The research will be briefly described along with a summary of the findings from the 122 officer-participants. A video recorded example of the scenario will be provided as will the opportunity to ask questions. The presenter acted as the safety officer for the majority of the study scenarios and is a co-author of the resulting peer-reviewed, published paper.
Grant Fredericks
Forensic Video Solutions
Grant Fredericks is a contract instructor of video sciences at the FBI National Academy and is one of the most experienced video experts in North America. Grant is a Certified Forensic Video Analyst, who has testified as an expert witness over 150 times in courts at all levels. He is recognized as a leading instructor in the science of Photographic/Video Comparison, Reverse Projection, and Vehicle Speed Analysis.
Presentation Topic: Trends in Video Evidence
Karen Liang
City of Vancouver Law Department
Karen Liang earned her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1992. She is a senior civil litigator with the City of Vancouver’s legal services department. Her practice is varied in the municipal context with an emphasis on police law, an area in which she is recognized as a leading practitioner. She has represented the police on a number of high profile, politically charged and complex cases involving allegations of wrongful conviction, malicious prosecution, historical sexual assault, excessive force and defamation.
She has appeared as counsel before various administrative tribunals, all levels of court in British Columbia, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Decisions rendered in the cases where she has participated as counsel have clarified or advanced the law in Canada and been cited by courts nationwide.
For more than two decades, Karen has spent time outside her practice mentoring students and new lawyers in both the private and public sectors. In the past five years, she has focused her mentoring activities on law students and young lawyers from equity-deserving communities who are members of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.
Karen currently serves as an executive member on both the provincial and national sections of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA). At the provincial CBA level, she serves as Chair for the Senior Counsel Section, Provincial Council Section Representative and also sits on the Equity Diversity Inclusion Committee. At the national CBA level, Karen serves as Vice Chair for the Public Lawyers Section and Secretary for the Civil Litigation Section.
Outside her activities with the legal community, Karen volunteers with the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. She has also spent many years fund-raising in various capacities for the United Church and the BC Canadian Cancer Foundation. In January 2023, she was appointed to the board of a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to educating and assisting at-risk youths.
Presentation Topic: Use of Force Expert in Civil Proceedings
David Kwan
Department of Justice Canada
David Kwan is a senior counsel with the Department of Justice Canada. He obtained his law degree from the University of Victoria and was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1989. After practicing general civil litigation with a firm in Vancouver for 8 years, he acted as in house counsel with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia for 7 years. In 2004, he joined the Department of Justice of Canada and in 2006 went on an assignment to the DOJ RCMP Civil Litigation Section at “E” Div Headquarters. He has continued to advise and represent the RCMP in civil matters and in coroners proceedings since 2006.
Presentation Topic: Use of Force Expert in Civil Proceedings
Martin Allen
General Counsel, Independent Investigations Office of BC
Martin Allen is a former Merchant Navy Officer, radar technologist and oil company manager, with degrees in economics and French. He was called to the Bar in 1998 and clerked with the BC Court of Appeal. He had a trial and appellate criminal practice in Victoria until 2016 and has been with the IIO since then. He is presently General Counsel for the agency and has a ’second job’ running a small family farm in the Kootenays.
Presentation Topic: A reflection on the legal justification for police use of force; the distinction between reasonable grounds and presence of risk factors; and the relevance of an officer’s personal experience.
Judge Shannon Keyes
Provincial Court Judge
The Honourable Judge Shannon Keyes is a graduate of UBC (BA 1982) and University of Victoria Law School (LLB 1985). She was called to the Bar in 1986. After a career in private practice, she joined the Provincial Prosecution service as Crown Counsel in 2000. She was appointed to the Provincial Court bench in 2014. She currently sits in Penticton BC.
Presentation Topic: Panel Discussion
Sharon Steele
General Counsel, Public Prosecution Service Canada
Sharon Steele is General Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Her practice includes organized crime, national security, money laundering and regulatory offences.
Presentation Topic: Panel Discussion
M. Kevin Woodall
Partner, Coristine Woodall, Barristers & Solicitors
M. KEVIN WOODALL is Partner with Christine Woodall, Barristers & Solicitors. Mr. Woodall has practiced criminal law, police law, and disciplinary law since being called to the bar on the Ides of March 1991. He has practiced at all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as before many Commissions of Inquiry, Coroners inquests, and public hearings.
Presentation Topic: Panel Discussion
Joel Suss, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Wichita State University
Human Factors Psychology Program
Applied Cognition & Expertise (ACE) Lab
Joel has a background in human performance and human factors psychology. Originally hailing from Australia, Joel was prompted to study human factors psychology following his operational and training experience in the private security industry. Joel’s research interests focus on understanding and improving perceptual-cognitive performance (e.g., anticipation, decision making) in complex and challenging operational settings (e.g., law enforcement, security, military command and control, aviation, and emergency medicine). For example, he is investigating ways to train police officers to make better decisions in stressful situations, by implementing findings from the fields of naturalistic decision-making and cognitive skills training.
Presentation Topic:
Seeing inside the mind’s eye: Eliciting cognitive aspects of decision making
Situation assessment and decision making are complementary processes. Understanding the interplay between these processes can help you discover valuable information about human performance in a critical incident. Come and learn about the cognitive skills underlying skilled performance that boost your investigative capacity.
Staff Sergeant Rom Ranallo
Vancouver Police Department
Rom is in his 25th year of policing. He joined the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) after graduating from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a Master of Science Degree. He spent the first eight years in patrol and was an original member of the Beat Enforcement Team (BET) policing the notorious Downtown Eastside. In 2007, he transferred to the Firearms Training Team (FTT) where he held portfolios in pistol, shotgun and carbine. In 2009, Rom led the FTT transition to the Tactical Training Centre (TTC). Promoted to sergeant in 2012; he was transferred to the VanJail as the OIC. He returned to the FTT in 2014 as the sergeant i/c developing several use of force (UOF) programs from conception to implementation. As a member of the Provincial Firearms Working Group (PFWG), he played a key role in establishing new pistol training and qualification standards. In 2021, Rom became the Rangemaster for the TTC. In 2022, Rom was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to Training Services where he oversees all training in the VPD. Rom is currently the lead instructor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Pistol Instructor Course and regularly instructs recruits in pistol at the Provincial Police Academy. Rom holds over 20 course certifications as it relates to UOF. Rom has trained police officers in firearms and related tactics at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international level. Staff Sergeant Ranallo has presented at numerous conferences including the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), and International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
Staff Sergeant Ranallo coordinated and hosted the VPD’s first Red Dot Sights (RDS) For Duty Pistols Instructors Course and continues to be part of the RDS instructor cadre.
Presentation Topic: Red Dot Sights on Duty Pistols
Sergeant Wade Rodrigue
Vancouver Police Department
Wade Rodrigue started his policing career with the Vancouver Police Department in 1999 and assigned to South East District. He then moved to the Downtown Eastside where he walked the beat until being accepted to the Emergency Response Team in 2005. During this first tour in ERT, Wade trained as a Sniper, Breacher and ultimately worked his way up the line-up to become the Team Leader until leaving in 2013. Wade then became the primary trainer for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Uniform Team where he travelled the Province providing firearms and tactical training. Upon promotion in 2016, Wade returned to the North East District of Vancouver serving as a Patrol Sergeant. In 2017 he was selected as a Sergeant for ERT and returned to the team serving for an additional 3 years.
Wade holds instructor level certificates in over 15 different disciplines in addition to being a certified Provincial Use of Force Instructor. Wade is currently the Sergeant in charge of the Firearms Training Team in Vancouver’s Force Options Training Unit where he is leading the department through a pistol transition utilizing Micro Ruggedized Red Dot Sight (RDS) systems.
Presentation Topic: Red Dot Sights on Duty Pistols
Shannon Gerrie
Crown Counsel, BC Prosecutions Service
Shannon Gerrie is Administrative Crown Counsel with Commercial, Police & Regulatory Prosecutions section of the BC Prosecution Service. In that role, she has administrative oversight of police prosecutions within CPR, including all prosecutions arising from IIO investigations. She has been with the BCPS for five years, and before that with the PPSC for 17 years.
Presentation Topic:
Top Five Challenges for Use of Force Experts
David Hainey
Crown Counsel, BC Prosecutions Service
David Hainey is Crown Counsel with the Commercial, Police & Regulatory Prosecutions section of the BC Prosecution Service in Vancouver. Prior to joining the Crown in 2019, he was a litigator at the BC Securities Commission. He started his legal career practising civil and commercial litigation at the Toronto office of McCarthy Tetrault. After moving to Vancouver in 2013, he spent three years working with Len Doust, Q.C. He has diverse trial and appellate experience in a wide range of criminal, civil and administrative litigation, including a number of recent prosecutions involving evidence from use of force experts.
Presentation Topic: Top Five Challenges for Use of Force Experts
Candidates for this course should be incumbent or former use of force instructors with a keen interest in furthering their education toward the goal of becoming a court-qualified use of force expert in criminal and civil matters, coroners inquests, human rights tribunals, and Police Act (BC) investigations.