SESSIONS & SPEAKERS

Wayne Thomas BSc (Hons) Psych, MA (Oxon), MBPsS, Tailored Training Programs

Wayne Thomas has spent over three decades working in the realm of investigative interviewing. He began his career as a UK police detective, specializing in the investigation of serious and organized crime and the use of covert policing methods. This was followed by a career as a UK government intelligence officer working in counterterrorism investigations around the world. He now works in collaboration with UK and US agencies, plus other nations to train interviewers and investigators in these strategies.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

8:00am – 9:00am Using Rapid DNA Technology to quickly solve cases and reduce backlog requests at the Phoenix Crime Lab

This session is sponsored by Thermo-Fisher Scientific

The Phoenix Police Department uses the Thermofisher Rapidhit DNA technology to quickly process rush cases. The Rapidhit DNA program has allowed the Phoenix Crime Lab to provide DNA results to detectives within hours of the crime occurring for immediate follow-up locating potential suspects. The program has also been used to reduce the backlog of cases with likely single source DNA profiles. The Phoenix Police Department plans to expand the program to include booking stations in the future to provide an even faster response for detectives to solve their cases.

Jay Hovland, Crime Lab Detective, Phoenix Police Department

Jay Hovland is a Phoenix Police Detective who has been a member of the Phoenix Police Department Crime Laboratory since 2010. In his current assignment, Jay is primarily responsible for facilitating the forensic process in support of ongoing investigations and trials. He works closely with detectives from each investigative bureau as well as the Maricopa County Attorneys Office and is part of the investigative team for officer involved shooting as well as being a a certified RAPID DNA operator and the coordinator for Phoenix.

8:00am – 10:00am: LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP SESSION

Pros and Cons of Relying on In-House Subject Matter Experts

This session will cover some of the errors that result from investigators asking in-house subject matter experts (SMEs) such as TASER or defensive tactics instructors to analyze officer conduct. Contributing factors, including a lack of investigator and SME training in the foundations of forensic video analysis and/ or human factors, as well as question formation, will be covered. The emphasis will be on the use of video evidence in use-of-force investigations, with interactive discussion as to how to best use video evidence in relation to interviews and other recommendations.

Jeff Martin, J.D., C.V.F.T., DSI Consulting

Jeff currently serves as a consultant and expert witness in matters pertaining to use-of-force, human factors, and video forensics. He also teaches “Lawful Force” and “Human Factors” in the California POST Institute for Criminal Investigations course on Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations.