It’s nice to meet you!
Erin West and Ashley Church
Gap Science
Erin and Ashley started out as coworkers – Erin was in charge of the Latent Print Unit and Ashley was in charge of the Crime Scene Unit. As they attended supervision and leadership training courses together, they quickly realized the lack of training opportunities for the forensic field!
In 2019, they created their first 40-hour Forensic Supervision course and started what is now known as Gap Science. In nearly 4 years, Erin and Ashley have created their second 40-hour Forensic Field Training Officer course, a Forensic Supervision II course, many webinars, eCourses and workshops, as well as a web-based app, the Forensic Pocket Guide.
Since then, Erin has been promoted to Crime Scene Manager over the Forensic Unit, Pre-Screening DNA Lab, Evidence Unit, and Latent Print Unit while Ashley has dove full-time into Gap Science.
Check out Gap Science for more knowledge, training and resources to “fill in the gaps” for forensic professionals in law enforcement!
The symposium is packed full of the best Forensic Trainers across the United States! Say hello to the expert speakers who will help you streamline your training program and start producing higher quality trainees in no time!
Adriana Tenorio
How to Finish DORs by the End of Your Shift
Adriana Tenorio discovered her passion for forensics in high school when she realized how much she enjoyed watching true crime and forensic profiling shows on Court TV. Her studies during college at the University of California, Los Angeles and networking efforts lead to the opportunity to attend a Forensic Science Academy at the La Puente Valley ROP where she completed the program during her junior year of college in 2006. Shortly after graduating from UCLA in 2007 with a Major in Sociology and a Minor in Human Complex Systems (Complexity Science), she became an Instructional Aide at the Forensic Academy.
In 2008, she was hired as a Forensic Specialist by the Beverly Hills Police Department and promoted to Senior Forensic Specialist in 2019. She is honored to have had the opportunity to work in the collateral role of Forensic Field Training Officer for her bureau when needed.
During her forensic career, she has remained connected to many forensic educational programs as an instructor in the topics of Basic and Advanced Crime Scene Investigation and Chemical Processing. Since 2019, she has worked for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) as an Adjunct Professor in the subjects of Friction Ridge Science and Criminalistics, where she contributes to the East Los Angeles College Forensic Science Associate Degree Program, Skills Certificate and Achievement Certificate Programs in addition to the Southwest College Skills Certificate Program.
Adriana is an IAI Certified IAI Crime Scene Investigator and a longtime member of the IAI, CSDIAI and SCAFO. She continues to have a passion for networking, sharing, and instructing within her forensic community which she believes leads to positive progression. She is honored and humbled to participate in the GAP Science Symposium.
AJ Matthews
Basic Guide for What to Expect When You’re Expecting (a Trainee!)
My name is Andrew Mathews (I go by AJ) and I am currently a Crime Scene Specialist III for the City of Phoenix Crime Laboratory. My primary work includes investigating complex violent crime scenes and serving as lead to junior level investigators. I am also a trainer (Field Training Officer) for new hires and assist with forensic / crime scene related instruction within our unit and now also serve as adjunct faculty with a local community college here in the Phoenix area. Prior to my career in forensics, I was a Detention Officer for Phoenix Police Department and prior to that I served in the Army and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
My education background includes an Associates in Applied Science in the Administration of Justice from our sister college, Glendale Community College, a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Arizona State University, and a Master of Science in Biology – Forensics. As far as professional memberships and development goes, I am a certified Crime Scene Analyst from the International Association for Identification (IAI) and member of the Arizona Homicide Investigators Association. Also, I have completed the American Society for Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) Level 1 Leadership Academy as well as copious other trainings and modules including RAPID DNA!
Alex Herrera
7 Things Every FTO Must Remember
Alex Herrera is the owner and lead instructor of Maxson Training & Consulting and has been conducting advanced training and public speaking engagements for over 25 years. He has a Master’s Degree from the University of Central Florida and has held numerous formal leadership positions both in the public and private sector.
He currently holds the rank of Commander at a large Central Florida Sheriff’s Office where he currently oversees a precinct with a large number of sworn and civilian staff, the Aviation Unit, Agricultural / Marine Unit, Motors and Volunteers and testifies on behalf of the agency in state and federal court. Some of his prior duties included overseeing all agency training, the Field Training Program, recruitment, and background investigations, Major of the Professional Standards Unit (Internal Affairs), K-9 Unit, Narcotics & Vice, Homicide, Special Victim’s Unit, and more.
He enjoys training, teaching, and inspiring others to reach their full potential by removing the veil of secrecy to success. The company name, Maxson Training, is in memory of his late father, Max Herrera, who was an amazing leader that dedicated his life to the service of others.
Alice White
Essential Tools for Recruiting Top-Tier Trainees
Alice White has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She has worked in latent prints since 1997 and was the manager of the Latent Print Detail of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 12 years (2006 – 2018).
Alice has served on several working groups and professional committees throughout her career. Alice has published multiple articles and provided lectures, workshops, and courses throughout the United States and beyond.
Most recently, Alice assumed the role of Editor of the Journal of Forensic Identification, the peer-reviewed journal for the International Association for Identification.
Ashley Church
Time-Saving Resources for Creating Training Materials
Ashley Church has always had a passion for forensic science and chased her dream job as a crime scene investigator throughout high school and college. After completing a 400+ hour internship at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for her undergraduate degree requirements in 2011, she continued her education in entomology where she was hired as a graduate research assistant. In addition to studying the impact of a highly prolific invasive species within a quarantined laboratory setting, she was responsible for collaborating with specialists, organizing materials, and developing presentations for a series of workshops as well as recruiting, training, and supervising undergraduate laboratory assistants.
She began her career in 2013 as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Florida. In addition to her duties as a Crime Scene Investigator, she was a field training officer responsible for training new crime scene investigators. In 2017, she became a Forensic Technician for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in Kissimmee, Florida. In 2018, she was promoted to Forensic Supervisor and was responsible for supervising members of the Forensic Unit and Pre-Screening DNA Laboratory as well as training staff in these forensic disciplines to full competency.
Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science with a Minor in Chemistry and a Certificate in Crime Scene Investigations from the University of Central Florida in 2011 and a Master of Science degree in Entomology from the University of Florida in 2013. She also became a Certified Crime Scene Analyst through the International Association for Identification (IAI) in 2019.
She incorporates her passion for science with a modern, energetic instructing style in hopes to inspire other leaders in similar fields. She is the co-founder of Gap Science LLC, a company offering training and resources for leaders in the Forensic disciplines.
Ashley Rosiles
How to Document Your Trainee’s Performance When You Don’t Have a Training Program
Ashley Rosiles is the Crime Scene Unit Supervisor for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, she has been employed with the EPSO for the past 8 years.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry from the University of El Paso and is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences- Forensic Chemistry, from the University of Florida.
Ashley is part of the Education Committee with the Texas Division IAI, part of the Advisor Board for The University of Texas at El Paso Forensic Science Program, and part of the El Paso School Districts Forensic Advisory Board. She holds a Crime Scene Analyst Certification through the IAI.
Catie Scarlett
Training New Hires with Prior Experience
I have been working in the Crime Scene field for just shy of 5 years and I recently relocated to TN to pursue an opportunity with Chattanooga Police Department as a Crime Scene Investigator. I also work part-time as a teaching assistant for Florida State University’s undergraduate Crime Scene Investigation program.
At my previous agency, I was a Field Training Officer and I greatly enjoy teaching and sharing my passion for forensics. I think it is important to always continue learning and growing in your field, and I hope to continue being a part of that.
Dacia Simpson
The FTO Team Challenge: Compete to Get Your Trainee Off the Struggle Bus
Dacia Simpson is a Crime Scene Specialist III who has 8 years of experience with the Phoenix Police Department. In this time she has been responsible for the processing and documentation of a variety of criminal investigations to include homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies, abuse, and officer involved incidents. Dacia is part of the Phoenix Peer Support Program, acts as a Field Training Officer, and is also an onboarding Ambassador for new Crime Scene Specialists.
She holds an Evidence Technology certificate, a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Social and Behavioral Science, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Danica Scales
Transforming Forensic Unit Cultures with Mentorship Programs
Danica Scales graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master of Forensic Science degree from National University.
She began her career in biotechnology research before becoming a forensic specialist in 2017 in Southern California.
Since that time, she has completed hundreds of crime scene investigations including homicides, officer involved shootings, sexual assaults, robberies, and burglaries. In addition to conducting field investigations, she is also a CSI field training officer.
Danica is also a trainer for the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) program. She has conducted hundreds of AFIS searches, and latent print comparisons. Danica is an active member of the International Association for Identification, the California Division of the IAI, and the Southern California Association of Fingerprint Officers.
Outside of her work in forensics, Danica participates in yoga and other forms of movement. She first began yoga in 2017 and became more active in it over the past 2 years. This has fostered her passion of integrating mindfulness and movement into the lives of forensic personnel.
Danielle Bronson
Key Elements to Wrap Up Every Training: Competency Tests and Mock Trials
Danielle Bronson is currently the afternoon-shift Crime Scene Manager (CSM) at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO).
CSM Bronson started her career in 2005 as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout her (16) years as a CSI, Danielle worked over (170) homicide investigations, (63) of which she was lead on, in addition to (40) officer-involved shootings. She also assisted in training incoming crime scene investigators and was a member of the Southeast Region 7 Incident Management Team.
CSM Bronson was promoted to Crime Scene Manager in 2021, where alongside her counterparts, she has been instrumental in bringing more training opportunities and new pieces of equipment to her Unit.
Since becoming a supervisor, CSM Bronson has supervised numerous investigations, while also maintaining her own case load. She has assisted in teaching crime scene investigation to the PBSO Explorer Program and photography to local nurses in the field of Forensic Nursing. CSM Bronson is also an ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) 17025 Internal Auditor.
Danielle earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Miami, with a minor in Chemistry and Criminology in 2001, and a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven in 2004. Danielle is a member of the International Association for Identification (IAI) and the Gold Coast Forensic Association. CSM Bronson has been a Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI) for the IAI since October 2011.
Dennise Hernandez
3-Time Management Strategies for the Multi-Tasking Trainer
Dennise Hernandez is the Supervising Forensic Scientist for the CSI Unit and Fingerprint Unit of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) Forensic Services Bureau (FSB). While her area of expertise is as a Certified Latent Print Examiner, she is cross trained in Crime Scene Investigation.
She has worked a range of cases, from burglaries to multi-casualty homicides, in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies. She also provides instruction at the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center and training for local law enforcement agencies.
Dennise received a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from UC Davis in 2005 and an M.S. in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics from CSU Channel Islands in 2008. Prior to her employment with VCSO, she conducted discovery research as a Senior Research Associate at Amgen, a biotech company in Thousand Oaks, CA.
She is a native and resident of Ventura County and takes pride in being of service to the community in which she grew up. She is and avid runner and enjoys going on adventures with her husband and their three children. Please visit and follow on Instagram @latentrunner where she shares running and forensic-related things. She would love to connect with you!
Erin West
Scoring Your Training Program and Leveraging Feedback
Erin West began her career in Forensics in 2006 as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
In 2010, she became a Battlefield Forensics Instructor for the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, where she was responsible for training military personnel how to use a variety of forensic disciplines to investigate crimes overseas.
In 2012, she became a Supervisor, then a Deputy Program Manager for a DOJ Forensic Laboratory housed at American Systems, where she was responsible for training and supervising staff working in different forensic disciplines and at different levels of management.
After leaving American Systems, she spent several years with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in Florida working as a full time Latent Print Examiner. In 2019, she became the Forensic Supervisor over the Crime Scene Unit and DNA Laboratory at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. In 2020, she became the Latent Print Supervisor over the Latent Print Unit at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. In 2021, she because the Crime Scene Manager at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, where she is responsible for overseeing the agency’s Forensic services to include the Crime Scene Unit, the Latent Print Unit and the Evidence Unit.
Erin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida in 2006 and a Master of Science degree in Forensic DNA and Serology with a graduate certificate in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida in 2012.
Erin is a member of the International Association for Identification (IAI) and the Florida Division of the IAI and is currently the Region 2 Director of the FDIAI. She is the co-founder of Gap Science LLC, a company offering training and resources for leaders in the Forensic disciplines. She is an IAI Certified Crime Scene Analyst and an IAI Certified Latent Print Examiner.
Gabrielle Wimer
Breaking the Cycle: Changing Unhealthy Work Habits to Develop More Resilient Trainees
Gabrielle Wimer is a Forensic Specialist working for the City of Ventura.
Gabrielle has worked in Crime Scene Investigation for 13 years and has been a Latent Print Examiner for the past 6 years. She is an I.A.I Certified Crime Scene Analyst. Gabrielle received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from San Diego State University and a degree in Forensic Technology from Grossmont College. She is an active member of the IAI and CSDIAI.
She currently serves on the Ventura Police Department Peer Support Team and provides Crime Scene Investigation training to the sworn personnel. Gabrielle actively volunteers her time in the community and partakes in the Ventura Police Department’s Community Academy.
She has been featured on the Today Show with Matt Lauer for her help in solving a 35 year old cold case homicide. Gabrielle is the Founder of The Walls Do Talk, true crime inspired Podcast. She currently resides in Ventura County, California.
Heather Temple
Setting the Stage for Success: FTO Must-Do’s Before the First Training Lesson
Heather Temple has been working in the Forensic Sciences field for seven years. She is currently a Forensic Science Specialist with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office located in Clearwater, Florida.
Heather’s educational journey ranges from a Certificate in Crime Scene Technology from St. Petersburg College, an A.S. in Human Services from Onondaga Community College, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Florida. Heather is also a Certified Crime Scene Investigator through the International Association for Identification and holds a certification for FARO Focus 3-Dimentional Scanning.
Heather volunteered with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in various divisions for two years, to include the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Division, before starting her career at the Bradenton Police Department in 2016 as a Crime Scene Investigator. Heather was hired at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 as a Forensic Science Specialist. Heather sharpened her skills over the years which afforded her the opportunities to serve as a Field Training Specialist, a member of the Major Case Response Team, a member of the FARO 3-Dimentional Reconstruction team, a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management team, and a Mobile Command Center driver. Heather is a three time recipient of the Gold Star award from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office along with several Certificates of Professionalism which recognizes Heather’s tireless work dedication.
Heather’s responsibilities range from responding to crime scenes where she will recognize, document, preserve, and collect evidence. Heather also collects evidence for lab processing and submission for future use in court proceedings where she will testify in. For Major cases, Heather will lead her co-workers for efficient investigations and documentation. As a Field Training Specialist, Heather instructs recruits with basic Forensic techniques up to more advanced documentation and collections such as Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Heather takes pride in her work and enjoys expanding Forensic knowledge to others where she frequently partakes in community programs such as Citizen’s Academy, Explorer / Cadet Posts, National Night Out, Great American Teach-In, Girl Scout meetings, New Deputy Recruit classes, and the Forensic Sciences Division training Academy.
Heidi Sievers
Training with Purpose: Crafting Exercises for Maximum Impact
Heidi Sievers holds a PhD in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Forensics. She is an International Association for Identification (IAI) Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst (CBPA) and Certified Crime Scene Analyst (CCSA).
She is Chair of the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Board for the Florida Division of the IAI and a Voting Member of the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Consensus Body for the American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board.
She is a former forensic investigator and human remains detection canine handler with Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Currently, she is an undergraduate and graduate professor in criminal justice, crime scene technology, and forensic science at various universities.
She is the owner of Sievers Forensics which provides forensic and bloodstain pattern analysis consultation and training to various agencies worldwide, including law enforcement and the military.
She has been featured as an expert correspondent for Fox News, Law and Crime, and other media outlets. Her training courses have been IAI-approved for initial and re-certification by the bloodstain and crime scene boards. She has also been acknowledged as an International Association for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts approved instructor.
Jessica Liang
Transforming Forensic Unit Cultures with Mentorship Programs
Jessica Liang is the owner of Finer Points Forensics, LLC. She began her career in law enforcement in 2011 as a 9-1-1 dispatcher before becoming a forensic specialist in southern California.
She has over a decade of experience in law enforcement with 9 years (and counting) dedicated to the field of forensics. She has conducted over 1000 crime scene investigations ranging from burglaries to death investigations to officer involved shootings. Jessica has also completed over one hundred latent print comparison cases.
Her expertise is in crime scene photography, crime scene investigations, latent print comparisons, and latent print verifications. She is a photography trainer and a CSI field training officer.
Jessica holds a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Forensic Science degree from National University. She is currently certified by the International Association for Identification as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst.
Ken Pomeranz
Basic Guide for What to Expect When You’re Expecting (a Trainee!), The FTO Team Challenge: Compete to Get Your Trainee Off the Struggle Bus
Ken Pomeranz has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement serving the San Diego Police Dept., the Las Vegas Police Dept., Adams County Sheriff’s Office (Colorado), Lakewood Police Dept. (Colorado) and currently the Phoenix Police Dept. He is a highly decorated officer (retired) who was shot in the line of duty.
Ken earned his Master’s Degree in forensic science and is certified both as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst and as a Forensic Photographer through the IAI. He is a past president of the Rocky Mountain Division of the IAI (RMDIAI) and is currently a vice-president for the Arizona Identification Council. He has conducted trainings and presentations at both the international and regional levels. He is a court qualified expert in bloodstain pattern analysis, wound pattern analysis, footwear impression evidence, and crime scene analysis. He’s taught forensics and criminal justice courses to police departments and universities throughout the states of Colorado, Nevada, California and Arizona.
Ken has been involved in field training programs as both a Field Training Officer and as an FTO Coordinator since the mid 90’s. He is an active member of the National Association of Field Training Officers and International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Ken is currently a Crime Scene Response Supervisor with the Phoenix Police Dept. and teaches at Arizona State University, University of Maryland Global Campus and Rio Salado College.
Mary Bain
Key Elements to Wrap Up Every Training: Competency Tests and Mock Trials
Mary has been in the crime scene field for more than two decades and currently works as a Crime Scene Manager for the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), a title she has held since October of 2021.
She joined PBSO as a Crime Scene Investigator I in 2006 and after a year on the job got promoted to a Crime Scene Investigator II. Mary began her career in crime scene as a volunteer for the West Palm Beach Police Department (Florida) in 2001. In 2003, she became a full time Crime Scene Technician (CST) for the Lauderhill Police Department (Florida), where she worked as a sole CST for about two years.
Mary is an IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigator and has her BA in Criminal Justice. She is certified to operate the Leica RTC 360 scanner and the GSSI Ground Penetrating Radar. She currently holds more than 1,000 hours of forensic continuing education. Prior to being promoted to manager, Mary was a primary trainer in the Crime Scene Unit at PBO and has trained more than thirteen CSIs. Mary has spent time teaching Crime Scene Investigations to the PBSO Explorer’s and was a judge at the Statewide Explorer Competition in 2022.
Mary is a AAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) 17025 Internal Auditor and has participated in several internal audits. During her career, Mary has worked over 1,100 crime scenes, including more than 200 homicides. She is also a member of the Southeast Region 7 Incident Management Team.
Matt Davis
Remediate or Terminate? Strategies for Discerning the Right Path
Matt Davis started his career in Forensics in 2013 working as a Latent Print Technician for a DOJ laboratory at America Systems. In 2014, he moved to Waco, Texas and started working for the Waco Police Department as a Latent Print Examiner.
In January of 2022, he was promoted into the Crime Scene Unit Supervisor Position at the Waco Police Department and is currently still in that role.
Matt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Investigative Science, Biology from the West Virginia University in 2013. He is also a graduate of both the Gap Science Forensic FTO course and Forensic Supervision course.
Rebeca D’Jimas
The Formula to Find, Refine and Retain Quality Trainers
Rebeca D’Jimas is a Forensic Science Supervisor and the Crime Scene Technical Manager at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in the Forensic Sciences Division.
Supervisor D’Jimas started her career at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2001 as a Crime Lab Technician in the Evidence Section. She was hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a Forensic Science Specialist in the Forensic Sciences Division.
As a Forensic Science Specialist, she served as a Field Training Officer for five years and a member of the Major Case Response Team for six years, where she was responsible for responding to and leading her coworkers during major case crime scene investigations.
Supervisor D’Jimas was promoted to Assistant Forensic Science Supervisor in 2013 and then promoted to Forensic Science Supervisor in 2019, where she was the Major Case Response Team Supervisor for six years. Rebeca is currently a member of the 3D Reconstruction Team, the Ground Penetrating Radar Team, the Field Training Officer Coordinator, and an ANAB Scene Investigations Assessor.
Supervisor D’Jimas received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of South Florida in Communication Science and Disorders, her Crime Scene Technology Certificate and Associate’s Degree at St. Petersburg College, and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a Forensic Science Specialization at Saint Leo University.
Supervisor D’Jimas is a Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI) for the International Association for Identification and holds a FARO Focus 3D Scanner Certification. She has assisted in writing multiple grants awarded to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office through the National Institute of Justice. Rebeca has completed over 1,700 hours of crime scene and forensic supervision training throughout her career. Additionally. Supervisor D’Jimas has been an instructor for crime scene-related topics throughout her career, including for the Explorer Post, Road Scholars, Saint Leo University, PCSO Citizens Academy, New Deputy Recruit Training, and the Forensic Sciences Division Training Program. As a Forensic Science Specialist and Forensic Supervisor, she worked on over 4,900 cases and supervised over 260 homicide scenes.
Roberto Caceres
Best Practices for Daily Observation Reports
Roberto has been a Deputy Sheriff for the Broward Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He started his law enforcement career in the Broward County Police Academy in November 2002 and then as a Road Patrol Deputy in May 2003.
In May 2008, he was transferred to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit as a forensic investigator. After being involved in over 1,200 death and shooting related cases, and approximately 180 homicides, Roberto has gained the knowledge and experience to lead and instruct forensic investigators on how to properly document a scene and/or victim. He has been a Field Training Detective since 2014 and since then has been involved in the full year long training of five Detectives and one Technician. In 2018, he was assigned as the Lead Field Trainig Detective in the unit to oversee the training and development of new detectives.
In August 2015, Roberto was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense to travel to Kingston, Jamaica to teach an introductory Shooting Reconstruction course to INDECOM; the Jamaican state agency responsible for use of force investigations of their multiple law enforcement agencies. In January 2017, Roberto took a leadership role in the Broward Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit’s portion of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport mass shooting investigation. He led 12 Forensic Detectives with various on-scene investigative tasks in collaboration with various agencies such as the FBI and ATF. In February 2018, he was also tasked as one of the lead forensic investigators during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. His leadership role in conjunction with the on scene supervisors allowed Roberto to coordinate, task, and take command of various forensic investigators from within his unit and various agencies.
In October 2018, he was awarded “Detective of the Year” from the Broward County Crime Commission for his exemplary service in the field of forensics.
In 2019, Roberto co-created a presentation called, “Mass Casualty: A Crime Scene Perspective”. He has presented this lecture to various law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Floida in addition to the 2019 FDIAI Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Roberto earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University in January 2006.
Sarah Mormino
Having Better Discussions to Get Your FTOs on the Same Page
Sarah Mormino began her career with the Pasco County Sheriff’s office as a Child Protection Investigator in 2017.
In 2019, wanting to focus more on her love for crime scene work, she transferred into the Forensics Department where she worked as a field investigator until 2022, when she was promoted to Forensics Shift Supervisor. She also hold the title of Field Training Officer, with more than 1,700 hours spent sharing her knowledge with various trainees.
Sarah also takes great pride in her role in helping to develop an accredited FTO program for the PCSO. Additionally, Sarah is a member of the PCSO Underwater Recovery Team and is the owner/founder of The Forensic Diver, LLC.
Sarah holds a master’s in forensic science and is currently working towards her Doctorate in Criminology/Behavioral Science.
Stefanie Whittington
How to Secure FTO Pay for Your Training Officers
Stefanie Whittington has been in the field of Crime Scene with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office since 2004. Stefanie currently serves as the Supervisor of the Crime Scene/Latent Print section of the Sheriff’s Office.
During her tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, she has served as an Explorer Advisor, Crime Scene Filed Trainer, Coordinator for the Crime Scene Training program, Acting Shift Leader, and is currently the Assistant Team Coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office Incident Management Team. Stefanie is also a member of Florida’s Region 3 Incident Management Team.
Stefanie is also employed as an adjunct professor at St. Johns River State College; teaching Introduction to Forensic Science and is also employed with Louisiana State University’s NCBRT/Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education; as one of the instructors for the Instructor Development Workshop.
Stefanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree in Forensic Science with a certificate in Death Investigation from the University of Florida. She is a member of the International Association of Identification (IAI) and the Florida Division of the International Association of Identification. She has been an IAI Certified Crime Scene Analyst since 2012.
Steve Wang
Simplify to Amplify: Communicating Complex Topics for Trainee Comprehension
Steven Wang is a bio- and paleo-anthropologist by training and an IAI-certified crime scene analyst by trade. He joined the Tucson Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit in 2017, becoming a Lead CSI in 2021 and a Crime Scene Supervisor/FTO in 2022.
Steven has worked on over 1,100 crime scene cases, ranging from complex homicides and multi-vehicle traffic fatalities to commercial burglaries and grand theft auto. Steven is a certified Rapid DNA operator with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, an FAA-licensed sUAS remote pilot, a bilingual interpreter in Mandarin Chinese, and the consultant for clandestine burials and human skeletal remains in the police department. Yes, he wears many “hats”.
Prior to becoming a crime scene investigator, Steven worked on the American MIA (Missing in Action) recovery projects for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in northern Vietnam in 2014 and for History Flight in the Central Pacific in 2015-2016. Steven was a teaching assistant at CUNY City College, where he taught dissection anatomy, and he was also an adjunct professor at CUNY Hunter College, CUNY Lehman College, the Pima Community College, and the University of Arizona, where he taught undergraduate biological anthropology classes for seven years.
Steven has a B.A. in anthropology from UCLA and an M.Phil. in anthropology from CUNY Graduate Center. He was an NSF (National Science Foundation) fellow in 2005 and an ORISE (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education) fellow in 2014. Steven has been a member of Sigma Xi, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Biological Anthropologists, the Paleoanthropology Society, and the Southwest Association of Biological Anthropologists. Steven is currently a member of the International Association for Identification and the Arizona Identification Council.
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