<![CDATA[ - FCS Blog]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:09:31 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[1974]]>Tue, 02 Aug 2022 20:44:39 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/19741974. Do you remember what you were doing? Do you remember where you were? It is now 2022 so 1974 was 48 years ago. A lot has happened in the past 48 years. In 1974, I was still in high school. There were not cell phones, no lap tops, not even desktop computers. Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States. The cost of a new car averaged $4,441 and the annual tuition for public college was $512 while the price of a postage stamp was 10 cents. The top song of 1974 was "The Way We Were" by Barbara Streisand. The Oakland A's won the World Series, the Miami Dolphins won Super Bowl VIII, the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship, and the Philadelphia Flyers won the NHL Stanley Cup Championship. A Big Mac from McDonald's was .65 cents and a hamburger was .28 cents.
Also in 1974, a man in Florida, along with four accomplices was arrested for killing another young man. He was convicted of the murder in 1975 and sentenced to the death penalty. He was resentenced to death in 1979 and again in 1987. The Defendant was 27 years old at the time and the victim was 18 years old. The victim was tortured during the killing.
The Defendant has not been executed. There were issues with the accomplices and witnesses and the Supreme Court has determined that those issues were so egregious that they have determined that he get a new trial. 
I have been hired to assist in the preparation of the new trial that will most likely be held in the spring of 2023. I won't mention his name as his trial is still pending and, although he is still in custody today, nobody knows what a new jury will do. I will say that one of the issues in the original trial was ineffective assistance of counsel as his attorney represented him and another conspirator in a Direct Appeal. Another issue was that a witness/co-defendant was offered a plea deal, which he took, in exchange for his testimony. The prosecutor failed to reveal all of the facts of that plea agreement. These issues were only two that has prolonged the death sentence from being carried out.
I am a realist. I don't know if any of the issues are enough to result in a different verdict in another trial. Being a realist, I also demand that before he or anyone else be sentenced to death, the State must prove their case beyond and to the exclusion of any reasonable doubt. So let's just think about it. What if? What if he is proven not guilty of this murder? Think about how this now 75 year old man has missed his entire life due to a wrongful conviction. Think about everything you, the reader, has accomplished in the past 48 years, if you were even born then. Think about all of the places you've traveled. Think about the weddings and the funerals you were able to attend. Can you imagine re-entering society after 48 years and seeing all of the changes? Hell, look at your cell phone. Remember the first cell phones, those big boxy ones? He doesn't. He was locked up when cell phones came out. Think about what you had for dinner last night. When was the last chance that this guy had a home-cooked meal? I can tell you. It was 1974. His parents have long passed and so many other family members. He missed all of those funerals and the weddings of family members who got married. Can you imagine not being able to go to funerals of your family members? I know I can't. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "what about the victim and everything he's missed?" and I agree with you. His murder was horrible and unnecessary and it should have never happened. However, the person or persons responsible for the murder should be held accountable and the convictions need to come through a fair and impartial jury. 
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not some "bleeding heart". He was convicted and he's been incarcerated. End of story, right? Maybe not. If he was convicted and it was not a fair trial, that's a problem. What if there is something to this and it is determined that he wasn't guilty? How do you say "I'm sorry" for taking 48 years of your life away? Will that happen? I don't know. We have to start all over because somebody screwed up over the past 48 years. What if it was you? What if you were innocent and have been wrongly convicted? What if you were innocent and the Government kills you because of an incorrect verdict or a wrongful verdict? Even the Government can't bring you back to life after they execute you.
In the new trial, if he is convicted, I do hope that he is given a sentence of life without parole. Understand that he is 75 years old and probably doesn't have much longer to live anyway. That's not the point of this post. The point of the post is that most people are on death row on average of 19.4 years before they are executed. Think about that. This guy would have been executed in 1994, long before he was given a new trial. Do you ever ask yourself how many inmates has your state wrongly executed? Maybe you should. 
]]><![CDATA[Champlain Towers South, Surfside, Fl. 2021]]>Sun, 18 Jul 2021 21:53:12 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/champlain-towers-south-surfside-fl-2021FEMORS, is the acronym for the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System. I have been a Medical Investigator of this organization for 10 years. It consists of men and women who volunteer to respond to disasters where there is an overwhelming number of deaths. Recently we deployed to the collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida.

In my 44 1/2 years of service (Navy, Fire, & Criminal Justice), this is probably the 2nd worst thing I've experienced.
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I can say that what you and I saw on television can't even give you the perspective of the sights, smells and devastation that was present on scene. Overwhelming and horrendous are two words that come to mind but honestly, I don't even think they can describe the situation accurately.
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In JFK's "Moon speech", he stated, in part "We choose to do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". With that being said, it was an honor to work hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, with men and women from all over America. There were search and rescue teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and too many others to remember and mention. The Virginia Task Force covered 16 jurisdictions from Virginia Beach to Richmond. I had an opportunity to speak to them during a rest break. There were even a group from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Army from Israel were phenomenal. Unfortunately, they deal with building collapses, routinely. Because of their experience and computer software, they could direct us to where to look or not look for victims. There were police and fire fighters from many jurisdictions from Florida. Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue worked around the clock with us and made sure we got whatever it was we needed.
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Logistics. Wow! The Police Benevolent Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters had food, water, energy drinks and Gatorade and provided it to us 24 hours a day. Someone had organized food trucks to be in the break areas from about 6:00 AM - Midnight. WaWa, Firehouse Subs, Chic-Filet and many other businesses donate food that was provided to us free of charge. Starbucks had a tent that they shared with the Cafe Bustelo to make sure we had hot coffee around the clock. Honestly, there is no way possible I could ever remember who all was there and who made sure we were taken care of. There were a few large tents where we could sit with other responders, share a meal, and "lean on each other" as needed.
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The "Wall of Hope" would bring you to your knees. As you stood there among family and friends of those lost, you couldn't help but feel their pain. There are a few pictures online showing hugs being shared between these folks and responders but there were also situations where we were in an area where we dealt with the citizens of neighboring buildings or vendors who would just give you a nod and mouth the words "thank-you".
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This experience will stay with us forever. But this is why we train together and do what we do. I couldn't ask for a more rewarding career.
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]]><![CDATA[defund the police?]]>Mon, 19 Apr 2021 10:38:25 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/defund-the-policeFirst and foremost, I started my Police career 35 years ago and although I am no longer a Police Officer/Detective, I still work in the criminal justice system and I still conduct criminal investigations. The difference now is that I am appointed by the Courts and am assigned to the Defense. I no longer work the streets and face the immediate danger as Police Officers however, just like in my "Cop Days", I seek justice and truth to ensure that the Justice System works as it is designed to work.

To all of those who chant or use the term "Defund The Police" to forward your agenda, please, allow me to give you each a public invitation to change it.
I invite all of you to apply to become a police officer at your local police department. Fill out the application and let them schedule you for the Physical Fitness tests. Then, if you're lucky enough and fit enough to pass this battery of tests, they will schedule you to take your written test. Whew! This is harder than being an activist, right? If you pass your written test with a qualifying score, then you get scheduled for your "first oral interview". If you make it through that, then you get to advance to your oral boards. The Oral Board is a panel of Veteran Police Officers who question you and put you through various scenarios to see how you would react and what your answers would be. If they score you high enough, you're on your way...pending the background investigation. This just isn't a "run-of-the-mill" background check. For me, they went and spoke to some of my High School teachers, friends, and former employers and, the Detective who conducted my background even called my Mom to see what she thought of me becoming a cop. If you have lived your life in an unsullied manner and you have met all of the criteria, you might get selected for employment. If you are, you're sent to the Police Academy where you go through intense training in driving, firearms, defensive tactics, race relations, dealing with mental subjects, and everything else that you can imagine. The length of the academy varies. I know my Academy in Virginia is now six months (my Great-Nephew graduates in June). After graduation, you go back to your department and start your Field Training where you are teamed up with a Veteran Officer. That also lasts for many months ( I had great FTOs). Once you finish your field training, you're "cut loose" and start your solo patrol. There, you will respond to domestic disputes, dead children, shots fired, fights in progress, and armed robberies. You get dispatched to a child abuse call. It tears at your heart. When you're done, you clear and you're dispatched to a fight in progress. Your emotions go from sad to excitement in a matter of minutes. In a normal shift, your emotions are constantly up and down and you're "supposed" to be so robotic that you can forget the last call and concentrate on the next one. Because of the nature of the calls, you draw your weapon several times a shift, hopefully without firing it. Your objective is to protect everyone, treat the suspects fairly, and most of all, return home uninjured. I had a daily routine. I would put on my uniform, strap on my gunbelt, pin my badge onto my chest, look into the mirror, and say out loud "Okay, with some luck, you'll get home at the end of the shift looking the same". Most of the time I did...several times I didn't.
So, put down your skateboards, your umbrella "shield", your can of soup (for throwing at Police), your black masks, and urine-filled water bottles, and go through everything that I previously described and become a Police Officer and make the positive changes to the lives of other's as well as positive changes to YOUR department.
I invite you to leave your parent's basement and to Stand Up and BE the change that you demand. If you won't, find something else to complain about that you may actually be willing to be a part of to build it up rather than to tear it down.]]><![CDATA[The thin blue line]]>Mon, 19 Apr 2021 10:28:44 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/the-thin-blue-lineWhat is all of this talk about the "Thin Blue Line" flag? Schools and businesses are being told to remove them because they are considered "racists". How can that be? It is an inanimate object.
A racist is "a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic toward people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized."
How can a flag be racists? Is the implication that the flag is a symbol of racism? Is that what you're having such a difficult time trying to say?
What is the thin blue line? Oh, I've heard that the line means that cops don't tell on other cops. I've been told that cops commit offenses against civilians, especially minorities, in the presence of other cops and the brother cops turn their backs.
WRONG!!!
That is the "blue wall of silence", made famous in agencies such as NYPD and LAPD. No, that's not the only two but they are probably the most famous. I would like to think that the blue wall of silence is dying out. I remember when I was going through the selection process, I was asked "What would I do if...". The question was asked because we didn't want cops who were willing to turn their backs while another cop committed a criminal act or violated someone's civil rights. Of course, my answer was that I would try to stop the act and then report it to the supervisor. I think that's what most cops would do and hopefully do now. The badge is a shiny piece of metal that carries a great deal of responsibility. A responsibility that should not be taken lightly. We work hard to earn that badge and we work even harder to keep it shining. No other cop has the right to tarnish my badge or the badge of any other cop due to illegal or improper actions/behavior.
So what is the "Thin Blue Line"? What does it mean? Is it a symbol of racism?
The Thin Blue Line represents the thin line that separates civilized society from chaos. Blue is the typical color of the police uniform. The line is the line of officers who protect the citizens and property in a civilized society from chaos. The Police Officer is that person who is charged with maintaining that separation, keeping the chaos away from the order. To suggest that the Thin Blue Line flag is a symbol of racism would suggest that minorities are the root cause of the chaos and police officers must keep them away from the civilized society. We all know that is not true. We know that chaos is created by many, regardless of color. The media, the politicians, and that ridiculous "woke" crowd will continue to push the Thin Blue Line as a symbol of racism because it advances their agenda.
We as Americans must look at all of these people, especially those in the media and those we've elected, and ask ourselves if what they are saying benefits us as Americans or does it benefit them? ]]><![CDATA[Where do I start?]]>Wed, 14 Apr 2021 09:48:07 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/where-do-i-start
J.D. Thomas
Admin
  · tSpo1anso3ohredoS  · 
With 35 years in this profession, I'm constantly asked "Where do I start?' by young people wanting to get into this career. Thanks to television shows like CSI, and NCIS, the profession has exploded with interest. Every young girl thinks she's going to walk onto a homicide scene wearing a short tight dress and stiletto heels (oh, how I wish that were true) like Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger). Every young man thinks he will be as big a stud as Gil Grissom (William Petersen). Although that is incorrect, television has brought a huge interest in forensic science and all juries now want to know about DNA, fingerprints, and blood spatter. We call it "The CSI Effect.
At the beginning of its popularity, most agencies were using sworn police officers and training them as crime scene investigators. It didn't take long to figure out that they could hire civilians to work in this capacity, pay them less money, and usually work several more years before they are eligible for retirement. Many of these people were receiving on-the-job training because there was no one in the colleges qualified to teach it and, before this, there was not enough interest to offer classes. Colleges then saw the amount of money they were losing by not offering classes. In the beginning, most awarded certificates as they didn't have a degree program. Over the years they have evolved and charge students a great deal of money to take these classes, however, many of the schools still offer certificates but degree programs are increasing.
Students enroll in the programs where they are taught out of thick books and perform classroom practicals and eventually, earn a degree and a six-figure debt only to find out they can't find a job. Why? Because of the competition. Many are seeking Masters Degrees to get an edge. So they go more in debt to receive the advanced degree and, guess what? They still aren't working in the field. Why is that? Because agencies want someone with training AND with field experience, which these new graduates don't have. I know plenty of graduates who are working in restaurants and retail stores because the competition is so great.
How do you get field experience? I tell people to apply for any position at a police department, just to get their foot in the door. Once in, you can show the bosses your stellar abilities and it's easier to transfer into a forensic position. But, there is another option...which I strongly recommend. You're 18 years old and you want to get into forensics. You are an adult, legally, but let's face it, that's about it. Now, I am a U.S. Navy Veteran and I will tell you that going into the Navy was the smartest decision I made at that grand age of 18. It made me grow up, it taught me to respect and discipline. It taught me how to work to get what I wanted. No, this isn't an ad for the Navy however, the Army and the Marines have a Joint Mortuary Affairs Unit and it is located at the US Army base in Fort Lee, Virginia. There, you will receive ongoing formal training AND field experience. Best of all, after 4-years, you have all of the qualifications as most agencies will accept military service in lieu of college and, best of all, you have no college debt and probably a pretty nice savings account. Now...you also qualify for the G.I. Bill so if you want to go to college after your enlistment, it's paid for.
I was a Senior Detective in the Forensic Science Unit at a police department near Fort Lee, Virginia. I was also a graduate of the Virginia Forensic Science Academy and an Instructor at our Regional Police Academy. We had a deal with Fort Lee's Provost Marshall where he could send soldiers from the Military Police unit to the academy and we would train them and get them certified as they transition back to civilian life. This not only gave me the opportunity to train these soldiers but it afforded me the opportunity to be invited to train with the Mortuary Affairs Unit. It was very impressive and, since it was the military, they had some of the best and most advanced equipment that I had worked with. They certainly "taught the teacher" a thing or two.
So, if anyone is interested, you might want to consider the Army or the US Marines and the Joint Mortuary Affairs Unit. You will be trained and in Virginia and will travel to wherever is needed to investigate the deaths of our military.
​Just another option to consider.]]><![CDATA[February 24th, 2018]]>Sat, 24 Feb 2018 10:35:56 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/february-24th-2018
A Realist Looks At Gun Violence
                                                                              By J.D. Thomas
 
First and foremost, we need to understand the argument being made regarding "assault rifles". The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines assault rifle as "any of various intermediate-range, magazine-fed military rifles that can be set for automatic or semi-automatic fire". This disqualifies the AR-15 from being considered an assault rifle as it cannot be set for automatic fire, without modification. Merriam-Webster further defines assault rifle as "a rifle that resembles a military assault rifle but is designed to allow only semi-automatic fire".  So if it "resembles" one...then it must be one, even if it doesn't shoot like one, right?  I don't think so.

The gun is not the issue.
Contrary to popular belief, the AR in AR-15 does NOT stand for "automatic rifle". An AR-15 is not an automatic weapon nor is it a "machine gun".  An AR15 is a semi-automatic firearm that was first introduced in the 1950's. What does semi-automatic mean? Obviously there are some that don't know and have assumed that this is the same as an automatic weapon as you'll hear it referred that way, often. You really should know the difference. A semi-automatic weapon means that each time the trigger is squeezed, a single projectile travels down the barrel and is expelled from the firearm, whether it be a semi-automatic handgun or a semi-automatic rifle, such as the AR-15. A single squeeze of the trigger does NOT fire multiple projectiles from the firearm. One squeeze...one projectile. Pretty simple. Those that argue differently obviously do not have the knowledge of firearms. Handguns like a 9mm, a 40 caliber and a 45 caliber are all semi-automatic firearms and act the same way. One squeeze of the "bang bang switch" (trigger) for one bullet down the "pipe" (barrel). Breaking it down to the simplest form is this. The AR-15 may have a 30 round magazine. To empty the magazine, the trigger must be squeezed 30 times. I have a 9mm handgun with a 15 capacity magazine with 3 additional magazines, totaling 60 rounds. To fire the same number of rounds from the AR-15, you would have to change the magazine after 30 rounds. I would have to change it after every 15 rounds fired. To change it on my 9mm, after the last round is fired, the slide locks in the back position and then I push the magazine release button beside the handgrip and the magazine drops out automatically. I then push the next magazine into the well and release the slide forward and the weapon is ready to fire. You can easily fire 30 rounds from a semi-automatic handgun in less than 30 seconds.  About the same amount of time to fire 30 rounds from an AR-15.  
 
The school is not the issue.                                                                                         
I went to public school in the 60' and 70's. We had guns back then. I come from an area that is popular among hunters. Many had gun racks in the back window of their pickup trucks and these gun racks were often seen equipped with rifles and shotguns. We had people who scheduled their vacations around the first day of hunting season and on that same day; attendance was always lower for students who were out hunting. We didn't have fences around the schools or metal detectors when you entered. Back then, we didn't even have School Resource Officers. As a matter of fact, we rarely saw a Police Officer at school. We didn't need them. We had no teachers that were "armed" and we didn't need them to be.  Teachers were allowed and encouraged to discipline us if we were out of line. I'm not talking about being abused; I'm talking about being disciplined. If our behavior was bad enough, after we were disciplined, we were sent home with a note for our parents that had to be signed and brought back to school the following day so the teacher would know that our parents saw the note.  Once home, you were disciplined again.   What we didn't have back then were people going into our schools and shooting our classmates.  The only incident I can even remember from then was in 1966 at the University of Texas when a gunman opened fire from an observation deck onto the students below. He had a variety of rifles, handguns, a shotgun and even a knife. He did NOT have any automatic weapons. He killed 14 people in 90 minutes.     
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Politics is not the issue.
We had both Republican and Democratic Presidents during the period I went to school. We had a Congress that at times had Democrat and Republican majorities. We had our political scandals and we also had a war in Vietnam that was unpopular and very concerning to the American people.  Our politicians then also had difficulties reaching across the aisle just as they do now.  
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Gun laws are not the issue.
We had gun laws back then. We didn't have background checks or waiting periods before we could purchase a firearm.  If you were of legal age, you went inside the gun shop and you purchased the gun you wanted to buy. It was that simple. Gun laws are more strict now than ever before.
 
The NRA is not the issue.
We had the NRA back then. The NRA has been in existence since the 1870's. The NRA has always been very active regarding training in the handling of firearms and firearms safety. The NRA does not advocate gun violence or mass shootings. The NRA advocates the 2nd. Amendment and, like many other organizations, the NRA has lobbyists in Washington who work with the elected politicians, no matter the political party.                                                                                                                                

So what is the issue? What can we do to prevent mass shootings in schools, churches, theaters, concert venues or any other place where large numbers gather?  Unfortunately, not much. Nothing will prevent this 100%. If a person has the desire to cause this type of mass casualty and is serious about it, he or she will find a way to carry it out whether they use a gun, truck, plane, bomb or any other weapon that will suit their need.

So what has changed?  Simply answered. Society. We have changed.
Back then, we had never heard of the term "fake news" and when Walter Cronkite or Huntley & Brinkley spoke, we were pretty sure that their reporting was accurate. I understand that media is a business and whoever gets the "scoop" first, gets the story. However, it seems as though now it's a race to the finish line, forgetting that they have to stay on the track. It's like "we'll report it first and get the actual facts later". The shooter at any of the schools, Malls, Movie Theaters, etc doesn't deserve to have his photo on the news. Who cares what this ass-hat looks like? We need to concentrate on the victims and the survivors and not give the shooter his 15 minutes of fame. Making him an instant icon makes him live in infamy forever. For example, let's say there is someone who views themselves as unpopular or unattractive who may also have low-self esteem or just considered an outcast. He decides to go after those who have shunned him or who are more popular than he is. Whether he lives or dies in the attack, in a matter of moments, he will be known worldwide by his name and by his photo. Don't believe me? Back in November of 1963, President John Kennedy was assassinated allegedly by Lee Harvey Oswald. After capture, Oswald was being escorted in front of the media (what we now call "the perp walk"). During the walk, Jack Ruby runs towards Oswald and fires his revolver into the belly of Oswald. The photos of Oswald and Ruby that are still the most popular today, over 54 years later, are the photos of Oswald posing in his yard holding an AK-47 and the photo of him being shot which also include Ruby shooting him. Two assassins whose names and photos will forever live in history.
 
We didn't have Social Media. Sure, we had bullying back then but, at the end of the school day; it was over, at least until the next day. If you were bullied or called names, you couldn't wait for the school day to end and longed for the day when school was out for the summer. You knew you would get at least somewhat of a reprieve from the torment. Today, it continues on social media and it makes it difficult to escape it. There are so many social media outlets that I can't even begin to name them all. Rather than people stepping up to help someone in need or to resolve a problem, people are too busy "going live" so they can post the videos on Facebook or some other outlet. This also glorifies those who are creating the problem and is another means for them to be popular. They tend to forget that when they take photos of themselves wearing body armor and holding guns, drugs and money and then post those same photos online, they're going to be seen again one day in Court. This will not bode well for them.  The internet is simultaneously the best thing that has ever happened and the worst thing that has ever happened.
 
The family dynamic has changed. Back then, we ate supper together, gathered around the table and ate as a family. We had discussions of the day's events, whether it is of the kids or the parents. Suppertime was a time to get together every day, at least for a few minutes, to be together. Parents were not our "best friends" and we, the kids, were not the "best friends" of our parents. It disturbs me today when I hear a parent say "My daughter is my best friend" or a son says "My Dad is my best friend". Really? I loved both my Mother and my Father and we were very friendly but, they were not my best friend and I was not theirs. There were things that I would never talk to them about and I know there were things that they wouldn't talk to me about. Perfect. That's the way I think it should be. I didn't need to know all of the darkest secrets and I damn sure wasn't going to share everything about me to them. If I had, I'd probably still be "grounded". Parents need friends with common interests, as do the children. Also, if Mom or Dad is your best friend, when you've done something wrong and deserve to be punished, it makes it pretty tough for them to do that. Parents need to go back to being parents and raising the kids in a way that teaches them to respect other people and to be kind to one another. Parents need to stop being "friends". I love my daughter and we are friendly with each other but, she always knew that if she screwed up, she was going to be held accountable at a level comparable to whatever she did wrong. I've never had to say to her "this hurts me more than it hurts you" because if I did, then I'm not doing something right. She needs to feel the repercussions of her actions. If I had to put her on restriction for a couple of weeks, that is exactly what I did but, I can promise you that it never hurt me more than it hurt her. I could still use the phone, stereo, television and, I could come out of my room whenever I wanted to come out.                                                                                                                                                 
We were never given "participation trophies". We were taught that if our team lost or came in last place that it meant that the other team or teams were just better than we were. We were taught to accept our defeat with honor and integrity, holding our heads up high knowing that we tried our best, as we congratulated our opponents. If we sucked as a team, we knew we sucked as a team and if we wanted a trophy, we knew we had to work and practice harder so that we wouldn't suck as bad. The important thing is that we were taught that sometimes, life isn't always fair.
We never had ceremonies when we "graduated" elementary school. We didn't wear a "cap and gown" until we graduated High School. On the last day of school in our final year of elementary school, we looked on the back of our report cards and saw "Promoted" and that meant the following September, we were bound for a new school. In my case, I would go from Flora M. Hill Elementary School to the Colonial Heights Junior High School. After the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades there, I would then go to High School where I would graduate and wear a cap and gown and have graduation ceremonies for the very first time. Graduation is a rite of passage.  
          
Video games have made such a huge impact on our society. I remember being stationed at the Naval Station in Puerto Rico when someone introduced me to "Pong". What an amazing game. We would be mesmerized for hours playing that ridiculous video game on our television. Looking back at that game, we realize how simple it really was but, at that time, it was something that we had never experienced before. Now, the action is realistic and graphic in current video games. Many games today revolve around gun violence, killing and criminal acts. Video games show blood spatter and body parts being blown off as the characters are shot. Video games are different than real life. In life, we don't get extra strength or additional life points when we're shot.  These games promote killing and violence and may very well carry a negative impact on the kids and young adults that are playing them.
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Music. Sure, we had some suggestive lyrics back in the day but so much of today's music promotes violence and mistreatment of women, killing of Police Officers as well as those of other cultures or religions. Music speaks of retribution and retaliation and how to handle a situation where someone has done you wrong. 

What is the answer to stop mass shootings? That's a good question. Unfortunately, it seems to have become the norm and although when they happen, we are shocked and disgusted by it...temporarily. After a few weeks, the actions slide from the headlines and everyone goes back to their normal live until the next one. We've all heard of the countless suggestions to rid us of this type of activity but, as I said before, if someone is hell bent on doing it...they'll figure out a way to carry it out. Anytime we go into a public place we are at risk of some knucklehead carrying out his secret agenda. But be honest. Are we not a risk climbing into our cars and driving to these public places? Sure we are. We are at risk with everything we do. Granted, we can certainly take precautions to lower the risks but, there is no fool proof plan.

We label everyone that carries out these actions as "mentally ill" but, are they all mentally ill? Of course not. It's just easier to blame the mentally ill because then we can blame a failed system that allowed the person to purchase a firearm. We blame the health care industry for not allowing proper treatment of these individuals. We tend to forget the number of guns on the streets that were obtained by burglaries or theft. We just automatically assume that every gun out there was legally obtained. Not the case. It may have been initially but, there are plenty of stolen guns on the street and can be obtained so much easier than buying them legally.
Theaters, shopping malls and other venues. Okay, at some we have armed security and others we don't. So we go to the local Mall on a Saturday afternoon and shop among the masses. There are no restrictions regarding entry/exit. Anyone can come in and, if a gunman enters with a desire to kill, he has a soft target. Before he can be stopped, if he can be stopped, he can do a lot of damage and injure/kill a lot of people. He can enter the theater within the Mall and under the cover of darkness, can potentially blend in or carry out more damage. An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle or a semi-automatic handgun isn't necessary to carry out that action.  As a matter of fact, a 5-shot revolver with extra speed wheels can kill a lot of people. By the time the police get there and locate the shooter (if he's still present) a lot of people could have been killed. In that situation, as hard as it is for some to swallow this tidbit of information, your best bet to neutralize the gunman is a trained citizen who is licensed to carry.

Arming our teachers. Really?  I really hate to burst the proverbial bubble but, teachers don't get into the profession to be trained and armed at school. It may sound good or look good on paper but, let's think about this. A gunman comes into the school and heads into the bathroom where he removes his weapons of choice from his duffle bag and proceeds down the hallway and begins firing at his fellow students and teachers. Now we have a mess on our hands. We have students running and scrambling to take cover (unless they're standing in the open to capture the moment with their cell phones). People are running everywhere and now we introduce an armed teacher into the equation. As students scurry, we're expecting this teacher to take a stance and get a clean shot, meaning no other innocents that could be hit by a stray bullet. What do you think the chances are of that? We obviously picture that this scenario would be like the old west with a gunman facing a teacher and the quickest draw with the truest shot will be victorious. Not going to happen. Remember, this shooting scenario will involve several hundred innocent students and teachers. Certainly not a good shooting situation. Now, let's take that one step further. The above scenario takes place after the gunman has entered the school. Students and staff are immediately at a disadvantage.
Back when I was in the Navy, we were in The Persian Gulf when the Americans were held hostage in Iran. Also while we were there, Iran and Iraq decided to go to war with each other, obviously thinking that we didn't have enough to deal with. Although it was not OUR war, we were just off the coastline. We never knew when or if either side would decide to take target practice on our guided missile destroyer. After all, they were pretty good at blowing up oil rigs that we were close to so, who knew what they were going to do next, right? So what did we do? Well, we were at battle stations a lot and had our guns and missile launcher trained on their  aircraft. We were basically letting them know that they were not allowed in our sandbox and that we were going to take every precaution to make sure that they did not get the opportunity to enter our sandbox. That is what we need to do at our schools. We need to stop the gunman before they gain access to the property. We can't allow them "into our sandbox".

I've heard the suggestion of locking all doors to the school except for one. Make everyone enter and exit through that one door and keep all other doors locked during school hours. Again, it may sound like a nice safe way to keep the bad people out. Let's say this is what is decided and we then have an accident or a fire in the cafeteria. Now we have students in a panic with all of the doors locked and they are potentially trapped. The response was make the doors work only as exits and cannot be opened from the outside. Well, there goes your security. All it takes is one kid to open a side door for another kid, who just so happens to be the gunman. The perimeter has now been breached and, we're back to a gunman inside the school but now the students don't have access to but only one exit.  Not good.

​My suggestion is this. A fence around every school with only 1 gate that can be used to enter/exit the school grounds. Have that gate monitored by armed security, preferably trained military Veterans, searching all backpacks and persons looking for weapons. At least that way we're creating a harder target and potentially stopping the possibility of any mass casualty before the gunman can even enter the property. The threat is reduced, the students can still exit the school through the doors without the fear of being trapped and in the event of an emergency, can still assemble within the fenced in area unless the situation requires that they evacuate to a safer distance. As much as you might dislike restricting actions or behaviors of the kids, it seems like the most viable way of keeping them safe.

I reiterate that there is no way to make any public place 100% safe. I firmly believe that it starts at home. Parents need to be parents and need to be involved and vigilant concerning their kids. Kids need to be taught to be good citizens and good people and taught right from wrong and to treat other people with respect. The students are the greatest asset we have. We have to teach them to know that it's okay to get involved and to say something and to take some sort of action when they find out that a former or current student with behavioral issues has created a threat or has entered onto the school property under suspicious circumstances.  
In my opinion, arming teachers, placing blame on politicians, wanting gun laws changed, blaming the health care system, blaming the NRA and, let's not forget, blaming the weapon, is like putting a band-aid on a large, gaping chest wound. It may make you feel better that you did something but, it's not going to stop the bleeding.

​The new normal has arrived and it isn't pretty.]]><![CDATA[Ferguson, Mo.]]>Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:00:21 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/ferguson-moAm I surprised by the turmoil in Ferguson?  Not at all.  Why?  I have low expectations of people.  Nothing that they do really shocks or surprises me.  After 30 years in this arena, I've seen the worst of the worst, and rarely with any good reason for their behavior.

This is not a black or white issue.  This is an ignorance issue.  Honestly, had I not known what the protests/riots were about, I could have easily assumed that it was the celebration after a college wins the National title or fans upset after a soccer game.  The point is, there is never a good reason for this behavior.
One of the worst parts about it all is the fact that none of those rioters knew what evidence was presented.  They just knew the results of the Grand Jury.  I dare say that had the Grand Jury handed down an indictment, they would have still rioted, set fires and looted, but all in the name of a celebration.  Nothing ever gives anyone the right to steal or destroy someone the property of others.

I put a lot of blame on the media.  They certainly fueled the fire, no pun intended.  They immediately started reporting that the police did not present enough resistance towards the rioters.  They reported that if they had, the rioters would have probably dispersed.  
Really?
Then, right after that statement, they criticized the Police for using tear gas, flash bangs and bean bags.  So are you suggesting that they should have just started shooting live rounds into the crowd?  That would certainly be considered resistance.  Then again, had they done that, they would have been condemned for using too much resistance or force.  
At one point last night, a reporter said, on camera, "Where are the police now?  They seemed to have left the area.  Where are they and why aren't they here protecting these businesses?".  She further stated that  she "saw several Officers getting in their police cruisers and driving away".  A few minutes later, this same reporter comes back on camera, showing the police marching down the street, in full riot gear.  She then condemned the Police because they were in riot gear.  Why did they leave?  I can answer this from experience.  The situation was escalating and the police needed to regroup and prepare for "battle".  This includes putting on the riot gear.  Why couldn't they put the riot gear on while on scene?  Simple answer.  If you do that, you are no longer focusing on the actions of the crowd and you are, essentially, putting your guard down, which is unsafe in any potentially violent situation.
This morning, one of the broadcasters from CNN had the audacity to say that "If this had happened in NYC, the Officer would not have been in fear for his life".  That was the most ridiculous thing I've heard.  So...New York City police have a higher level regarding their fear versus the level of fear for a police officer who is not in NYC.  This type of reporting, or blatantly offering an opinion on a subject where you have no expertise, is improper.  Again, you are responsible for fueling the fire and raising the level of aggravation.
Last night, after the violence erupted, a black female reporter for CNN commented that the Grand Jury determined that there was no Probable Cause to hand down an indictment.  She immediately then stated that "There was Probable Cause for the indictment and the Grand Jury knows that".  Now, we all know that these "spin-heads" don't know anything about the actual evidence.  They only know what has been reported.  The Grand Jury was provided the evidence and made their decision based on that evidence.

Community leaders are blaming the police because "they did not protect the buildings from fire or vandalism".  
What about the people setting the fires and destroying businesses?  Are they not accountable?  Of course not.  Community leaders were also guilty of "stirring the pot".  A female leader said that the Grand Jury was "fixed" and that's why they came back without an indictment.  She said that no matter what the testimony by the multiple Medical Examiners was, Michael Brown was shot several times in the back.  Of course, the medical evidence refutes that.  In other words, she, like so many others, knew nothing about the evidence, yet feels that they have the right to spew their hatred in an attempt to hold the Officer blatantly responsible.
Another Community leader was on camera stating that the message was clear that "black people's lives have no value", while another leader said that "they don't get their day in court".  Again, none of these people had access to the evidence or the testimony presented to the Grand Jury, yet they feel that they have the right to assist in inciting this behavior by speaking about something that they knew nothing about.

I hold the media responsible for a lot of this behavior.  I also hold the "Community Leaders" responsible for a lot of this behavior.  It was up to them to try to quell the situation...not to escalate the situation. 

The forensic evidence, as was reported, supports the version of events testified to by Officer Wilson.  I can say that physical evidence does not lie.  I will also say that there are, at times, a misrepresentation of the evidence and the evaluation of such evidence.  The perception by one doesn't always coincide with the perception of someone else.

Was Officer Darren Wilson right in his actions?  Honestly, I don't know.  Why don't I know?  Because I have not had the opportunity to review all of the evidence.  All that I know is what has been reported by the media...and we all know where that will lead you.  I do know that the judicial system that we have in place allows for a Grand Jury to evaluate all of the evidence presented, and then render a decision based on their interpretation of that evidence.  This was not a quick action by the Grand Jury.  It took them 3 months to review all of the evidence that was presented to them.  They made the determination that Officer Wilson acted according to policy and to the law. 

I've been involved in thousands of court cases in my career.  Do I always agree with the verdict?  No.  Do I always feel that the jury "got it right"?  No.  However, the system worked as it is supposed to and, that's all any of us can ask for.


]]><![CDATA[the land of the free, and the home of the brave...forever]]>Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:17:01 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/the-land-of-the-free-and-the-home-of-the-braveforeverI may not always like the direction our Country is going in but, I will not publicly condemn OUR President.  You can't turn on the news without seeing the Republicans criticizing the President's policies and his actions.  But, when previous Presidents were Republicans, the Democrats were doing the same thing.  I realize that everyone has their right to their own opinion however, that doesn't mean your opinion regarding OUR President should always be made public.
I often hear how OUR President has embarrassed us and OUR Country but, I dare say that he has brought no more embarrassment to our country than the citizens have.
I may not like all of the decisions that have been made but, I can promise that I didn't agree with all of the decisions past Presidents have made either.  The important thing to remember is that we don't know what he knows.  In other words, we are not privy to the information that he has, but are only told, basically, how the press has spun it or how opposing politicians want us to hear it.  OUR President has far more knowledge of the current events than any of us have, yet we are foolish enough to open our mouths and spew an opinion based on our limited information.  I swear this Country was better off before the internet, when we weren't poisoned by instant media and opinions by those what had an ulterior motive.
The fact remains that OUR President is just that.  OUR President!!  Whether you voted for him or not, the majority spoke and he was elected.  To be fair, I didn't vote for him but, I also didn't vote for the Republican candidate either.  But...I did vote, as it is still my right to do so.
I am a US Navy Veteran and as such, I was trained to follow lawful orders, without question.  In other words, it was not within my discretion to question a lawful order just because I may not agree with it.  The same applies to when I gained rank and I gave lawful orders to those below me in my Chain of Command.  I expected those orders to be followed, although I was open to suggestions to complete the tasks if someone had a better idea.  The bottom line was that the mission had to be completed, whatever that mission was.
When I served aboard a US Navy warship, the "Skipper" was in command.  We did what he told us to do, although knowing that he was also taking orders from the higher ups in his Chain of Command.  We followed those orders as given.  Sure, we might not have liked them but, they were lawful orders.  We would never criticize or condemn OUR Skipper's orders or decisions.  We, over 350 men, lived on a Guided Missile Destroyer that was just a little over 400 feet long and 35 feet wide.  Morale was a very important part of shipboard life.  If we criticized the decisions made by our Skipper, we would have damaged the morale, making it fragile and weak.  Besides, who would we have voiced our criticism to?  Certainly not those senior to us as that would have been a bad reflection on our selves.  And certainly not those junior to us as that would have poisoned their minds, showing a weakness that we do not support our Skipper.
OUR President is OUR Commander in Chief.  We may not like everything that he has said or done but, to publicly criticize him weakens us as a society and as a Nation.
I love this Country and I support the Office of the President and what it stands for.  President Barack Obama is OUR Commander in Chief, whether you like it or not.  As such, he has my respect that comes with the position of being the President of The United States of America.  He should also have the respect of every citizen of this great Nation.
Perception of other Nations as to how they view us is still vitally important and it is up to each of us to do what's within our power to keep that perception positive.  In doing so, we will always will be, The Land of the Free...and The Home of the Brave.]]><![CDATA[Inspirational]]>Thu, 23 May 2013 10:46:38 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/inspirationalIn this time of violence and destruction in the world, I thought that we may all need a little uplifting inspiration.  Rather than compose a lengthy message, I thought that I would just include a link to a very moving story.  Please watch this video.  You will not regret it.  It speaks louder than I could ever speak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjKgV65fpo]]><![CDATA[The bombing at the boston marathon]]>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:47:51 GMThttps://www.forensicconsultingservices.com/fcs-blog/the-bombing-at-the-boston-marathonI caught a lot of grief last week after my "blog" about the attack at the Texas Community College.  My blog concerned the fact that no matter if you ban or limit the magazine capacity of firearms, it won't change anything.   The attacker last week used a box cutter and managed to injure 14 people.  No firearm at all.  The point was that if evil exists, limiting ammo isn't going to correct the problem.  Today is a great example of this.  A bomb planted at the finish line at the Boston Marathon.  No firearm, no knife, no box cutter.  A BOMB!!!  Did you hear me???  A BOMB!!!  Whoever planted that device certainly had evil, malice and ill-will.  He or she also had a mission.
I received comments, mostly on Facebook, about last weeks blog.  I was told things like I had no feelings for the victims or survivors at Sandy Hook as they toured The White House on a campaign to limit weapons.  That is certainly not the case at all.  I feel terrible for all of those involved at Sandy Hook, the Aurora movie theater, Virginia Tech, Columbine and any other place that you would care to mention. 
I deal with death on a daily basis.  I'm surrounded by it, I view it, I investigate it.  It's a dark world that I live in.  But that dark world is reality.  No rose colored glasses here.  I see the evil.  I don't sit back in my easy chair watching the nightly news, shaking my head and thinking "how horrible", being extremely glad that it involved someone else, other than you.  It's very easy to sit back and scream "Gun Control" in an attempt to "make the world a better place".  The reality of it is that it's not going to have that great of an impact.  If someone has it in their mind to cause destruction, devastation and death, they'll find a way.  All any of us can do is be vigilant, watch over ourselves, our families and those around us.  Correct it?  Not possible.  Granted, there may be some that are teetering on the edge and may decide not to take action because they don't have access to a firearm.  Those are the one's we never hear about so, how will we know?  But those hell bent on causing a tragedy and claiming their "15 minutes of fame" will find a way.  Have we forgotten about 9/11?  Airliners...who would have thought?  They obviously wanted to send a message and kill as many as possible in exchange for their own death and some promise of 72 virgins.  They believed it and supposedly thought that was going to be their reward for their actions.  To the rest of us people who live by a certain code, we don't put a lot of merit in that idea. 
I feel terrible for the victims and survivors of all of those people affected by the attacks, no matter what the weapon.  If waving banners calling for gun control makes you feel better, then have at it.  I can only hope that somewhere deep inside, you realize that this is nothing more than a band-aid to cover the wound, knowing that it won't heal the wound.  Evil will still exist. 
My thoughts go out to all of those involved in the bombing of the Boston Marathon, as well as those affected by and of these atrocities.
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