J.D. Thomas: Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
JOSEPH D. (J.D.) Thomas
Board Certified Forensic Science Investigator
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
United States Navy 1977-1981
Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)
Lee Laboratories, Petersburg, Virginia 1981 -1986
Lab/Chemical Technician
Chesterfield Vol. Fire Department, Chesterfield Va. 1981-1986
Firefighter/Engineer
Petersburg Bureau of Police, Petersburg, Va. 1986-1999
Operations:
Patrol Officer, Assistant Squad Leader, Master Police Officer
Investigations:
Senior Crime Scene Analyst, Senior Detective
Port Richey Police Department, Port Richey, Florida 2001
Patrol Officer
Office of the Public Defender, 6th. Judicial Circuit, New Port Richey, Florida 2003 – 2011
Criminal and Forensic Science Investigator, Capital Mitigation Specialist
University of Florida College of Medicine, Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations
Response System (FEMORS) Medical/Death Investigator 2011 – Current (OPS
employment)
Forensic Consulting Services, LLC May 2011 - Current
Forensic Analyst/Consultant and Licensed Private Investigator
EDUCATION
Richard Bland College, Petersburg, Virginia
St. Leo College, Fort Lee, Virginia
Crater Criminal Justice Academy, Petersburg, Virginia 1986
State Criminal Justice Certification
Crater Criminal Justice Academy, Petersburg, Virginia
State Certified Police Instructor
Virginia Forensic Science Academy, Richmond, Virginia
State Certification in Forensic Science and Crime Scene Technology
Criminal Defense Investigative Council
National Board-Certified Criminal Defense Investigator
National Board-Certified Forensic Science Investigator
COURT RECOGNIZED EXPERT
Florida
Virginia
United States Federal Courts
EXPERT CASES BY STATE
Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia
Idaho Iowa Kentucky Louisiana
Maine Massachusetts Nevada New York
North Carolina Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas
Utah Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The Northern Mariana Islands
TRAINING RECEIVED
Crater Criminal Justice Academy
Basic Police Academy
Petersburg Bureau of Police
Field Training Officer Program
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
State Certified Criminal Justice Instructor
State Certified Child Sexual Abuse Investigator Instructor
Virginia Forensic Science Academy
Crime Scene Technology
St. Petersburg Junior College Southeastern Public Safety Institute
Law Enforcement Equivalency Training
FORENSIC SCIENCE TRAINING OBTAINED
Virginia Forensic Science Academy 1994 Class President
The Role of the Crime Scene Search Officer
Introduction to Crime Scene Searches
Cultural Diversities
Crime Scene Photography
Collection, Handling and Packaging of Forensic Evidence
Submission of Forensic Evidence
Search and Seizure
Crime Scene Sketching
Photogrammetry
Auto Theft
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Practices
Legal Updates
Laws of Evidence
Explosive Devices and Investigation
Arson Investigation and Field Exercises
Crime Scene Investigations for Patrol Officers
Processing Locks, Safes
Toolmark Casting Techniques
Firearms and Tool marks
Collection of Gunshot Residue
Drug Recognition
Fingerprints
Investigation and Casting of Footwear and Tire Impressions
Forensic Entomology
Questioned Documents
Notifications of Death
Handgun Mechanics and Safety / Use of Force
Satanic Crimes and Activities
Homicide Investigation
Sex Crimes and Sex Related Case Investigation
Medical-Legal Aspects of Death Investigation
Identification of Deceased Victims
Hit & Run/Trace Evidence Investigations
Autopsy
Pattern Wound Interpretation
Serology/DNA Collection and Packaging
Criminal Investigation Analysis
Trace Evidence
Blood Recovery
Blood Spatter Analysis
Bloodborne Pathogens
Crime Scene Search Techniques and Field Exercises
Forensic Training Field Exercises, Fairfax, Virginia
FEMORS Annual Disaster Training (2011 – 2019)
3-D Shooting Trajectory and Blood Spatter Analysis
3-D Crash Scene Advanced Animation Techniques
3-D Techniques of Event Data Recorder Animation
3-D Laser Scanning for Crime Scene Documentation
FBI Fingerprint Classification School, Virginia
Latent Fingerprint Examiner School, Virginia
Latent Fingerprint Evidence Recovery School, Virginia
Mass Fatality Incident Management School, U.S. Army Mortuary Affairs Unit
Identification/Recovery of Human Remains, U.S. Army Mortuary Affairs Unit
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis School, Virginia
Crime Scene Investigation School, Virginia
Crime Scene Management School, Virginia
Crime Scene Photography School, Virginia
Child Abuse & Child Sexual Abuse Investigations School, Virginia
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations
Ritualistic Crimes Investigations
Study of Victimology School, Virginia
Investigation of Ritualistic Crimes/Cults and the Occult, Virginia
Vehicular Homicide & Accident Investigation School, Virginia
Virginia Forensic Retraining
Blood Stain Pattern Analysis School West Palm Beach, Florida
NDIA Resource Sharing Training
Faro 3D Advanced Animation Class
NDIA Training Statement and/or Report Writing Fact Investigation
NDIA “What Every Investigator Needs to Know about Firearms Cases”
NDIA “The Science of Alcohol-Induced Anterograde Amnesia”
NDIA “Forensic Facial Recognition and Analysis”
NDIA “The Anatomy of Strangulation”
Misc. training conferences (2004 – 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 – 2024)
Berkeley Law/Samuelson Law Technology Clinic “Litigating DNA Genotyping Software”
NDIA Between an Ethical Wall and a Hard Place in Investigations
The Case for Using 3D Data for Forensic Presentations
FAPI Conference August 23 – 25, 2022
Strangulation: Evaluating Strangulation Evidence from a Medical Perspective Confirmation
Forensic Fractography of Bone
Solution Focused Forensics
Abusive Head Trauma Investigations
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Long Term Effects
Alternate Light Source Photography: Understanding of Emerging Science in Medico-Legal Settings
Blunt Force Trauma Investigations
Head Trauma, Comprehension, and Intoxication
Evaluating Strangulation Evidence
Ballistics Trauma. Understanding Gunshot wounds
FORENSIC SCIENCE TRAINING PROVIDED
Crime Scene Photography
Crime Scene Management
Crime Scene Investigations
Homicide Investigations
Latent Fingerprints
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis & Interpretation
Fingerprint Comparison Analysis
Forensic Autopsies
Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse
Daubert Standard Expert Testimony and Workshop
FORENSIC SCIENCE TRAINING PROVIDED TO:
Virginia Department of Justice
Crater Criminal Justice Academy
Florida Public Defenders Association
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of Tampa
Pasco Hernando Community College
Hillsborough Public Defenders Office
Marion County Legal Support Association
Pasco County School District "The Great American Teach-In"
Broward County Bar Association
CONFERENCE / LECTURE PRESENTATIONS
National Defender Investigators Association Annual Conference 2014 (New Orleans, La.)
"Blood Stain Pattern Recognition and Analysis"
Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists and West Pasco Legal Support Association State
Conference 2014 (West Pasco, Florida)
"Blood Stain Pattern Recognition and Analysis"
Florida Public Defenders Association
Advanced Public Defender College (multiple years)
Spring Defender College (multiple years)
Fall Defender College (2010)
American Association of Endodontists National Conference 2014 (Washington, DC)
"Catch Me If You Can" (Workplace Fraud, Embezzlement & Identity Theft)
Hernando County Dental Association November 2014
"Catch Me If You Can" (Workplace Fraud, Embezzlement & Identity Theft)
Polk County Dental Association - January 2016
“Catch Me If You Can” (Workplace Fraud, Embezzlement & Identity Theft)
Florida Association of Legal Support Specialist June 2018 & 2019
The Georgia Public Defender Council / The Florida Public Defender Ninth Circuit
Women of Tomorrow – Western High School, Davie, Florida
Scene Reconstruction and Bullet Trajectory, Tampa, Florida, August 2022
Blood Stain Pattern Recognition and Analysis, Ocala, Florida, November 2022
Crime Scene Interpretation for the Defense, Tampa, Florida, April 2023; Broward, Florida, November, 2023
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (Past and Present)
FEMORS: Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System
International Association for Identification: Life Active Member (25+ yrs. of membership)
International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts
International Association of Crime Analysts
Virginia Forensic Science Academy Alumni Association, Life Member (20+ years of membership)
Virginia Homicide Investigators Association (Past, Charter Member)
The Criminal Defense Investigators Training Council
The Criminal Defense Investigators Association
National Defender Investigator Association
National Association of Veteran Police Officers
American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
West Pasco Legal Support Association
Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists
Florida Association of Licensed Investigators
Florida Association of Private Investigators
PROFESSIONAL HONORS
NAVY
Letter of Commendation, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet: Humanitarian relief of
American citizens in Jonestown, Guyana
Navy Expeditionary Medal
Good Conduct Medal
POLICE
Medal for Saving a Human Life: Virginia 1991
Medal for Saving a Human Life: Virginia 1998
Medal of Valor: Virginia 1998
Virginia (Regional level) “Hero of the Year” Award 1998
Virginia (Statewide) “Hero of the Year” Award 1998
Silver Star for Bravery: American Police Hall of Fame 2001
Petersburg Bureau of Police Distinguished Firearms Expert
OTHER NOTABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Veterans of Foreign Wars
American Legion
