AALM: Tell us about your career as a law enforcement officer.
BC: My career began like many do, with a beginning in corrections and patrol operations. I then had assignments in special operations and tactical teams. The majority of my career was as violent crimes and homicide detective and investigations unit supervisor. I also found great satisfaction in training and teaching new detectives and field training new patrol officers and as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor.
AALM: How did you first come to work as an expert witness?
BC: I was first a case agent and expert in a criminal gang RICO prosecution and began to opine on the human factors associated with law enforcement critical incidents and shootings. I then began to use those human-based principles in the analysis of civilian acts of self- defense.
AALM: Tell us about some of the cases you’ve worked on in the past. Was there one that stood out more to you than others?
BC: I have worked on multiple car-to-car and road rage other self-defense shootings, shootings involving unarmed but threatening subjects, and subjects shot in the back.
I analyzed one incident of a law enforcement shooting occurring after a vehicle pursuit. The shooting was documented by video from multiple sources, and I noted the police officer that shot was required to process the continued threat of the driver as he tried to free his stuck car from the median while surrounded by many police officers, blaring sirens, shouting, and fire. Talk about sensory overload.
AALM: How has your education/work as a biologist impacted your knowledge in regard to criminal cases?
BC: My analyses and opinions are based on principles of biology of behavior with a methodology incorporating the scientific method. I look for subtleties and supporting behaviors and evidence to support my conclusions.
AALM: What do you think differentiates between a strong expert witness and a poor expert witness as it pertains to criminal cases?
BC: An objective, inter-disciplinary methodology that supports both inductive and deductive investigation and reasoning.
AALM: You’re involved in several organizations. Tell us about one you’re particularly passionate about.
BC: I’ve served as president in state gang investigator, SWAT officer, aquatic investigations, and professional organizations, but I find great satisfaction and continued learning from my membership in the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.
AALM: You’ve worked as an instructor in several capacities. What teaching work do you enjoy the most?
BC: I have instructed many law enforcement agencies and officers in the human factors associated with critical incidents, but I have also enjoyed teaching civilians about self-defense, safety, and investigations in a college setting.
