EMPLOYMENT:
Senior Expert Fire Investigator Feb 2024- Present
RTI Group, LLC.
- Certified Fire and Explosion investigator, conducting structure loss investigations.
- Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, conducting vehicle, heavy equipment loss investigations.
Senior Expert Fire Investigator June 2019- Present
Fire Investigations
- Certified Fire and Explosion investigator, conducting structure loss investigations.
- Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, conducting vehicle, heavy equipment loss investigations.
Expert Fire Investigator Oct 2018-June 2020
James Valentine Fire Investigations
- CVFI, conducting all vehicle loss investigations
- Conduct Fire Scene Examinations, Interviews and providing research and category
- Origin and Cause.
Fire Marshal, June 2018-present
Lower Chichester Township, Lower Chichester, Pa 19061
- Enforce fire codes for all businesses, schools, etc. in township.
- Educating officials and employees on proper fire procedures
- Investigate and report on origin and cause of all township fires
Expert Fire Investigator, May 2018- present
Forensic Scientific Services,
- Conduct thorough fire investigations on-site
- Communicate with clients about protocol regarding the investigation and insurance
- Provide reports to necessary parties
Expert Fire Investigator, April 2016 – June 2018
NEFCO Fire Investigations,
- Conduct thorough fire investigations on-site
- Communicate with clients about protocol regarding the investigation and insurance
- Provide reports to necessary parties
Fire Marshal, August 2023
Parkside Borough, Parkside Pa. 19015
- Enforce fire codes for all businesses, schools, etc. in the borough.
- Educating officials and employees on proper fire procedures
- Investigate and report on the origin and cause of all borough fires.
Fire Marshal, January 2013 - June 2015
Chadds Ford Township, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
- Enforced fire codes for all businesses, schools, etc. in township
- Educated officials and employees on proper fire procedures
- Investigated and reported on origin and cause of all township fires
Police Force, 1985 - 2015
Chester Township, Chester, PA, 19013
- Held multiple positions throughout tenure:
- 1985-1998 Patrol Officer Shift Supervisor
- 1998-2002 Criminal Investigator
- 2002-2015 Patrol Commander
- 2015-Retirement, Lieutenant of Police
- Assigned as the positions of Fire Investigator, Arson Expert, Narcotics Expert, Lead Criminal Investigator, and Detective
- Acted as Lead Investigator involving Internal Investigations and investigations relating to juveniles and elderly persons
- Appointed as Field training officer and Field training supervisor
- Supervised 26 sworn staff members and overseeing patrol operations at time of retirement
- Trained by State and Federal agencies in emergency management skills and tactics, including interviewing and offender profiling
- Trained in National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) American Heart Assn. and American Red Cross, First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
- Acknowledged by court as expert in the fields of Fire Investigation and Narcotics investigations.
- Appointed as a Arson Task Force Member, by (former) District Attorney.
EDUCATION:
- Delaware County Community College 1995- 2009
- Delaware County Municipal Police Academy 1984-1985
- Williamson Free School of Mech. Trades 1983-1984
ACTIVITIES/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- Life Member, Brookhaven Fire Company
- Member Lower Chichester Fire Company
- Member, International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- Member, National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
- Member, Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators (PAAI)
- Member, American Red Cross & American Heart Association
- Facilities Director, Brandywine Youth Club
- HOA President, Brookside at Concord
- Security Director & Consultant, Villages Of Southampton
- Guest Lecturer & Internship Coordinator, Widener University
- Internship Coordinator, Drexel university
- Guest Lecturer, Drexel University, Master’s Forensic Program.
DEPOSITION AND COURTROOM EXPERT TESTIMONY:
I have been qualified as an expert witness in courts, on Federal and State levels, listed below are recent matters where testimony was provided as an expert in origin and cause:
Commonwealth of Pa. V, Anthony Collier CP-23 CR 0004368-2002
Commonwealth of Pa. V. Preston Bonnett CP 40 CR 0004301-2017
Thomas Gervasi V. Dept of Corrections No 1:18 CV 867 Federal Court
Commonwealth of Pa. V. David Lugasse III CV-2019-666114
Watson V Liberty Mutual ins Co, US Dist Court NJ 1;19-cv-11994
Carr and Duff V. Structural Metals LLC Deposition
Estate of Bradley Ireland V. Apple inc. Deposition
Commonwealth of Pa. V Lawrence McGuire Jr. CR-0000407-2022