Published Articles


Dr. Martinelli has authored numerous books and articles about police practices. For other article postings please visit:
http://policepracticesexpert.net/articles/

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Forensic Force Series®
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CFA, CLS

The Trayvon Martin Shooting -
Justice Unbalanced
As a practicing forensic criminologist specializing in the forensic analysis of officer-involved and civilian self-defense shootings I am of course fascinated by the media's and public's insatiable appetite for details in the now infamous civilian-involved shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL. However, I must confess that much of my interest and curiosity lies in the fact that rarely have I witnessed and reviewed so many news reports and articles; or listened to the comments of media talking heads, pundits and self-professed "experts" rendering opinions based on nothing short of falsehoods, half-truths, incomplete self-serving fraudulently edited forensics and outright wild speculation.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden -
Assassination or Combat Casualty?
Osama Bin Laden (OBL) is barely crab food in the Indian Ocean and the liberal pundits are already either directly accusing or questioning whether or not the U.S. Navy SEALs illegally "murdered" or "assassinated" the world's foremost uber-terrorist. Let me see if I can answer the question for the liberal media, their uninformed audience and at least one politically independent TV judge on a national cable news network.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

"The Art of Force" - Pre-Contact Threat Assessment
San Francisco Police officers respond to a call of an agitated, mentally disturbed and disabled man in a wheelchair, wielding a knife and vandalizing parked cars on a downtown city street. A group of at least six uniformed and plainclothes officers locate and surround the man who remains seated in his wheelchair. The officers' initial attempts to communicate with the angry, apparently delusional and armed man proved ineffective.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

To Chase or Not to Chase?
An officer detains an active parolee gang member for questioning and, during the detention, the suspect suddenly runs. The officer chases the suspect for two blocks, observes the suspect for two blocks, overserves the suspect to be grabbing into his shorts pocket. The suspect yells out to the officer that he is armed and will shoot the officer. The officer tackles the suspect, there is a violent struggle for the weapon, and the officer shoots and kills the suspect.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

Murder or Stress-Induced Hypervigilance?
Officer Johannes Mehserle and the Infamous "BART Shooting"




FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

Psychophysiological Responses to TASER®-ECD Influence
One of the most pressing problems within the law enforcement and use-of-force instructor communities is the reconciliation of force deployments with subject noncompliance and resistance. With the advent of more sophisticated and effective Electronic Control Devices (ECD), most notably produced by TASER® International, many officers have elected to use this quantum of force in place of oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays, impact weapons, and physical control techniques.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

When Subjects Play the "Race Card"
As a professional who has studied the actual police reports in this incident, I would like to offer my considered opinions. The Cambridge Incident is indeed a "teachable moment."


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

Taser® ECD Mentality
As other defensive weapons systems developed over the years, the weapon or system can easily be abused by the end user. This abuse, and how to recognize and avoid it, is the topic of this discussion.


FORENSIC FORUM
by Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., BCFT, CLS

Police Responses "Suicide by Cop"
This three part series concerns the phenomenon of officer assisted suicide, or
"Suicide by Cop" - SBC. The series was presented by the author at the 2009 ILEETA in Chicago.