Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., B.C.F.T., C.F.A., C.L.S.


A retired San Jose (CA) police officer, investigator and Criminal Justice Training Center director founded Martinelli & Associates, Inc. in 1980 after recognizing the need for more “reality-based” training in law enforcement. Dr. Martinelli, spent over twenty years in active law enforcement and continues to devote his time to advanced education, forensics, police/corrections practices and the training of law enforcement officers in and outside of the United States.

Dr. Martinelli is a nationally recognized forensic criminologist specializing in police/corrections practices, who is also an adjunct professor of Forensic Science at an accredited university and holds a number of current certifications in forensics and law enforcement. He is Board Certified in Forensic Traumatology and holds Diplomat status with the National Center for Crisis Management and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Dr. Martinelli, is a Certified Force Analyst through the Force Science Research Center® at Minnesota State University; a Certified Forensic Analyst through the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Death®; and a Certified Litigation Specialist through the Americans for Effective Law Enforcement (AELE). Dr. Martinelli is currently retained as the Special Investigator for the City of Riverside, where he consults with the Mayor’s Office and its Police Community Review Commission on all officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths. He is a retained police/corrections practices expert for several large municipalities, states and law enforcement officer associations in California and Nevada.

Dr. Martinelli has been a Federal/State Courts qualified expert in police/corrections practices, law enforcement training, psychophysiology, forensics, officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, use of force, civilian self-defense and a number of other forensic and criminal investigations areas since 1992. Additionally, Dr. Martinelli has been retained as technical advisor for the History and Discovery Channels® and occasionally provides forensic consultations to national media outlets on high-profile cases. He is the author of four texts, nearly thirty manuals and numerous articles on law enforcement practices.

Dr. Martinelli’s many qualifications include:


  • Federal/State Courts qualified expert – Police/Corrections practices (See areas below)
  • Over 30 years of active law enforcement training and consulting experience to over 300 law enforcement agencies, criminal justice training centers, social service agencies, public safety agencies and municipalities
  • Over 22 years experience as active police officer and detective
  • Force Science Center®, Minnesota State University - Certified Force Analyst (CFA), in Officer-Involved Shootings
  • Americans for Effective Law Enforcement – Certified Litigation Specialist in Police and Corrections Practices (CLS)
  • American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (AAETS) – Board Certified in Forensic Traumatology (BCFT)
  • Diplomat, National Center for Crisis Management and American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
  • IPICD – Certified Forensic Analyst, Sudden In-Custody Death
  • Instructor, Excited/Agitated Delirium & Sudden In-Custody Death, Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Death ®
  • 30 year state approved law enforcement instructor in all areas of weaponized and non-weaponized uses of force: firearms, less lethal munitions, TASER, chemical agents/OC pepper spray, impact weapons/baton, Arrest & Control Tactics (ACT)®, Unarmed Defensive Tactics (UDT)® and weaponless defense
  • Instructor and subject matter expert in over 20 separate police/corrections practice methodologies
  • Special Investigator (retained), City of Riverside, CA – Officer-Involved Shootings and In-Custody Death
  • Police and Corrections Practices Expert – for a number of law enforcement agencies in CA, NV, CO, NE, WV
  • Active Member – California District Attorneys Association
  • Former CA POST accredited police/corrections academy director
  • Former Division Dean of Criminal Justice, CA Criminal Justice Training Center
  • Adjunct Professor – Forensic Science, Masters degree program, National University
  • Former Professor – Forensic Psychology, Masters degree program, Argosy University
  • Former Professor – Criminology, California State Polytechnic University
  • Former Instructor – Police Science, De Anza College (CA) and San Jose City College (CA)
  • Active Member & Presenter – International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (ILETTA)
  • Author of four texts, over twenty training manuals and numerous articles on criminology and police practices
  • 90%+ success rate in law enforcement and civil rights litigation cases involved in as forensic expert

For additional professional biographical information on Dr. Ron Martinelli, go to: http://www.policepracticesexpert.net