Public Safety & Forensics Conference

I have previously served in the UK Fire and Rescue Service for 30 years, and am a qualified, experienced and internationally Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI) who investigates accidental and deliberate fires, some with international interest, informing arson reduction activity, product recalls, safety & design, providing answers to families following fatal fires and presenting Expert Witness evidence in Court.

I am a Member of the Fire Investigation sector professional bodies, of course, but I embrace the cross over and inter-relationship between forensic disciplines such as Vehicle Examination and Collision Investigation; I am a Member of both The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI) and the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI).

As the Director and Lead Tutor for FireWise UK Learning Academy, I fulfil my passion for sharing knowledge and experience. We deliver Fire Investigation training worldwide, and are entering our 25th year of delivering the Park Lodge International Vehicle Fire Investigation Courses; a foundation Vehicle Fire Investigation course and also a dedicated Electric Vehicle Fire Investigation course where the burning of full EVs and traction batteries allows for advanced learning about "abnormal thermal events".

FireWiseUK recognise the evolution of technology, for use not only during fire investigation and documenting vehicles post fire, but also for training. Working with LeicaGeosystems and RiVR, FireWiseUK are now using photogrammetry, 360 imaging and scanning to capture data for the creation of quality immersive training deliverables, reaching a wider audience whilst reducing the environmental impact of regularly burning vehicles!

In 'Burn to Learn' I will present an overview of the niche forensic activity of vehicle fire investigation, and how technology is enhancing scene and evidence documentation, for both reporting and training.

I am a FCIN Technical Specialist leading the laser scanning workflow.

I started my working life in electronics, designing circuits, laying out PCBs and writing terrible code. I was even involved in implementing standards and conformity testing. I joined the police in 2005 and joined the collision investigation unit in 2014. My passion has always been technology and learning and after finding out what was in the big red box we used to hold the fire door open in the summer, I got trained on Cyclone and the P20. When a regional rep was needed for the specialist capabilities program I was volunteered and having been seconded to the SCP I joined the FCIN full time in 2021.

I started my career studying Forensic Science before joining the Royal Military Police within the British Army in 2014. I served for 6 years specialising within a Forensics Team that was tasked to operate within numerous forensic fields, across the globe, for all 3 services of the British Forces. Whilst training as a CSI, Laser Scan Operator, Multimedia Evidence and Digital Forensics expert, I took a particular interest in Video & Imagery Forensics. It was from this interest that led me to Amped Software, who hired me as a Video Forensic Analyst and Software Trainer on completion of my military career. I have spent the last 4 years training both Military and Police Forces worldwide in Video Forensics and have been heavily involved in the development and testing of the software. I now have over a decade of experience within my related field and have developed a passion for passing that knowledge onto others, to help assist forces worldwide with the challenges they face from multimedia evidence.

Gary has provided geospatial forensic extraction, analysis & evidence for the prosecution of the largest Irish maritime interdictions of narcotics and tobacco shipments for the Irish & UK markets over the last 3 decades. He has provided those services in courts Globally.

>Gary’s expertise arises from almost 2 decades as an Operations Branch Officer & Navigator in the Irish Navy, a Master’s Degree in Navigation & Positioning Technology from the University of Nottingham and 3 decades experience as a Geomatics professional working on land and sea across Europe, Africa & the Middle East. A deep knowledge of how Positioning systems work, as well as their accuracy and reliability and how they are used in practice, has enhanced Gary’s forensic skills and allowed him to extend his experience to land based criminal activity; - including fraud and missing persons. He has also provided evidence in Coroner’s Courts and training for those undertaking war crimes investigations.

Gary has undergone training in vehicle in vehicle system forensics and on WiFi network design which influences the presence of WiFi derived location records on phones. With these and his other geospatial skills, Gary seeks to “put location in its place both on land and sea”. Understanding the reliability of time, date, speed and attitude calculations derived from all location technologies, which are now routinely used to anchor other actions and events used in evidence, is critical to successful geospatial forensic analysis and the credibility of related expert witness statements.

After taking part in the Forensic Bioscience masters at LJMU, I turned my research dissertation into a PhD in which I can explore the ins and outs of fire analysis, the effects of fire and intense heat on bones, and how it may affect injuries inflicted by sharp or blunt force trauma prior to being burned. The purpose of this research is to be able to aid forensic investigations if human remains are found at the scene of a fire, and to also allow an insight into how the analysis of said remains takes place.

He received a Bachelor of Science (BS) cum laude in Mechanical Engineering in 1993 from

Washington State University (WSU). That same year, he went on to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Bioengineering with a specialization in Orthopedic Biomechanics from the University of Washington (UW). He received his PhD on February 28th, 2002. From his first year at WSU (1988) until July 2003, he trained to become an automotive crash reconstructionist under the tutelage of Dr. John L. Habberstad (PhD WSU 1963). In July 2003, he co-founded Origin Engineering LLC, which became Origin Forensics LLC in 2015. Origin Forensics is a consulting firm specializing in automotive crash reconstruction and biomechanical injury analysis. Throughout his career Jarrod has published peer-reviewed research articles in trauma biomechanics, automotive crash testing, and automotive crash reconstruction. He has also been responsible for designing and conducting numerous full-scale automotive crash tests of various types. At present, Jarrod is the Principal at Origin Forensics, where he primarily consults with attorneys regarding all manner of pedestrian, motorcycle, passenger car, light truck, and heavy vehicle crashes, including matters involving product liability.

Stanley Stoll | M.Eng. | P.E. |DFE - National Academy of Forensic Engineers | Combat Engineer and Explosives Expert US Army | Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) | Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) | CEO - Principal Engineer Knott Laboratory.

Mr. Stoll is CEO and Principal Engineer at Knott Laboratory; a multidisciplinary team of engineers, accident reconstructionists, and visualization experts who provide Forensic Engineering and Visualization Services. Based in the United States, the company has worked on over 22,000 cases nationwide.

Mr. Stoll is a board-certified diplomat forensic engineer and expert witness. He oversees all forensic investigation divisions of the company and most recently integrated the latest techniques into shooting reconstructions. Knott Laboratory’s Digital Media Forensics team specializes in the use of laser scanning, photogrammetry, and match moving on these complex cases.

Mr. Behrens is a lead Accident Reconstructionist, professional engineer, and expert witness with Knott Laboratory. He performs investigations and reconstructions of all manner of vehicle and industrial accidents. His work includes the use of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum analysis to determine the speed of vehicles involved in accidents, crashworthiness of vehicles, occupant compartment intrusion, driver reaction, time/space relationships and analysis. Frequent aspects of these investigations also involve the analysis of EDR, infotainment, and telemetry data assessing vehicle component performance and the role they play in the collision.