The Investigation
That Failed
Direct line: (239) 571-1840 · GregoryGilbertson@proton.me
Attorney and law-firm inquiries only
Witnesses · Evidence · Crime scenes · Convictions
Some cases are lost before they are filed, in investigations that missed witnesses, mishandled evidence, and never questioned their first theory. This practice lays out what a standardized investigation required, and documents where the real one fell short.
Three experts. Over 110 years.
Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.), FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.), and Sheriff Robert Snaza consult with attorneys nationwide regarding police practices and procedures, use of force, false arrest, police misconduct, criminal, and self-defense casework.
CEO & OwnerThirty-eight years in four uniforms: street cop, soldier, professor, investigator. More than 220 matters in 42 states and D.C. since 2014, with testimony that has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.
Full biography
ConsultantMore than thirty-five years in public safety: twelve years and three terms as the elected Sheriff of Lewis County, Washington, and six years a commissioner of the state board that sets peace-officer training standards.
Full profile
ConsultantForty years of investigative casework, from patrolman in St. Louis County to the FBI in Chicago, and on to task forces in Afghanistan and Liberia. His work on the Idaho student murders is examined in Broken Plea, the New York Times bestseller by Christopher Whitcomb.
Full profileNever excluded. Professor Gilbertson’s testimony has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.
The Hon. Richard A. Jones United States District Judge“Mr. Gilbertson’s qualifications demonstrate extensive experience in policing. His expansive work as a police officer in Georgia, with assignments as a SWAT team officer, juvenile court investigator, school resource officer, stakeout squad officer, senior patrolman, and patrolman; then a career as a tenured college professor and university lecturer teaching criminal justice courses to degree-seeking students at colleges and universities, and as a licensed private investigator conducting felony pretrial investigations for attorneys in Washington State in dozens of criminal cases, makes him unique in the field of police expert witnesses. The Court finds that, based on his experience, Mr. Gilbertson’s testimony can be expected to have a reliable basis in knowledge and experience of police practices.”
The facts counsel cite.
- Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.): thirty-eight years across policing, the Army, the classroom, and investigative casework. Independent consultants are retained case-by-case where the record calls for a second discipline.
- Retained in more than 220 civil rights and criminal cases across 42 states and the District of Columbia; expert practice since 2014.
- Professor Gilbertson’s testimony has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.
- Retained by plaintiff’s counsel and by the defense alike, in civil and criminal matters.
- Fees are published: a $9,000 flat fee covering discovery review and the written expert report; the full schedule is on For Retaining Counsel.
- Attorney and law-firm inquiries only; conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. (239) 571-1840.
What the analysis covers.
Individual engagements are scoped with counsel. Go deeper: Missed Witnesses & Evidence · Video & Timeline Reconciliation · Wrongful-Conviction Review.
Witnesses and evidence
- Missed or unlocated witnesses
- Inadequate witness canvassing
- Ignored or mishandled evidence
- Chain-of-custody practices
- Failure to preserve exculpatory evidence
Scenes and records
- Crime-scene security, preservation and documentation
- Officer and civilian interview procedures
- Statement inconsistencies, report omissions and contradictions
- Body-camera, surveillance and report reconciliation
- CAD and dispatch-timeline reconciliation
Case reviews
- Investigative bias and tunnel vision
- Failure to consider alternative suspects
- Homicide-investigation review
- Shooting-investigation review
- Serious-felony investigation review
- Internal use-of-force investigation review
- Wrongful-conviction and post-conviction case review
Reviews serve both civil matters and criminal defense, through post-conviction.
Same discipline, every case.
Conflict check and a written scope with retaining counsel before substantive discussion.
A non-refundable $9,000 flat fee covering discovery review and the written expert report.
The complete record against national standards; most reports finish within the retainer.
Deposition, hearings and trial, nationwide from RSW.
Full fee schedule and counsel FAQ: For Retaining Counsel →
Related casework.
Case accounts as published by retaining counsel. Outcomes depend on their facts; no result is promised for any other matter.
Working references for this practice area.
Guides for retaining counsel, written from the same record this analysis reads.
The judge mentioned the credibility of his report in hearings. Highly effective in securing a dismissal with prejudice for our client.Dr. Stephen Pidgeon, Ph.D., Attorney at Law · Everett, WA
Asked before the record is sent.
What does a deficient-investigation review produce?
Does the practice take wrongful-conviction matters?
What does retention cost?
Send the investigation file.
Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.
Inquiry sent.
You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.
Conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. Please do not send privileged material with a first inquiry; after retention the record is exchanged on physical media. Gregory consults for attorneys and their staff only, and does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals to individuals.