The Failure Behind
the Failure
Direct line: (239) 571-1840 · GregoryGilbertson@proton.me
Attorney and law-firm inquiries only
Training · Supervision · Discipline · Monell
Individual misconduct usually has organizational fingerprints on it. This practice examines how the agency trained, supervised, disciplined and retained its officers, and whether written policy matched actual practice, in support of pattern, practice and custom analysis.
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: Supervision & Discipline · Monell Pattern & Practice · Hiring & Retention.
Organizational analysis
- Failure-to-train analysis
- Failure-to-supervise analysis
- Failure-to-discipline analysis
- Policy adequacy and written policy versus actual practice
- Municipal and Monell-related police-practices support
- Pattern, practice or custom analysis
Personnel systems
- Officer hiring and background screening
- Negligent officer retention
- Prior complaints and disciplinary history
- Early-warning systems
- Command review and corrective action
- Internal-affairs procedures
- Officer accountability systems
Training practices
- Police academy training practices
- Officer report-writing practices
- Officer use-of-force training analysis
Opinions address police practices and standards; ultimate legal conclusions on liability remain for the court.
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.
Asked before the record is sent.
What is failure-to-train analysis?
Does this support Monell claims?
What does retention cost?
Send a training and supervision record.
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.