GILBERTSONInvestigations Inc. (239) 571-1840
Use of Force
Self-Defense
False Arrest & Search
Criminal-Defense Support
Police Misconduct
Deficient Investigations
Failure to Train & Monell
Agency Training
From the record $640,000 jury verdict, with the jury crediting the expert testimony. Hunter v. City of Federal Way, W.D. Wash.
Retention $8,000–$9,000 retainer · 29–33 hours at $275/hr Full case history For Retaining Counsel
Gilbertson Investigations Inc. · Police Misconduct

When Procedure Was
Abandoned

Reports · Evidence · Pursuits · Accountability

Misconduct analysis documents the departures: from standardized police procedures, from the agency's own written policy, and from the duties every officer carries. It is built line by line from the record, so counsel can show not only what happened, but what was supposed to happen.

Discuss a matter Call (239) 571-1840

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

Practice areasUse of ForceFalse Arrest & SearchPolice MisconductFailure to Train & MonellDeficient InvestigationsSelf-DefenseCriminal-Defense SupportAgency Training
The Scope

What the analysis covers.

Individual engagements are scoped with counsel. Go deeper: Falsified Reports · Fabricated or Suppressed Evidence · Pursuits & Vehicle Operation.

Reports and evidence

  • False or misleading officer statements
  • Embellished, inaccurate or falsified police reports
  • Fabricated or planted evidence
  • Suppressed, concealed, lost or mishandled evidence

Conduct on the street

  • Abuse of police authority
  • Unlawful searches and seizures
  • Reckless emergency-vehicle operation and high-speed pursuits
  • Interference with recording or observing police
  • Bias-based or discriminatory policing
  • Sexual misconduct under color of authority
  • Off-duty misconduct under color of law

Accountability failures

  • Failure to intervene and failure to report misconduct
  • Failure to render medical aid
  • Police misconduct affecting a criminal prosecution
  • Internal-affairs investigation review
  • Police-pursuit policy analysis

Where the pattern runs deeper than one officer, see the failure-to-train and supervision practice.

The Engagement

Same discipline, every case.

01 · Conflicts & scope

Conflict check and a written scope with retaining counsel before substantive discussion.

02 · Retention

Retainer of $8,000–$9,000 covering 29–33 hours at $275 per hour.

03 · Record & report

The complete record against national standards; most reports finish within the retainer.

04 · Testimony

Deposition, hearings and trial, nationwide from RSW.

Full fee schedule and counsel FAQ: For Retaining Counsel →

From the Record

Related casework.

Federal civil rights

Alvarez v. King County

No. C16-0721RAJ (W.D. Wash.)

Police practices analysis in federal civil rights litigation.

Open the case files Jury verdict

Estate of Alfontish Cockerham v. City of Chicago

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

Police practices and use of force expert in a videotaped officer-involved shooting; $1.18 million jury judgment per retaining counsel.

Open the case files

Case accounts as published by retaining counsel. Outcomes depend on their facts; no result is promised for any other matter.

He engaged with the jury and his testimony was solid. I recommend Professor Gilbertson in any case involving police misconduct.
Patrick Trudell, Attorney at Law · Kirkland, WA
Questions

Asked before the record is sent.

What counts as police misconduct in an expert analysis?
Documented departures from standardized police procedures and agency policy: false or falsified reporting, fabricated or suppressed evidence, unlawful searches, reckless pursuits, failures to intervene or render aid, and misconduct that infects a criminal prosecution.
Can the analysis support municipal-liability theories?
The companion failure-to-train practice addresses training, supervision, discipline and Monell pattern-and-practice support, built on the same record discipline.
What does retention cost?
A non-refundable retainer of $8,000–$9,000 covering 29–33 hours of discovery review, report writing and conferences at $275 per hour. Most reports are completed within the retainer. The full published schedule is on the For Counsel page.
Retain

Send a misconduct record.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

Police misconduct inquiry

For counsel with a reporting, evidence, or pursuit matter.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.