Benjamin Warren
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
I am an expert focused on police practices & security. I have an extensive background as it pertains to Law Enforcement, Police Practices, Use of Force, Use of Deadly Force, Police Policy/Procedure, In-Custody Death and a myriad of other law enforcement related issues. I provide case consultation, case review, and Rule 26 submissions on behalf of law firms.
Qualifications:
Los Angeles Police Department: April 21,1980 to November 30, 2013 (33.5 years) - Honorably Retired. Hold a Law Enforcement, Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) qualified under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) House of Representative Act 218 (H.R. 218).
Worked the “streets” of Los Angeles as a sworn, POST Certified police officer and training police officer for a total of 18 years, during which time he responded to tens of thousands of emergency calls for service, including but not limited to: murder, rape, robbery, and many other felony crimes, egregious incidents, traffic collisions and family disputes and riots just to scratch the surface. Testified innumerably in State of California, Superior Court as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in many areas of police work including but not limited to: Gangs, Narcotics, Domestic Violence, Murder, Attempt Murder and many other Part I and Part II crimes. Field Training Officer (FTO) trained new officers on laws of arrest, police policy, crimes against persons and property crime scene investigation and collection/preservation of evidence; Narcotics Expert: sales, possession, use and objective symptoms while under-the-influence of illegal and/or controlled substances.
Detective Trainee, Southeast Division, Major Assault Crimes (MAC), filed cases with the District Attorney’s office and City Attorney’s office. Expert in the process of latent print investigations.
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1998. Worked an additional 7 years as a patrol sergeant for a total of 25 years in the “streets.” Worked approximately nine years in administrative positions at the rank of police officer and sergeant which include: Law Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy for police recruits and seasoned veterans for relating criminal law and civil law with policy & procedure; Management Services Division as a staff policy researcher & writer to create and implement policy of varied nature; City Attorney’s Office as a researcher.
Worked as Watch Commander of various divisions including 77th Street, Rampart, West Los Angeles, Internal Affairs, Jail Division and Office of Chief of Police. Special assignment to Evidence Division as the Acting Commanding Officer.
As Watch Commander/Sergeant/Acting Commanding Officer, I have reviewed and approved many thousands of criminal investigations, arrest reports, evidence reports, administrative complaint investigations and Injury-On-Duty (IOD) Worker’s Compensation investigations.
Sergeant II, Internal Affairs Investigator and Department Advocate; Legal Affairs-Law Researcher/Policy Writer and Police Academy Law Instructor Management Services Division (MSD), Staff Research Investigator/Unit Supervisor, Special Projects Unit developed and wrote Department policy interacting with the District Attorney and City Attorney to develop opinions based on case law for implementation of policy subsequently reviewed and approved by the Police Commission and Chief of Police.
Acting Commanding Officer/Adjutant: Evidence Division; Watch Commander Rampart Patrol, 77th Street Patrol and West Los Angeles Patrol Divisions. Watch Commander, Metropolitan (Metro) Detention Center (MDC)-Operations; Policy Writer/Staff Researcher, Office of the Chief of Police; Divisional Injury-On-Duty (IOD) Sick Coordinator and Worker’s Compensation Investigator, Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Personnel Complaint Investigations Unit and OIC, 77th Regional Jail Section (RJS) facility.
Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), Employee Representative for disciplinary negotiation and protections of the Peace Officer’s Bill of Rights for officer’s accused of violation of Department administrative policy and possible criminal conduct.
I was a Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), League Delegate, and Representative during administrative investigation procedures and Board of Rights process to represent the accused officer. I was further elected by peers as a Negotiator of, “3-12 Work Schedule - Pilot Program,” to represent officers during the negotiation process with the Los Angeles Police Department and City of Los Angeles the which resulted in citywide implementation and currently adopted.
Advisory Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (AEEOC), Advisory Committee Board Member ensuring equal opportunity of under-represented or disadvantaged employees.
Department Chaplain Corps: Divisional Chaplain 2001 to 2011, Operations South Bureau (OSB) Bureau Chaplain Coordinator 2004 to 2011, Chaplain Corps President/Chief Chaplain 2011 to 2013.
- Crime Foreseeability
- Deadly/Excessive Force
- Jails & Prisons
- Law Enforcement
- Police Procedures
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Diploma: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Academy 1980
California Commission Peace Officer Standardized Training:
- Certifications: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory (1980 to 2013).
Advanced Officer School (1983)
Advanced Field Officer School (1986)
Defensive Driving School (Advanced) 1986
Juvenile Procedures School (1991)
Narcotics Investigation School (1992)
Instructor Development School (1997)
Arrest and Control School (ARCON) (1997)
Bicycle School (1997)
Supervisory Development School (1999)
Internal Affairs Investigations (1999)
Watch Commander School (2000)
University of Southern California (USC) & Latin American Law Enforcement Association:
- Theory and Practice of Ethics in Policing (2000)
Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, Class 174 (2005)
Applied Leadership for Employee Relations (2006)
Certificates:
Intoximeter Certification (1999)
Los Angeles Police Department, Hollywood Division, Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
City of Los Angeles, Entry-Level Oral Board Certification, Police Candidate Certification Interview Techniques (2003)
Los Angeles Police Department, Personnel Division, Civil Service Rules and Procedures (2002)
Los Angeles Police Department, Emergency Management (SEMS/NIMS) (2002-2007)
Bureau of Security and California Licensed Private Investigator (License No. PI 27142) (2007-Present)
Open Source Intelligence Investigations, (OSINT) Certification (2018 & 2023)
California Coast University - Continued Education Completion - Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice (2023)
The Institutes Risk & Insurance Group - Continued Education Completion - Associate in Risk Management (2023)
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Affiliations:
Los Angeles Police Protective League
California Commission Peace Officer Standardized Training (POST)
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: I have conducted innumerable daily training of both police and civilian employees over the span of my career in each area of expertise.
I was a criminal law instructor with the Los Angeles Police Department, Law Training Unit. I taught Criminal Law, Department Policy and Tactical Procedure to new police recruits to POST standards as well as In-Service training to all levels of sworn and civilian employees.
I have spoken at numerous public events as a Sergeant, Watch Commander, Investigator, Community Policing Member and Chaplain.
I have spoken to a group of approximately 2000 individuals at the 2002, Community Police Advisory Board Summit, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute.
Trained several hundred personnel, City of Los Angeles Public Access Defibrillation Program (2007), and received a Certificate of Appreciation, on behalf of Mayor, City Council, and Los Angeles Fire Department, Chief Douglass Barry, and acknowledged in Council Chambers.
- Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No.
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: I have been retained as expert on more than 100 cases related to matters involving criminal, administrative and worker's compensation investigations.
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Various aspects of civil and criminal litigation involving matters such as police policy/procedure, rape, fraud, and other egregious felony crimes, as well as the various facets related to each case. I have also investigated complex worker's compensation claims, during my tenure with the police department and in private industry including fraud, DOSH reports and many other facets of each case.
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 5%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 95%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: Once.
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: 09/2019
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: I have testified in County of Los Angeles Superior Court and the Los Angeles Municipal Courts well over 150 times during my tenure as a Police Officer. I have also testified under oath during Los Angeles Police Department, Board of Rights and have worked with the Department Advocates Office.
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: None.
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: Since 1980.
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Expert Witness, Deadly/Excessive Force, & Police Practices Consultant, Risk Management Consultation, Case Management for Trial, Submission of Rule 26 Reports.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: The initial telephone consultation is no charge. The initial retainer fee is $4,000.00.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $350.00 per hour for document review and investigation.
Hot cases due within 10 business-days of request will be $500.00 per hour and the retainer will be negotiated based on case details. - Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $450.00 per hour.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $450.00 per hour
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Any fees such as travel by air, rental car, hotel and per diem will be actual costs with receipt. Per Diem will be at GSA rates. Air travel will be business class for travel under 2 hours. Air Travel 3 or more hours will be first class, not part of the retainer.
Travel time will be $150.00 per hour unless conducting other case work for such case.
Available Upon Request