Cathy Riggs
Cathy Riggs, M.S.
Police Practices and Use of Force Expert
Cathy Riggs, M.S., is a retired Sergeant from the Los Angeles Police Department with more than 31 years of service, including 25 years in supervisory roles. She holds a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology and serves as faculty in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at California State University, Northridge.
Ms. Riggs reviewed and adjudicated hundreds of use-of-force and pursuit investigations for legal and policy compliance. As an Assistant Watch Commander and Training Coordinator, she evaluated force investigations, supervised corrective action, and assessed tactical and training deficiencies. Her experience includes extensive review of body-worn camera and in-car video evidence in critical incidents.
She served four years in the LAPD Audit Division under the Federal Consent Decree, applying Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) in reviewing use-of-force investigations and related documentation.
Ms. Riggs is a POST-certified Use of Force and Electronic Control Device (TASER) Instructor. She has trained officers in constitutional force standards, conducted electrical weapon deployment, de-escalation, and articulation of force decisions. She has extensive experience reviewing force involving individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Additional certifications include Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE), Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) instruction, and officer safety and tactics training. She served 14 years as a Terrorism Liaison Officer, contributing to threat assessment and intelligence coordination.
- Alcohol, Drug & DUI Testing
- Crowd Control
- Deadly/Excessive Force
- Hospital Security
- Law Enforcement
- Police Procedures
- School Security
- Special Event Security
- Terrorism
- Workplace Violence
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: B.A., Sociology, University of California Los Angeles
M.S., Forensic Psychology, Northcentral University
Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Supervisory certifications from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
POST-certified instructor – First aid/CPR/AED, racial profiling, Electronic Control Devices (TASER), and Use of Force, Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement
City of Los Angeles instructor for Run Hide Fight and LAPD instructor for Seconds Count
LAPD-certified Instructor – Tactics, foot pursuits, building searches, chemical agents, electronic control devices, use of force, and crowd control
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Member:
Association of Threat Assessment Professionals
Infragard
American Psychological Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
International Police Association - Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Instructor experience:
Drug Recognition Expert program, 1997-2003
TASER X26 2012 - 2020
Officer Safety/Field Tactics instructor since 2013
Racial Profiling instructor since 2016
First Aid/CPR/AED since 2018
Force Options Simulator since 2018
TASER 7 since 2020
Electronic Control Weapons since 2021
Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement since 2023
Use of Force since 2024
Public speaking as an instructor for the Seconds Count program (K-12 Active Shooter prevention and response) since 2013, and the Run Hide Fight program since 2015
Numerous public speaking engagements during my 31-year career as a law enforcement officer - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
Available Upon Request