Michael J. Canaan, CPP
Kent, WA 98064
Michael J. Canaan, CPP, is a forensic security premises liability expert with over 48 years of experience in professional security, investigative, military, and law enforcement fields. His extensive background and training have made him well-versed in security industry standards and best practices.
Mr. Canaan is a Quarter Century member and Board Certified in Security Management by the American Society for Industrial Security, International. This credential is the security profession's highest recognition of practitioners. ASIS is the world's largest membership of security management professionals, with 35,000 members. ASIS is the leading resource for security education, board certification, networking, and standards development. He is currently a member of two committees in ASIS. The first is the Risk Assessment Standard Technical Committee, which is responsible for updating the ASIS ANSI Risk Assessment American National Standard. The second is the Security Services Steering Committee, which is the primary source of information and guidance on guard services, alarm monitoring, investigations, security design and implementation, and other contracted services that support security programs. The committee conducts educational workshops and webinars, participates in industry associations and partnerships, and promulgates industry best practices.
Mr. Canaan has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Washington State University with supporting courses in Business Administration and Political Science.
Early in his career, Mr. Canaan honorably served in the United States Marine Corps, supporting the Presidential Helicopter Mission as security aboard Marine One, the Presidential helicopter out of Quantico, VA, and Washington, DC. Also served as a Military Police Watch Commander, Patrol Supervisor, Military Working Dog Handler, Kennel Master, and Canine Trainer for the Third Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan.
Mr. Canaan gained experience in hospitality industry investigations, security operations, and loss prevention while working in the security department of a major international hotelier. He assisted the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. State Department—Diplomatic Security Service, and their foreign counterparts during advances, facilitated logistical needs, and was an active security participant in Presidential and foreign dignitary visits.
During his professional career, he gained experience as a store detective and also worked in various retail security management positions with several national retailers. As an undercover store detective, he was responsible for conducting investigations related to internal employee theft and misconduct, as well as external fraud and loss prevention auditing. He also received training in covert and overt security video and electronic article surveillance systems, distribution, transportation, and warehousing management, and physical store security.
Mr. Canaan worked as a security consultant for the band Heart. He provided personal protective services for Ann and Nancy Wilson, residential security consulting, security oversight for band members and crew, transportation assets, logistics, and venues. He also investigated and managed new and ongoing threats and acted as a liaison with law enforcement. During this period, he also toured with several other accompanying groups, such as Cheap Trick and Journey.
Mr. Canaan, now retired from law enforcement, has a diverse background in various disciplines. He has served as a patrol officer, a drug dog handler, and a narcotics interdiction expert. He has also worked as an instructor in security and law enforcement, where he taught courses on handgun, shotgun, patrol rifle, precision scoped rifle, TASER conducted energy weapon, defensive sprays, handcuffing, baton, as well as security practices, policies, and procedures.
His security consulting assignments have taken him across the Bering Sea, Southeast Alaska, Canada, the United States, and numerous countries in Central and South America.
Mr. Canaan has conducted expert assessments and evaluations in a wide range of settings, including educational and religious institutions, corporate campuses, manufacturing facilities, food processing plants, warehouses, ships, refineries, assisted living facilities, apartments, condominiums, dormitories, parking lots, estate residences, hotels, opera houses, amphitheaters, festivals, fairs, arenas, coliseums, casinos, nightclubs, sports bars, cannabis retail stores, grocery stores, food service establishments, shopping centers, and malls.
Often, his cases have involved evaluating industry standards of care concerning hiring, training, supervision, staffing, deployment, use of force, policies and procedures, and physical security systems. The negligent security cases have ranged from improper security system installation, inadequate security, excessive force, unlawful imprisonment, harassment, stalking, threats, assaults, voyeurism, sexual assault, rape, robbery, vessel piracy, shootings, stabbings, and homicide.
Of the 85-plus Federal and State security expert cases worked, Mr. Canaan has testified in 16 depositions and four trials.
- Bars/Lounges/Night Clubs
- Crime Foreseeability
- Deadly/Excessive Force
- Hotel Security
- Inadequate/Negligent Security
- Parking Lots/Garages
- Premises Liability
- Security Guards
- Special Event Security
- Workplace Violence
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: CERTIFICATIONS:
Board Certified in Security Management—Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation, American Society for Industrial Security—International in June 1997.
LICENSES:
United States – Drug Enforcement Administration Registration Number RC0257***
United States – Federal Communications Commission, Extra Class Amateur Radio License KF7IUP
State of Washington – Board of Pharmacy Registration Number 56558
State of Washington – Private Investigation Agency Number 601 295 780
State of Washington – Armed Private Investigator Number 178
State of Washington – Registered Process Server Number 9403825
State of Washington – Department of Veterans Affairs Registration 4BA6F46C
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) courses IS-15, 100, 120, 200, 230, 240, 241, 244, 250, 253, 265, 288, 300, 394, 400, 454, 632, 660, 700, 706, 800, 906, 907, 910, 914, 915, 916, 920, and 922
Sport Event Risk Management (AWR 167)
All-hazards Communications Unit Leader (COM-L)
All-hazards Communications Unit Technician (COM-T)
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERTIFIED CROWD MANAGER – Emergency Management Group – Washington
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: American Society for Industrial Security—International (ASIS)
Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP)
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators (PNAI)
Pacific Northwest Network of Forensic Expert Witnesses (PN2FEW)
World Association of Detectives (WAD)
Seattle Shield, Seattle Police Department
InfraGard, Federal Bureau of Investigation - 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: 85+
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Inadequate or Negligent Security
Foreseeability
Security Standard of Care
Voyeurism
Homicide / Wrongful Death
Assault / Battery
Shootings
Stabbing
Robbery
Workplace Violence
Sexual Assault
Unreasonable, Excessive, or Wrongful Use of Force
Invasion of Privacy
Unlawful Imprisonment / Violation of Civil Rights
Hiring / Screening / Retention
Inadequate Policies and Procedures
Inadequate Investigation and Recordkeeping
Inadequate Training and Supervision
Improper Deployment
Unsafe Working Conditions
Breach of Duty / Failure to Protect
Failure to Monitor
Improper or Inadequate Installation of Security Hardware
Invasion of Privacy - Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: Approximately 75%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: Approximately 25%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: 16
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: 2025
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 4
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 4
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 20+
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Assessments
Investigations
Surveys
Consulting
Review
Site Inspections
Testing - Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $525
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $525
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $525
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $525
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Mileage and travel expenses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
References available upon request.