Cops on Evidence

Editor's Note: One of the author is prior U.S. Army.

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, added two authors who have written extensively on the subjects of evidence collection and crime scenes.

Randal Davis has been an Investigator or Police Officer with departments in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas for 26 years. As a Police Officer and District Attorney Bureau of Investigation Investigator, he has conducted or participated in thousands of criminal investigations and arrests. He has received considerable police training and experience in Crime Scene Investigation, Homicide Investigation, the California Street Terrorism Act, Patrol Procedures, General Criminal Investigation, Narcotics, Sexual Assault, and Crimes Against Children.

Randal holds a Masters degree in Criminal Justice (with honors) and a Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from California State University Long Beach. Davis is a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member. He has been an Adjunct Professor teaching Criminal Justice courses at Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon Colleges since 1997. He has also been a guest instructor at Western State Law School.

Since 1992 Randal has been a POST instructor for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, instructing courses in Homicide Investigation, Criminal Law, Ethics, Professionalism, Weapons Laws, Search and Seizure, Crimes Against Persons, Constitutional Law, and Civil Rights. Additionally, prior to his civilian law enforcement career he was a military police officer in the United States Army.

Randal Davis’ book, Evidence Collection and Presentation, is designed to introduce the concepts involved in collecting and presenting audio and visual evidence. The students will also be introduced to the documentation methods for preserving visual evidence. The text gives the student and understanding of the courtroom technology available for presentation methods utilizing audio and visual means. The disciplines include digital photography, film photography, video, voice and audio recordings.

Jon Lewis received his Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University in Orange California. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Speech Communication from Long Beach State University in California. He is a veteran officer with the Newport Beach Police Department, currently serving as a Sergeant and a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.

Jon Lewis’, Biological Evidence, is an introduction to the types of biological evidence commonly found at crime scenes and how to collect it. This book is written in an easy to read and understand style for non-science majors and for professionals working in the criminal justice system. Specific biological evidence discussed includes blood, semen, saliva, urine, feces, hair, and fingernails. Additional topics include autopsy, the basic departments of the crime laboratory, toxicology, forensic entomology, and uncollectible biological evidence. Packaging, preservation, and care of biological evidence is discussed and chain of custody is explained. Additional topics include DNA, case studies, courtroom testimony, and exhibits for the courtroom.

Jon Lewis’ second book, Criminalistics for Crime Scene Investigators, is an introduction to the concepts involved in the field of Criminalistics from the professional and scientific disciplines dedicated to the recognition, collection, identification, and individualization of physical evidence and the application of the natural sciences to the matters of the law.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 315 police officers (representing 135 police departments) and their 736 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.