RONALD E. STRAIN, B.A., C.F.E.I. - Resume´

RONALD E. STRAIN

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED FIRE AND EXPLOSION INVESTIGATOR

 

EMPLOYMENT:

Fire/Reconstrution Consultants, Inc. 2007 to Present:

DUTIES, Investigation of fires and explosions to determine the origin and cause on structures, vessels and vehicles. Includes on scene photography, proper collection of evidence and written reports. Specializes in Marine. Qualified to testify in both Civil and Criminal cases in State and Federal Courts. Experienced instructor for IAMI and various other associations.

DUTIES While in Law Enforcement with The Suffolk County Police Department:

While a detective assigned to the Arson Section, I was responsible for the investigation of all fire and post blast bomb scenes assigned to me by my supervisor. I investigated over 1500 fire and explosion scenes while assigned to the Arson Section. I had to determine the origin and cause at the fire and explosion scenes. I was responsible for crime scene processing, collection of evidence, case preparation, and for expert courtroom testimony in both civil and criminal court. I was also responsible for staying abreast of the latest investigative techniques in fire and bomb scene investigations.

The Suffolk County Police Department is the 12th largest police department in the nation and covers approximately 900 square miles with a population over 1.5 million people.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

July 2005	Retired from Suffolk County Police Department
July 1988	Certified Level I and Level II Fire Investigator by New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control
July 2000	Promotion to Sergeant - Assigned to the Fifth Precinct
July 1996	TWA Flight 800 Investigation - F.B.I.Task Force
September 1987	Detective assigned to Arson Section
December 1985	Designated Detective - Assigned to Fourth Squad Detectives
September 1983	Assigned to Crime Control Unit - Second Precinct
January 1980	Assigned to Street Crime Unit - Second Precinct
April 1970	Joined Suffolk County Police Department
April 1969	Procedures Analyst Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Home Office New York City

 

CERTIFICATIONS:

September 2001	Certified Instructor for the International Association of Marine Investigators – Instructor card #14
July 2003	Transferred to Highway Patrol Bureau
October 1994	Certified Police Instructor

 

TESTIMONY:

October 2005	Qualified as an Expert Witness Civil Trial, Nassau County Supreme Court
September 1993	Qualified as an Expert Witness in Fire/Arson Investigation United States District Court -Southern District Judge Cedarbaum - Federal Racketeering Trial (RICO)
February 1993	Qualified as Expert Witness in Fire/Arson Investigation Suffolk County Court -Judge Pitts Trial-Arson 2ndDegree
April 1991	Qualified as Expert Witness in Fire/Arson Investigation Suffolk County Court-Judge McInerney – Criminal Trial

 

EDUCATION:

January 1969	Bachelor of Arts Degree -Hunter College
January 1965	Associate of Arts Degree - Bronx Community College

 

INSTRUCTOR:

February 2002	International Association of Marine Investigators Annual Training Seminar Marine Fire Investigators – Panama City Beach, FL
March 2001	International Association of Marine Investigators – Annual Training Seminar – Oklahoma City, OK
November 2000	Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Annual Training Seminar -- San Antonio, TX
April 2000	Marine Patrol Association Annual Training Seminar - Marine Fire / Arson Investigation for the Patrol Officer- Newport, RI
March 1999	International Association of Marine Investigators International Training Seminar - Nashville, TN
February 1999	Marine Patrol Association - National Training Seminar Lexington, KY
April 1998	Marine Patrol Association -National Training Seminar Baltimore, MA
April 1997	Marine Patrol Association -National Training Seminar Newport, RI
February 1996	Marine Fire / Arson Investigation International Association of Marine Investigators (formerly NAMI) National Training Seminar -Biloxi, MS
When assigned	Firefighter Turned Arsonist & Arson Awareness Suffolk County Fire Academy - Yaphank, NY
When assigned	Arson Lecture to Recruits Suffolk County Police Academy -West Babylon, NY

 

TRAINING:

February 2000	International Association of Marine Investigators Training Seminar, Galveston, Texas
January 1998	Annual Training Seminar International Association of Marine Investigators (lAMI) Orlando, Florida
August 1997	Advanced Arson for Profit AT.F. - FLETC, Glynco ,GA
June 1997	Advanced Cause & Origin -Expert Witness S.C.Fire Academy - Yaphank, NY
April 1997	F.B.I. Bombing Investigation Seminar Westhampton, New York
February 1997	Annual Training Seminar International Association of Marine Investigators (lAMI) St. Louis, MO
May 1996	Interview & Interrogation Techniques F.B.I.- Suffolk County Police Academy
February 1996	National Training Seminar International Association of Marine Investigators (formerly NAMI) -Biloxi, MS
February 1995	Annual Training Seminar National Association of Marine Investigators (NAMI) Charleston, South Carolina
October 1994	Instructor Development Course Suffolk County Police Academy
October 1994	Gas Familiarization Seminar LILCO - Hauppauge, New York
April 1994	Electrical Transmission & Distribution Overview LILCO - Hauppauge, New York
August 1993	Advanced Post Blast Investigations AT.F. - FLETC, Glynco, GA
January 1993	Boat Fire Investigations U.S. Coast Guard - Suffolk County Police Academy
November 1992	Fire-Related Death Investigations Dr. Henry Lee - Suffolk County
June 1991	Electrical Fire Investigation AT.F. - Suffolk County Police Academy
February 1991	Fire Scene Photography Workshop Eastman Kodak -Suffolk County Firematics
December 1988	Fire/Arson Investigation -FEMA National Fire Academy -Emmitsburg, MD
June 1988	Conference on Fire/Arson Investigation New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office -Rutgers University
May 1988	Post Blast Investigation F.B.I. – Camp Smith, Peekskill, NY
January 1988	Fire / Arson Investigation Montour Falls, New York
November 1987	Origin and Cause of Fire -Arson Awareness Suffolk County Firematics Center

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS:

Suffolk County Detectives Association
Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
Suffolk County Police Conference
International Police Association
National Association of Fire Investigators
Suffolk County Superior Officers Association
Former Member, International Association of Arson Investigators
Former Member, (and also member of Board of Directors & National Training Committee) of the International Association of Marine Investigators

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