Police Practices Expert - Retired Police Chief

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Carl Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an option in Criminology and Corrections from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is active in the field of training as a POST certified instructor at the Center for Criminal Justice, California State University, Long Beach. Carl has over thirty (30) years of law enforcement experience. He retired from the Downey Police Department in 2018, after twenty-eight (28) years of service, the final six (6) as the chief of police. In 2021, he accepted an interim appointment as the Signal Hill chief of police, concluding that assignment in 2023. As police chief, he planned, coordinated, managed, and evaluated police department operations. Carl exercised management and supervision over staff directly or through subordinates by meting out discipline and training police personnel, as well as promotional and rank placement. He also authored and approved hundreds of department policies, regulations, and directives. In addition, Carl reviewed force incidents, as well as alleged policy violations, and affirmed/disaffirmed initial findings. In prior assignments as Administrative Division Commander and Officer-In-Charge of Professional Standards and Training, he was responsible for reviewing and/or investigating use-of-force (UOF) allegations and incidents, as well as officer-involved shootings, personnel complaints, pursuits, and employee involved traffic collisions. He also managed the professional development, training, and instruction of sworn personnel, as well as the department’s Code Enforcement, Range, Defensive Tactics, and Special Enforcement staffs, respectively. Carl served as the Investigations Division Commander, as well as its Detective Bureau lieutenant. In those capacities, he was ultimately responsible for thousands of criminal investigations, including those conducted by Robbery Homicide, Gang and Narcotics, Auto-Theft, Burglary, Internet Crimes Against Children, Forgery/Fraud, and Juvenile Units. As a watch commander, Carl was responsible for providing direct supervision and training to field personnel, in addition to the management of the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program. He also investigated and/or reviewed use of force allegations and incidents, and adjudicated personnel complaints. While at the rank of sergeant, one of Carl's assignments was to supervise Special Investigations, which included the Gang and Narcotics Units, respectively. In that capacity, he directed dozens of high-level criminal investigations, as well as supervised and/or participated in the writing and subsequent service of countless search warrants. He also testified as a narcotics expert in Los Angeles County Superior Courts. Carl created the department’s first entry-team, and served as its first team leader. As the sergeant in-charge of Special Operations/Traffic Division, he was responsible for reviewing and approving traffic collision reports, as well as directing traffic investigations involving serious injuries and/or death. As a narcotics detective, Carl performed as lead investigator and/or participated in dozens of major narcotics investigations, as well as countless undercover assignments. He also wrote and/or participated in the service of hundreds of search warrants. During Carl's career, he received numerous commendations and awards, and was named Downey Police Officer of the Year in 2001. Carl is licensed by the State of California as a private investigator and is available for consultation on cases throughout the country.