Arson and Electrical Fire Analysis Expert
Contact this Expert Witness
- Company: Retired Kentucky State Police
- Phone: (270) 282-5069
- Cell: (270) 282-5069
Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness
General Specialties:
Police Practices & Procedures and FireKeywords/Search Terms:
Product Liability, File Review Case Preparation, Review for Standards Compliance, Electrical Failures Analysis, Special type Occupancy Analysis, Hazardous locations wiring analysis, Marina Wiring Analysis, Fire Scene AnalysisEducation:
Undergraduate Criminal Law , Eastern Ky University ; Certified Fire Investigator , National Association Fire Investigator's 2005-present ; Certified Electrical Analyst , Ky Dept Housing 1992-present ; KLEC Police Instructor , Eastern Ky UniversityYears in Practice:
31Number of Times Deposed/Testified in Last 4 Yrs:
1Additional Information
David West is a retired Kentucky State Police detective with over 31 years' experience in Arson investigations and electrical fire analysis. His career began as an electrician and then evolved into an electrical Inspector and finally electrical fire causation analysis expert. He kept his electrical credentials current throughout his entire career. He obtained an Undergraduate in Criminal Law along with a KLEC Police Instructors Certification from Eastern Kentucky University. He taught classes at the Kentucky State Police Academy specializing in arson and electrical fire analysis, and fire related deaths. He is a Nationally Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator and a Member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has assisted state and federal agencies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for decades with scene examinations, involving specialized electrical skills and knowledge assessment, and testified in state and federal proceedings as an expert witness in Criminal and Civil litigation. David West latest case testimony to be affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court was in August of 2024. In April of 2023 he published a new book titled: Electrical Fire Analysis Failure Mechanisms that cause fires an asset for those examining a power system on a fire scene, with real case studies he examined in his career. As a former police/fire investigator/ Electrical expert, since retiring he is called upon to review cases, give expert opinion of his findings, write detailed comprehensive reports, give testimony, and teach fire related classes throughout America. He attends speaking engagements at conferences, related to the methodology of fire investigations, and forensic electrical fire analysis. He has the knowledge and skills to break down complex technical issues, in transparent layman terms, and offers an unbiased professional opinion to help the courts better understand a material fact in question.