Understanding Violent Criminals: Insights from the Front Lines of Law Enforcement

David J. Thomas is currently an assistant professor in the College of Professional Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University where he teaches in the Forensic Sciences Behavioral Analysis Program. In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Thomas donates his time to the local police academy, mentoring and training new officers. Dr. Thomas was a police officer in Michigan and in Florida, retiring from the Gainesville Police Department after twenty years of service. During his tenure as an officer, Dr. Thomas has held assignments in Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Detectives, Narcotics, Training, and Community Oriented Police Team, and has served as a Field Training Officer. He has been certified to train both police recruits and in-service officers for the last twenty nine years and is a certified expert in the Florida courts in the use of force. David J. Thomas holds a Masters Degree in Education and a Doctorate Degree in Forensic Psychology. His research interests include Police, Police/Forensic Psychology, Serial Homicide, Victimology, Violence and Terrorism. He is the author of several publications and articles in the area of policing.