CFC # 10222

FAIR USE NOTICE

Dr. Aaron Westrick

Dr. Aaron Westrick is the former Director of Research and Composite Development for Second Chance Body Armor who blew the whistle on defective bulletproof vests that were sold to law enforcement officers in the US and around the world. Dr. Westrick filed suit, which has been joined by the Department of Justice, alleging that Second Chance and the Toyobo Company knowingly sold defective bulletproof  vests to police officers throughout the United States.

The suit is based on documents confidentially provided to the U.S. Department of Justice by Dr. Westrick. The documents included an internal corporate memorandum which confirmed Second Chance's knowledge that a police officer could die as a result of wearing one of the defective vests. The company  ordered that the memorandum be destroyed. Dr. Westrick saved one copy and gave it to the Department of Justice. In 2004, after Dr. Westrick confirmed in a deposition that he had refused to shred numerous incriminating Second Chance internal documents, he was fired from the company.

In sworn deposition testimony, Dr. Westrick testified that the President of the United States, the First Lady and members of the US Army Central Command all wore defective bullet proof vests sold by Second Chance.  According to a story released by the Associated Press, Second Chance officials who profited from these sales are now under criminal investigation. 

CAREER SUMMARY
Accomplished law enforcement professional, recognized for investigative skill, training expertise, honored for bravery in the line of duty. Serves as an associate professor, director of research, talk show host, columnist, guest speaker, police officer and expert in the field of body armor and law enforcement/ corrections. Married since 1982 to Kimberly, R.N. with three children.

Dr. Westrick is also experienced in Crime Scene Investigation (his Ballistic Armor Research Group, LLC contracts social and physical scientists with CSI/Crime Scene Reconstruction backgrounds with access to ballistic ranges and crime laboratory).

EDUCATION
Ph.D. - Sociology and Criminal Justice (1998)
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

M.S. - Criminal Justice (1986)
Wayne State University,Detroit, MI

B.A. - Social Science (1982)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Member:  National Criminal Justice Honorary Society, Alpha Phi Sigma Beta Reserve Officer Training Corps, Honors Battalion

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

University Associate Professor (2004- Present)
Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie, MI
School of Criminal Justice
Director, Institute for Public Safety and Homeland Security Technology

Director, Research and Tactical (1996-2004)
Second Chance Body Armor, Inc., Central Lake, MI
Coordinate research in the areas of body armor, weapons and use of force.
IACP “Survivor” shot as PO on body armor .357 mag. to chest.

Ballistic Armor Research Group, LLC. (1997-present)
Principal member of research consultant group for contracted services involving armor systems.
Consult: Vice President of Paraclete Armor, St. Pauls, NC (2004)
Next Generation Bomb Suit Committee, Applied Research Assoc. (2006)
Ultra-Lightweight Body Armor and Instantaneous Personnel Protection System Committees, U.S. Government (DARPA) Southwest Research Institute San Antonio, Texas (1997-2006)
Several government and business funded armor/ weapons research projects/ papers. Consults with many key marketing personnel in armor field.

Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department (present)
Administrative Training (Patrol and Corrections) Supervisor/Deputy
Commissioned law enforcement trainer and policy writer.
Charlevoix County Board appointed Gun Board Representative.

Deputy Sheriff/Sergeant (1988-1996)
Oakland County Sheriff Department, Pontiac,MI

Supervisor serving on Major Case Team, Special Response Unit, Road Patrol and Corrections.  Other duties include patrol supervisor, community relations,  investigations, assault team member and negotiator.

Deputy Sheriff (1981-1988)
St. Clair County Sheriff Department, Port Huron, MI

Patrol officer charged with community relations, general investigative work.  Selected to serve as high school liaison for teen awareness programs.

Certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council (1981)

Numerous Presentations of Specially Developed Seminars to Academic and Law Enforcement Organizations:
-The Myth of Suicide by Cop
-Interacting with Emotionally Disturbed Persons
-Body Armor Overviews
- Armor Presentations to Government regarding contemporary systems
-Contemporary Police Shooting Investigations
-Police Philosophies, Strategies and Tactics
-General Crime Prevention and Awareness

South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association (2005)
- Body Armor Selection Overview
- Investigation of Police Shootings

International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Conference 2005
-Overview of Body Armor (Paraclete)

War Memorial Hospital Safety Training Seminars Sault Ste. Marie, MI 2005

LEGAL Law Enforcement Officers Annual Meeting “Key Speaker - 2005
-Interacting With Emotionally Disturbed Persons
- Investigation of Police Shootings

Radio Show Broadcasts: Cop Clinic (Host), Michigan Talk Radio.

The Myth of Suicide by Cop, Macomb Police Academy, 2004.

Traffic Stops, Lake Superior State University Police Consortium, 2004.

Police First Responder ICS, Lake Superior State Police Consortium, 2004.

Contemporary Police Shooting Investigations, International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2004.

Combating Terrorism Expert Panel. American Society for Law Enforcement Trainers, Anchorage, AK 2002.

Security Instructor Coordinator. Victories Casino (Odawa Tribe). Train Casino SecurityForce
2002.

Interacting with Emotionally Disturbed Persons. Many notable venues 2001-2003 (MCOLES Approved).

Investigating Police Shootings. International Association of Chiefs of Police
Toronto, Ontario November 2001.

Police Phenomenology: Investigating Police Shootings. International
Association of Chiefs of Police, Washington, D.C. and Ohio Peace Officers’
Academy 2001. IACP/ Macomb College 2002.

Crisis Intervention: The Handling of Emotionally Disturbed Persons. Michigan Police Corps Big Rapids, MI,  Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, International Association of Firearms Instructors Tampa, FL and Law Enforcement Television Network class 2000.

How We (Officers) are Murdered. ASLET Orlando, FL and OLETC Corrections Training Center Moundsville, WV 2000 and 2001.

Coordinator of Upper Lower Michigan Law Enforcement Consortiums. Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 2000.

Crisis Management. Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 2001.

Mobile Field Force. Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI May 2001.

Response to Crimes in Progress. Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste.Marie, MI 2000.

Building Search Techniques. Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 2000.

Law Enforcement and Corrections Training. Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department In-Service Training Coordinator, Charlevoix Michigan.

The Phenomenology of Police Shootings (Police Shooting Analysis).  International Association of Chiefs of Police, 1999 and 2000.

Surviving Fatal Encounters. Louisiana Chapter of FBI National Academy Association, LA and Arizona K-9 Handlers, Phoenix, AZ 1999.

Cop Shoots Suspect in the Back: A Case Study. American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, Fairfax, VA and International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Phoenix, AZ  1999.

Crisis Incident Management for Police. North Central Michigan College, Petoskey, MI 1998.

Police Under Fire: Officers’ Perspectives of Violence. International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Palm, FL 1998.

Cop Kills Suspect by Shooting Him in the “Back” A Case Study. Texas Department of Public Safety, Austin, TX 1998.

Qualitative Analysis of Police Shootings in which the Officers killed their Attempted Assailants.  American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, Mobile, AL and International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Columbia, MS 1998.

American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers Use of Force Seminar, Los Angeles, CA.  1. Surviving Fatal Encounters:  An Analysis of Police Shootings Involving Body Armor  2. Keeping the Walls Bare:  Soft Body Armors Contribution.  1997.

Body Armor for Tactical Officers. Hulsey Associates/Second Chance. 1996.

International Association of Chiefs of Police, Orlando, FL.  Body Armor and the Rifle Threat.  LETN Role Call.  1997.

Texas Police Officers’ Association Conference, Amarillo, TX.  Surviving Fatal Encounters.  1997.

American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers Conference, Buffalo, NY.  Presentation of, “Updated Casualty Reduction Analysis.”  1997.

International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Mesa, AZ. Presentation on, “Body Armor Applications for Firearms Instructors.” 1996.

American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers Seminar, Dallas, TX. Presentation and television interview (LETN) on, “Nonviolent Crisis Intervention for Police Officers” legal defense in officer use of force.

American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers Seminar, Washington D.C.  Lectures on Body Armor and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Second Chance Body Armor, Inc.

Guest Lecturer/Instructor Oakland University, “Contemporary Sociological Police Issues.” 1995/96.

Third Party Defense: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. 1995.

Seminar Instructor (1990-1995)
Michigan State University and Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Michigan

Coordinate and conduct programs on street tactics, police stress and behavior at selected locations throughout Michigan.

Police/Corrections Academy Seminar Instructor (1987-2001)
Michigan Police Corps, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
Lake Superior State Police Academy, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Macomb Police Academy Fraser, MI
Oakland Police Academy Auburn Hills, MI
Texas State Police Academy Austin, TX
Mississippi State Police Academy Jackson, MS
Detroit Police Academy,  Detroit, MI
Kansas City Police Academy Kansas City, MO
U.S. Immigration Federal Prison Miami, FL
Greaterford State Prison Greaterford, PA
Joliet State Prison Joliet, IL
San Angelo Area Police Academy San Angelo, TX
Livingston Parish Range/Academy Livingston, LA
Fort Worth Police Academy, Fort Worth, TX
Houston Police Academy, Houston, TX
Dallas Police Academy (Tactical), Dallas, TX
West Miami Police Training Center,  West Miami, FL
Ocala Sheriff’s Department Academy, Ocala, FL
St. Petersburg Police Training Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Rhode Island State Police Academy, RI
New York State Department of Corrections
Ontario (Canada) Department of Corrections
Camp Grayling (Michigan National Guard)
Panama Area Police Training Academy, Panama, FL
Bor-Tac U.S. Border Patrol Training, Camp Bliss, TX
Coral Gables Police Training Range, Coral Gable, FL
Miami-Dade County Police Academy, Miami, FL
Gainesville (Area) Florida Police Academy, Gainesville, FL
Moundsville Federal Corrections Center, WV

Public Service, Speaker
Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department, Charlevoix, MI
Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Pontiac, MI
Served as speaker on crime prevention and substance abuse for sheriff’s department at various public/media functions. Organized Policing Programs.

©1997-2007 National Whistleblower Center & NWLDEF P.O. Box 3768, Washington, DC 20027