RTI offers expertise across a range of issues related to policing and law enforcement. Our multidisciplinary team includes criminologists, data scientists, and psychologists and a host of staff with direct law enforcement and forensic experience. News outlets interested in arranging an interview should contact news@rti.org.
Policing and Investigations Research: Kevin Strom, PhD
Dr. Strom is the director of the Center for Public Safety and Resilience at RTI. He currently leads the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance (SAKI) project and the National Case Closed Project, an effort aimed at helping to improve law enforcement’s ability to successfully solve fatal and nonfatal shootings cases.
Learn More about Policing and Investigations Research: Kevin Strom, PhD
Crime Statistics: Mark Pope
Mr. Pope leads the Policing Research Program at RTI and conducts research on improving access to and use of law enforcement data and law enforcement operations. His current research efforts focus on improving crime statistics on a national level through more detailed and comprehensive data collection and analysis.
Recruitment and Retention in Policing: Jennifer Rineer, PhD
Dr. Rineer leads the Workforce Wellbeing and Effectiveness Program at RTI and is a research psychologist who studies the health, well-being, and performance of employees and organizations. Her current research is focused on barriers that exist to attracting more women to careers in law enforcement.
Learn More about Recruitment and Retention in Policing: Jennifer Rineer, PhD
Sexual Assault Response: Crystal Daye
Ms. Daye specializes in research on policing and investigative operations, sexual assault response reform and forensics. Currently, she serves on the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance (SAKI) project. Prior to RTI, she managed the Morrisville (NC) Police Department’s efforts to achieve and maintain accreditation.
Criminal Justice Data: Jacob Cramer, PhD
Dr. Cramer is a senior policing researcher who analyzes complex policing data including data on police use of force. He served as the project director for the Cohort of Cities project, which was evaluating alternative-to-police 911 responses in cities in North and South Carolina, specifically for calls related to mental health emergencies.
Crime Investigations: Tom Scott, PhD
Dr. Scott is a social scientist in RTI’s Policing Research Program and an expert in policing, crime investigations, crime prevention, and gun violence. He can speak to the issue of unsolved shootings and strategies to improve investigations and witness cooperation.
Evidence-Based Policing: Sean Wire
Mr. Wire is a research criminologist who specializes in evidence-based policing. He is involved in a research effort involving several North Carolina cities interested in better understanding their current policing efforts and adopting evidence-based alternative approaches to policing.
Alternative Responses to 911 Calls: Elise Kratzer
Ms. Kratzer is a policing research analyst who has extensive experience analyzing, managing, and reporting criminal justice data. She has worked with law enforcement at the local, county, state level, including 14 years of experience working as an analyst for the Cary (NC) and Durham (NC) Police Departments.
Learn More about Alternative Responses to 911 Calls: Elise Kratzer
Body Armor and Protective Equipment: Lance Miller
Mr. Miller is a senior criminal justice technology advisor at RTI with 25 years of expertise in officer safety, body armor standards and compliance testing for law enforcement personal protective equipment, and criminal justice technologies. He also has nine years of experience in law enforcement as a patrol officer, supervisor, and police chief.
Learn More about Body Armor and Protective Equipment: Lance Miller