Digital Evidence Review

About Dan Kosartes

I'm a veteran law enforcement officer with over 19 years of experience in patrol, investigations, and elite tactical operations, and I bring that firsthand operational background to expert witness work in use of force, body-worn camera evidence, and police response.

I currently serve as a Training and Recruitment Coordinator, where I lead instruction in firearms, high-risk patrol operations, active shooter response, tactical medical protocols, and departmental policy compliance. I oversee the training curriculum for a department of more than 90 employees. My prior experience includes patrol, Special Operations focused on gang and narcotics investigations, and detective work involving felony cases from initial assignment through prosecution.

For 14 years, I served as a Special Operations Specialist with a major multi-jurisdictional tactical Emergency Services Team, responding to high-risk incidents including hostage rescue operations, barricaded subjects, high-risk warrant service, and terrorism response. I've been called out to well over 100 critical incidents across dozens of departments, giving me direct, current exposure to the exact scenarios I'm frequently asked to evaluate as an expert.

Credentials

  • Force Science Analyst — Force Science Institute

  • Advanced Body Worn Camera Certification — Force Science Institute

  • Realistic De-Escalation Certification — Force Science Institute

  • Illinois Master Tactical Patrol Officer (Advanced Certification) — Illinois Tactical Officers Association

  • B.A., Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement Administration — Florida Atlantic University

Instructor Certifications

I'm a certified instructor across the disciplines most relevant to use-of-force and police response litigation:

  • TASER Energy Weapons Instructor (Axon)

  • Less Lethal Impact Munitions Instructor (Safariland)

  • Ballistic Shield Instructor

  • Police Firearms / Tactical Pistol and Rifle Instructor

  • Body Worn Camera Instructor (Axon)

  • Rapid Deployment / Active Shooter Response Instructor

  • Tactical Medical Instructor, including Stop the Bleed and Basic Life Support

I'm also an FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot and a professional operator on Skydio platforms.

Recognition

My operational record includes a Medal for Valor, a Department Lifesaving Award, a Merit Award for Outstanding Service and Professionalism, and a Joint Operations Award recognizing multi-agency tactical work.

How I Can Help Your Case

Whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants, I bring an evaluator's eye grounded in real operational experience — not just policy review. My work includes:

  • Body-worn camera and digital evidence review and analysis

  • Use of force evaluation under the Graham v. Connor framework and departmental policy

  • Force Science-based human factors analysis (perception, reaction time, decision-making under stress)

  • TASER, less lethal, and firearms deployment review

  • Emergency vehicle response and pursuit policy analysis

  • De-escalation and tactical decision-making assessment

A full CV is available upon request.

A note on current employment: I currently serve as an active law enforcement officer.