Thomas Sedlacek
Chandler,AZ
Summary
Seasoned Detective with extensive experience at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, adept in forensic interviewing and evidence handling. Demonstrated excellence in securing crime scenes, attention to detail, leading high-profile homicide investigations, and skilled interrogation. Proven track record in court testimonies and collaboration with legal teams, highlighting exceptional report writing and communication skills.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Detective (Homicide/SVU)
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
11.2000 - 09.2023
- Obtained and served 500 + search warrants/subpoenas related to ongoing cases.
- Gathered facts from interviews of suspects, witnesses, and complainants.
- Kept meticulous and detailed records of each case to avoid causing any problems with prosecution.
- Collected crime scene evidence, examined bodies, and investigated secondary locations to build detailed cases based on sound evidence handling practices.
- Preserved evidence for court hearings and checked integrity of individual pieces.
- Participated in court hearings to provide written reports, evidence and verbal testimonies.
- Appeared in court and testified under oath in high profile Homicide cases, and Special Victim's Unit (Molestation of Child /Child Abuse/Adult Sexual Assault) cases.
- Initiated and concluded 100 + investigations of crime organizations.
- Sent specimens to labs and ran fingerprints through databases to identify individuals of interest.
- Conducted multi-scope research into suspects to determine criminal activities and suspect operating environments.
- Obtained and verified evidence by interviewing, observing, and conducting surveillance of suspects and records.
- Substantiated validity and admissibility of evidence and preserved data integrity for court hearings.
- Marked off crime scenes and controlled access to protect evidence from tampering or loss.
- Consulted and cooperated with legal staff to verify timely and efficient investigation completion.
- Collected and preserved physical evidence, photographs and laboratory submissions.
- Prepared 1500 + case reports from allegations, transcripts of interviews and physical evidence.
Security Police/ Security Forces
U.S. Air Force Active Duty
03.1996 - 03.2000
- Base Law Enforcement duties, including Patrolman, Investigations, and Base Dispatcher. My efforts resulted in the arrest of 50 + DUI suspects, as well as the numerous citations written, making the roadways safer.
- Base Dispatcher required completion of a daily blotter, completion of weekly personnel duty positions, answering of "red phones" (emergency calls from High Level Military Personnel), placing calls directly to the Base/Group Commanders at all times of the day. As a result of hard work, I was awarded the * USAF COMMENDATION MEDAL.
- (2) 7 month deployments- Saudi Arabia (1997) and Kuwait (1998) Operation Desert Storm/Operation Southern Watch.
- While deployed to ESKAN VILLAGE, RIYADH, KINDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, I provided mobile (armored vehicle) security, as well as base entry control, vehicle searches, for explosive devices. As a result, of my actions, I was awarded the * USAF ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL and *USAF ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL.
- While deployed to ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, KUWAIT, I performed duties as a tactical automated security system and wide area surveillance thermal imager camera operator (a $6 million mission-critical resource essential to securing the area from the perimeter of the United States controlled compound to five kilometers beyond. This system provided safety and security of 1,200 deployed United States military personnel and key leaders during the force build up for potential combat operations against Iraq. As a result of my actions, I was awarded the * USAF ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL (First Oak Leak Cluster) and *USAF ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (Second award)
Education
High School Diploma -
Central High School
Phoenix, Arizona06-1995
Skills
- Authoring of, Submission to Judge for issuance, execution of Affidavits/Search Warrants/Subpoenas
- Securing/Preserving/Processing crime scenes to include evidence identification, collection, admission for testing and result collection for use in Criminal Court Proceedings
- Assigned a Case Agent (Lead Detective) to many Homicide cases and Special Victim's Unit Cases
- Certified Forensic Interviewer (required by MCAO to interview child victims of Child Molestation and Child Abuse)
- Skilled interviewer/interrogator Attended numerous interview/interrogation courses throughout the US
- Skilled forensic report writer, along with diagraming and preparing Power Point Presentations
- Testified in/Provided all collected evidence in High Profile Homicide cases Maintaining Chain of Custody and coordination with outside Law Enforcement Agencies/Testing Facilities
- Supervision of assisting Detectives while collecting evidence, their interviews/interrogations of witnesses/suspects
- High proficiency with firearms and less-lethal (handguns/rifles/shotguns/less-lethal shotgun/taser)
Accomplishments
- Arizona Homicide Investigator of the Year (2021) awarded by the Arizona Homicide Investigators Association (AHIA) Achieved as a result of planning, organizing, executing and supervising the search for human remains of Homicide victim, who was ultimately recovered. The successful recovery of the human remains from a landfill was the first in Arizona State history.
- MCSO Distinguished Service Medal (awarded as result of above) and Nominated MCSO Deputy Sheriff of the Year
- MCSO Sheriff's Star Medal
- MCSO Life Saving Medal
- MCSO Meritorious Service Medal
- MCSO Meritorious Unit Citation (X 5)
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Certification
- Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification - Arizona POST Commission.
- Tactical Handgun Certification – Various State or Private Security Regulatory Bodies.
- Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) - International Association of Interviewers.
- Courtroom Testimony/Expert Witness Certificate-Various Legal and Law Enforcement Institutions.
- Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B)
Timeline
Detective (Homicide/SVU)
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
11.2000 - 09.2023
Security Police/ Security Forces
U.S. Air Force Active Duty
03.1996 - 03.2000
- Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification - Arizona POST Commission.
- Tactical Handgun Certification – Various State or Private Security Regulatory Bodies.
- Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) - International Association of Interviewers.
- Courtroom Testimony/Expert Witness Certificate-Various Legal and Law Enforcement Institutions.
- Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B)
High School Diploma -
Central High School
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