About
I am a lifelong resident of the City of Pittsburgh and have been involved with the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania for the majority of my adult life. Following in the footsteps of my dad, I became a Pittsburgh Police Officer in 1989 at the age of 20. I served as a Pittsburgh Police Officer for nearly 15 years, retiring in late 2003 with the rank of lieutenant.
I spent the first five years of my police career working as a patrol officer in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. As a patrol officer, I gained valuable experience in all areas of criminal law, from drug crimes to DUI to violent crimes. I spent many nights walking a beat in the Hill District during the time when crack cocaine and gang violence first came to Pittsburgh. I believe that my experience as a police officer gives me a unique perspective as an attorney on criminal defense.
I was transferred to the Pittsburgh Police Homicide Squad in 1994 where I spent the next two years working as a Homicide Detective. As a Homicide Detective, I investigated and testified in many high profile homicide cases, including cases involving the death penalty. I worked in Homicide during a period of intense gang warfare and have extensive experience investigating these types of homicides. One thing that I quickly learned as a homicide detective was to follow the evidence and not try to fit the evidence into my theory of the case. If I take your case, I conduct my own investigation, not only from the perspective of an attorney, but also from the perspective of a former detective who investigated countless violent crimes.
I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1996 at the age of 27. I remain one of the youngest officers in Pittsburgh's history to achieve the rank of Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, I supervised the Pittsburgh Police DUI Task Force from 2001-2003. I received extensive training in the DUI and traffic laws of Pennsylvania, in the planning and operation of sobriety checkpoints and in the operation of breath testing devices. I also became a certified chemical breath test operator during this time. Chances are that if you were arrested for DUI and took a breath test, I am very familiar with the breath testing device that was used. More importantly, as a trained operator, I understand the need for these devices to be properly calibrated and realize their limitations in measuring a person's true blood alcohol concentration.
Professional License
- Licensed to practice in all Pennsylvania courts
Education
- Law School: J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
- Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Criminal Justice, magna cum laude
Professional Organizations
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
