Tom Ovens

Tom has served as an expert witness for over twenty-three years and has testified in both State and Federal Court.  He is a recognized expert in use of force, training, patrol work, police procedure, police supervision, patrol procedures, tactics, tactical operations, and investigations.  Tom is a certified Force Analyst through the Force Science Institute and his work was featured in their news line.

He is a retired police officer with over thirty years of service.  Tom was most recently assigned to the Force Review Unit/Force Investigations Team, FRU/FIT, where he reviewed and conducted investigations in police use of force.  Prior to working in the FRU, Tom worked in the Office of Police Accountability, OPA, where he was a Lieutenant and supervised investigations and investigated complaints of official misconduct.  Prior to OPA, Tom was assigned to the training unit of the Seattle Police Department where he supervised a squad of officers in the performance of their duties as instructors for the Department for seven years.  His extensive training back ground keeps him up to date on current issues surrounding law enforcement.  

He has extensive experience in patrol and detective work, supervising and training law enforcement officers, and review of, creation of and implementation of policy.  His patrol experience includes uniformed bicycle patrol, uniformed patrol in a police cruiser and emphasis patrol in plain and marked police vehicles.

Tom was a Sergeant for over ten years in two separate agencies.  He provides a unique and valuable perspective on how agencies and officers can best navigate the fluid and constantly changing environment that they must now operate in.  If you need help, Tom will review your case with you and provide you with a preliminary analysis.  If he does not feel that he can represent you and your clients in your case, he will refer you to an expert that can assist you with your litigation.

• Washington State Master Defensive Tactics Instructor  
• NRA Pistol and Shotgun Instructor  
• Washington State Urban Rifle and Bolt Action Rifle Instructor  
• Washington State Use of Force Simulations Instructor  
• Gracie Survival Tactics
• Taser  Instructor
• LVNR Instructor

Excerpted from Czarnecki v United States of America, Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law:

Sergeant Thomas F. Ovens of the Seattle Police Department (“SPD”) testified on behalf of the Government as an expert witness in use of force police practices. Based on his educational background and his years of experience and training in law enforcement and use of force police practices, the court finds that Sergeant Ovens is qualified to testify as an expert witness in use of force police practices. 

Sergeant Ovens testimony also weighs in favor of the court concluding that the CBP officers’ use of force was reasonable under all the circumstances. Sergeant Ovens testified that, in his expert opinion, the CBP officers’ tactics and force techniques were reasonable and necessary given the resistance described by the CBP officers and the totality of the circumstances. Sergeant Ovens testified that the bodily force and pressure point control tactic used by the CBP officers are some of the least intrusive force options an officer can use in an attempt to control a subject who is actively resisting.  

Tom has trained or competed in the following martial sports/arts: wrestling, boxing, Aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Tom holds a Second-Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Jeff Paynter has more than 28 years in law enforcement, working at the Spokane Police Department, the Federal Way Police Department, and the Lakewood Police Department.  His assignments include patrol, criminal investigations, SWAT, and three years as an FBI Task Force Officer with the South Sound Gang Task Force. Jeff is a sergeant with Lakewood Police Department. 

He is a CJTC certified Lead Integrated Arrest Tactics Instructor, a certified Handgun Instructor, and a Patrol Tactics Instructor.  

Jeff was a full-time instructor at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy from 2013 to 2016, where he taught defensive tactics, patrol tactics, and use of force.   

He received the departmental Medal of Valor for his actions during the apprehension of homicide suspect Marcos Perea in 2016, and he has received commendations for his work in training and criminal investigations.   

Sgt. Paynter has consulted on more than thirty civil lawsuits involving police use of force and tactics. 

• Washington State Master Defensive Tactics Instructor 
• Lead Integrated Arrest Tactics Instructor
• Patrol Tactics Instructor
• Handgun Instructor

 He is a purple belt in Wing Chun and has also trained in the Inosanto System