Brian O'Donnell at Eagle Security Group

Brian O'Donnell is a highly qualified former law enforcement agent who spent over 25 years in the Charlottesville, Virginia Police Department, which included extensive experience in leadership and training. He worked complex investigations and operated in a highly competitive environment as a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Mr. O'Donnell was hand selected by executive management to lead in several areas of police practice and policy, to include use of force matters, and he has extensive experience in course development and instructing to an array of audiences to include sworn officers and civilians.

A dynamic instructor, Mr. O'Donnell has provided instruction on operational security, use of force and defensive tactics. His insight and knowledge of police procedure and practices in the use of force arena make him a formidable asset to any criminal or civil litigation issue where he combines his extensive experience with the latest in scientific research used in any use of force matter.

Mr. O'Donnell currently serves Eagle Security Group as a law enforcement consultant and provides case consultation, civil and criminal litigation support, investigative support, and expert witness testimony in the areas of: Use of Force; Use of Force Analysis for Reasonableness and Compliance with Agency Policy; Police Practices and Procedures, and Narcotics Investigations.

Services

Mr. O'Donnell delivers consultation, training, and subject matter expertise in the areas of Use of Force; Use of Force Analysis for Reasonableness and Compliance with Agency Policy; Police Practices and Procedures, and Narcotics Investigations/Use of Informants.

Litigation Support Services

Brian O'Donnell provides litigation support and case analysis to include re-investigations. He shares his objective opinion based on the facts of the matter at hand.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Less Than Lethal Force / Less Lethal, Reasonableness of Use of Force, Use of Electronic Control Devices (Tasers), Excessive Use of Force, Lethal Use of Force, Use of Force Continuum, Informants, Narcotics, Law Enforcement Involved Shootings, Use of Force Analysis for Reasonableness and Compliance with Agency Policy, Police Practices and Procedures, Wrongful Conviction and Narcotics Investigations.

Profile

Brian O'Donnell's 25+ years in law enforcement included extensive investigative, operational, leadership and training experiences. As a police officer and supervisor with the Charlottesville, Virginia Police Department and as a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), he held leadership positions in numerous high-profile investigations which resulted in the successful prosecution of several complex federal drug conspiracies, including a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO)/Continuing Criminal Enterprise case, and his casework while assigned to the FBI JTTF is credited with the disruption/dismantling a major domestic terrorist organization. While serving in Internal Affairs, Mr. O'Donnell investigated, analyzed, documented, and made determinations concerning criminal and/or policy violations of department members, and analyzed the spectrum of use of force events, to include use of open hand techniques, strikes, OC spray, taser, baton, service weapon, vehicle pursuits and more. His expertise and input were applied to new use of force, pursuit, body worn camera, internal affairs and citizen complaint policies, while his ability to analyze force events and cultural practices allowed him to identify training needs and create practical courses to address those needs.

Having led or participated in over a thousand drug investigations, Mr. O'Donnell has extensive experience in developing and utilizing confidential informants and was a task force and departmental resource for search warrants and fourth amendment issues encountered by officers and detectives. He also commanded or held command positions in multiple large-scale crowd management/ crowd control incidents in Charlottesville, to include celebratory events related to the University of Virginia's appearance in the 2019 NCAA Final 4 and NCAA Championship games.

As a certified Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services instructor for over twenty years, Mr. O'Donnell has been responsible for researching, developing, and delivering a multitude of courses to thousands of Federal, State, and local law enforcement members as well as to private and public employees and students. He was awarded the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training National Certified Instructor designation and was chosen to supervise the department's training and firearms programs. Using his extensive background and real-world experiences and observations, Mr. O'Donnell helped create a credited women's self-defense course that is currently taught at the University of Virginia. He has received advanced training in applying human dynamics to the often complicated, confusing, and controversial uses of force by police. He is certified in Enhanced Force Investigations which applies science, evidence-based methods, and cognitive interviews to use of force events as well as being a certified Advanced Specialist analyzing force events.

Mr. O'Donnell has been a guest lecturer and speaker at the University of Virginia Law School Prosecution Clinic, the Gender Violence and Sociology of Violence undergraduate courses at UVA, the 2019 Force Science Conference, and was chosen as the Department representative to speak at the Virginia General Assembly (House and Senate) to promote legislation desired after the Unite the Right rally of August 12, 2017. He is co-owner of O'Donnell & Pittman, LLC/Blue Matters, a company that provides private security and investigative services as well as advanced training to both law-enforcement and civilians. Mr. O'Donnell has been published numerous times in law enforcement publications which include Police 1, Calibre Press, and the Law Executive Research Forum.

He has testified in State and Federal Court, at probable cause hearings, State and Federal Grand Juries, and before State Magistrates and Federal Magistrate judges. Additionally, he has testified as an expert witness in the Western District of Virginia and in Charlottesville Circuit Court.

Mr. O'Donnell currently serves Eagle as a law enforcement consultant and provides case consultation, civil and criminal litigation support, investigative support, and expert witness testimony in the areas of: Use of Force; Use of Force Analysis for Reasonableness and Compliance with Agency Policy; Police Practices and Procedures, and Narcotics Investigations.

Areas Served

Charlottesville, Virginia and surrounding area; All States

Legal Experience & Services

Brian O'Donnell has testified on many occasions and is very comfortable on the stand, where he shares his knowledge in a skillful manner that resonates with jurors. In his capacity as a sworn member of the Charlottesville, Virginia Police Department, Mr. O'Donnell has testified on hundreds of occasions either before State Magistrates, Federal magistrate Judge, State Grand Juries, Federal Grand Juries, and disciplinary grievance panel: or in General District Courts, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, State Circuit Courts, and Federal Court. He has also testified during probable cause hearings, suppression hearings, and trials.

Qualifications

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS AND CLEARANCE
• • Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) – Certified Instructor: 2023
• Advanced Specialist Certification from the Force Science Institute: Received 2018
• Breath Tech Certification: 1998
• Chemical Munitions Instructor: 2000
• Defensive Tactics Instructor (DCJS): Maintained Certification since 2001
• Distraction Device Instructor: 2000
• Enhanced Force Investigations: Applying Science, Evidence-Based Methods & The Cognitive Interview from Critical Incident Review: 2021
• Fair and Impartial Policing – Train the Trainer: 2020
• Field Training Officer (DCJS): 1999
• Firearms Instructor School (DCJS): Maintained Certification since 2003
• Force Science Certification Course: 2014
• General Instructor (DCJS): Maintained Certification since 1999
• Gracie Survival Tactics for Military/Law Enforcement Level 1 Certified Instructor: 2011-2014
• Gracie Survival Tactics Level 2 Certified Instructor: 2015
• IADLEST National Certified Instructor: 2020; Recertified: 2022
• OC Aerosol Instructor: 2000
• PATC Internal Affairs Institute, National Internal Affairs Certification: 2014
• Previously Held Security Clearance: Top Secret
• RADAR Operator (DCJS): 1997
• Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Instructor (30 hours)
• Rapid Containment Baton Instructor (Peacekeeper)
• Specialty Impact Munitions Instructor: 2000
• Taser Instructor (Taser International): 2014
• VCIN A/B Certification: 2021
• Virginia Concealed Carry License: Current
• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Private Protective Services Certification: Current
• Virginia Gang Investigators Association Gang Specialist: 2005
• Virginia Law Enforcement Certified: 1997

Awards & Honors

Please request a copy of Mr. O'Donnell's CV for additional details about his background.

Professional References

Please request a copy of Mr. O'Donnell's CV for additional details about his background.

Education

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Master of Science in Criminal Justice, 2020 (4.0 GPA), Graduated with High Distinction

University of Virginia National Criminal Justice Command College
Graduate Certificate, 2016 (15 credit hours, 4.0 GPA)

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 1989