David Thomas

David J. Thomas, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). He holds a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology from The Union Institute and is a retired police officer from the Gainesville Police Department (retired in 1998). His expertise spans forensic studies, police psychology, and use-of-force analysis. Dr. Thomas is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Police Foundation in Washington, DC, and serves as CEO of Police Counseling Services, LLC, providing consulting services to law enforcement agencies.

Education: Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, The Union Institute.

Research interests include police practices, mental health in law enforcement, use-of-force dynamics, forensic psychology, serial murder, and victimology. He teaches courses such as Advanced Forensic Psychology, Theories of Criminal Behavior, and Social Constructs of Crime at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Notable awards include the 2019 Silver Medal Award from the Independent Publishers Book Award for his book *The State of American Policing: Psychology, Behavior, Problems, and Solutions*. His work frequently examines institutional reforms and community-police relations, with a focus on psychological aspects of policing.

Dr. Thomas has advised law enforcement agencies and contributed to grants such as the *Wilmington Public Safety Strategies Commission Report* (2015). His research and consulting activities emphasize practical applications of forensic psychology to real-world policing challenges.